This spring has brought quite a few bills in the House and Senate for us to watch. We are always on the lookout for bills that will affect our mission – the preservation and protection of Michigan’s inland waterways. Septic code legislation may be coming up, and we are in talks with other environmental organizations on how to reintroduce common-sense codes. We have the Michigan Environmental Council to thank for the details on the bills below.
These House Bills, 4257 and 4265 are very concerning for water quality. The bills will deregulate hazardous liquid waste streams, including digestate of livestock waste and slaughterhouse waste. We are concerned that digester operators will be protected against liability even if they pollute state waters when they land-apply digestate. These bills will not protect Michigan’s waters from digestate runoff, which can contain high concentrations of pathogens, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals. This is a major concern for waterways. Additionally, the bills violate the Michigan Constitution’s mandate that the Michigan Legislature must protect the “air, water and other natural resources of the state from pollution, impairment and destruction.”
We have signed on with other organizations concerned about this legislation and will be submitting a card of opposition to the House Agriculture Committee, on Thursday, May 8.