Advocacy News – Oct. 27, 2023
This week, lawmakers introduced bills that would create new barriers to the clean up of contaminated sites in the state, and financially burden certain companies if they handle regulated chemicals. The new bill packages, SB 605-611 in the Senate and yet to be numbered bills in the House, would take a wide ranging and extreme approach to the pollution policy arena.
Why it matters: Beyond the aforementioned bills mandating companies purchase financial assurances if they use or handle regulated chemicals, other bills would allow for the re-litigation and potential re-opening of previously closed contaminated sites, as well as mandate that new cleanups be at the highest standard technically possible, which will lead to enormous added costs to the re-development of brownfields in the state.
What happened: The MI Chamber has been working with the bills sponsors for months in an attempt to educate them on the importance for cleanup laws that balance public health with the ability to effectively utilize private capital to redevelop blight and put it back to productive use. Instead, the bills that were introduced put unachievable standards in place that will drive brownfield investment out of Michigan, if enacted.
What’s next: The bills are not expected to move before the end of the year. In the meantime, the MI Chamber will be using that time to voice strong concerns and opposition with the bills ahead of any committee hearing.
For more information, please contact Mike Alaimo at malaimo@michamber.com