Restore Surface Water Protections Rulemaking to EGLE

In 2006, Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) was amended to remove the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) authority to establish surface water quality rules. This limitation has hindered EGLE’s ability to address emerging contaminants like PFAS, which have polluted over 11,000 sites in Michigan. Critical water resource policies including those dealing with floodplains, storage of toxic materials, and surface water quality monitoring have all been left behind due to EGLE’s inability to update this section of statute. This bill would restore EGLE’s rulemaking power and is essential for updating water quality standards to align with advances in science and technology.