LANSING – The permitting process for those seeking to deal with aquatic invasive nuisances would be substantially changed under a bill reported by the Michigan Senate Natural Resources, Environment and Great Lakes Committee on Thursday.

SB 444 would require permits for addressing invasive species be due no later than April 15 or 30 days after their submission (whichever is later); provide additional reporting requirements on treating a body of water; require permits be exclusive to a certain body of water rather than a whole channel; limit the term of a permit to three years; and prohibit the Department of Environmental Quality from charging a fee for a request for permit revisions or for an amendment to an application, among other things.

The department is also mandated to reduce or not charge an application fee if enough funding is provided, said Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba), sponsor of the bill.

“We’re asking that considerations be given through the appropriations process … to help process these permits,” he said.

Tom Frazier, legislative liaison for the Michigan Townships Association, said that while the association does not have a particular position on some of the aspects dealing with the detailed requirements for the department, the association did support the bill for having a provision that included a local ordinance option to combat invasive species at a local level.

“We feel it gives local units of government another tool in the toolbox to combat the ever-growing AIS problem,” he said, referring to aquatic invasive species.

Also supporting the bill but not wishing to speak were the Aquatic Management Association and the Michigan Waterfront Alliance. The Department of Natural Resources was neutral on the bill and the Michigan Environmental Council opposed the bill.

The bill was reported from the committee 5-1 along party lines, with Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) voting in opposition and Sen. Morris Hood III (D-Detroit) absent from committee.

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION FUND: The committee also took limited testimony on HB 4993 , a bill that would create the Michigan Wildlife Management Public Education Fund and the Michigan Wildlife Council.

The bill would require the council to spend fund money to develop and implement a media-based public information program to promote the role of sportsmen and sportswomen in wildlife conservation, as well as to educate the public about hunting, fishing, and the taking of game.

The legislation is similar to some laws in Colorado, which Merle Shepard of Safari Club International said has been extremely important to teaching the public “that they actually own this wildlife.”

“We think (the legislation) could help some of the kids get interested in hunting as well, but really it’s there to inform Michigan residents how their resources are being used and how they’re being managed by sound science,” he said.

The National Rifle Association also testified in support of the House legislation, but the committee did not vote on it due to time constraints.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com