Legislation signed Wednesday by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder provides supplemental appropriations for the current fiscal year, the most significant allocation from which is a combined $23.2 million for the purposes of responding to the nationally emerging public health issue of PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) at various sites throughout the state.
“This is a national problem that continues to emerge across the country, and we are on the forefront of addressing this issue and how it affects groundwater and public health,” Gov. Snyder said. “I appreciate the Legislature providing funds for continuing efforts to seek answers and help communities statewide take action to address contaminated sites.”
House Bill 4320, sponsored by state Rep. Laura Cox, provides the additional dollars in the current year budget, which began on Oct. 1, 2017. The funding will support new positions at the departments of Environmental Quality and Health and Human Services to sample and analyze well water samples, purchase new lab equipment, help with response activities, and provide support for local public health departments. The bill includes language seeking reimbursement from the federal government for costs incurred at military sites, emphasizes state funds should be used only after other available funding has been exhausted, and enhances flexibility for how local public health departments can expend the funds they receive.
The supplemental also includes $375,000 for real-time drinking water monitoring in the Lake Huron to Lake Erie corridor. It is now Public Act 201 of 2017.
For additional information on this and other legislation, visit www.legislature.mi.gov.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://test.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
