LANSING – Deterred momentarily by a balky pen, Gov. Rick Snyder signed the first two laws of his administration on Tuesday, bills that would put into law the state’s already voluntary program for the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program.

Snyder said the two bills, SB 122 and HB 4212, provide important opportunities for agriculture in Michigan, which was “one area that supported us during this decade of dark times.”

But the two bills were criticized by environmental groups who said the measures would reduce overall state water protections from animal pollution. In signing the legislation, Snyder skipped over making HB 4160 , funding for “Pure Michigan,” presented to his office four days earlier, his first public act.

Snyder said he did not expect a challenge to the agriculture bills, but said the state will see what may transpire.

While the program is now in state statute, it continues to be voluntary. Any farmer wishing to participate would have undergo educational requirements authorized by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Verifications under the bills would be for three years and renewable. The state could revoke the certifications if a participant failed to comply with program standards or committed gross negligence.

Under the provisions, certified farms will not be subject to penalties for discharges into waterways if they report the discharge within 24 hours of its discovery and if they take actions to correct the problem.

Snyder said the bills provided an example of the new style of thinking he is hoping residents and officials will bring to the state, since one of the criticisms of the bill was that it could reduce the state’s revenues from fees and penalties. “Let’s encourage people to do best practices,” Snyder said.

With the bills in place and the state encouraging farmers to participate in the program, it should boost the state’s overall environmental standpoint, Snyder said.

And Rep. Kevin Daley (R-Lum), sponsor of HB 4212, said some states are already looking to Michigan as a model for the program.

Snyder experienced an unexpected delay when he sat down to sign the bills: a pen that wouldn’t write. Communications Director Geralyn Lasher dashed over to the desk quickly with several new pens and Snyder completed the legal transactions.

Wayne Wood with the Michigan Farm Bureau said the bills would help the agricultural industry expand in caring and responsible manner.

But Anne Woiwode of the Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club said the bills would stop some eight years of effort by the state to control runoff pollution from farms and could be a disaster for the state. She said the group would ask the federal Environmental Protection Agency to review the bills to see if they violate federal laws.

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