07-27-2003, 06:26 AM
Herbicide permit fees may rise
[url "http://www.spinalcolumnonline.com/1editorialtablebody.lasso?-token.searchtype=authorroutine&-token.lpsearchstring=Michael%20Hoskins&-nothing"][#0000ff]by Michael Hoskins[/#0000ff][/url] [#0000ff][/#0000ff] [#0000ff]![[Image: blank.gif]](http://www.spinalcolumnonline.com/images/blank.gif)
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Using herbicides to treat waters infested by aquatic nuisance plants may soon be a lot more expensive, with state lawmakers supporting a boost in required permit fees and sending the plan to the governor for approval.
Introduced by state Sen. Bob Emerson (D-Flint) in late June, Senate Bill 596 passed through both the House and Senate on Thursday, July 17 and is now awaiting the governor's signature. This legislation calls for a hike in some aquatic herbicide permit fees from $150 to $1,500.
Currently, the application fees for a permit to apply herbicides to state waters are divided into two categories depending upon the size of the treatment area. A fee of $50 is required for treatment of areas between a half acre and 2 acres and a fee of $150 is required for treatment of areas greater than 2 acres. No fee is required for the treatment of areas less than a half acre or for water bodies under single ownership. A permit expires on Dec. 31 of the calendar year in which it was issued.
Under the bill, those application fees would rise and would be based on the size of the area impacted by herbicides instead of the size of the treatment area.
The bill would postpone the fee sunset from Oct. 1, 2003 to Oct. 1, 2008. Six categories of permits would be created, fixing fees at $75 for areas of impact less than a half acre; permits for impacted areas between 0.5 and 5 acres would cost $200; impacting areas between 5 and 20 acres would cost $400; impacting areas between 20 and 100 acres would cost $800; and impact areas greater than 100 acres would require a $1,500 permit fee.
According to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the current fee structure generates $110,000 in annual revenue and the aquatic nuisance program is supplemented with $100,000 in general fund money.
Lakes area lawmakers, for the most part, voted against the bill. State Rep. Craig M. DeRoche (R-Walled Lake, Wixom) is the only lakes area state representative that voted in favor of the bill, while state Sens. Nancy Cassis (R-Commerce, Milford, Highland, White Lake, West Bloomfield, Orchard Lake, Wixom, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake) and Deborah Cherry (D-Waterford) also supported it.
For local riparians, the bill could result in a large increase in the cost of treating a lake's nuisance plant species.
"It's not that they don't need an increase in fees of some amount, but it's the total amount that's a concern," said Dick Pinagel, who owns AquaWeed Control in Holly and treats many local lakes in Oakland County. "This could potentially mean less business for us."
Pinagel said he had spoken with representatives at the DEQ, who have said the fee hikes are part of their plan to add more staff to handle aquatic nuisance permits. One state official reportedly told Pinagel that staff would be doubled from three to six, and the fee increases would help offset that cost.
"We hope it's not a deterrent for people applying for permits," Pinagel added. "There's going to be sticker shock for people, and they're going to be steaming mad. But their (lawmakers) are the ones they should be talking to about this."
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[url "http://www.spinalcolumnonline.com/1editorialtablebody.lasso?-token.searchtype=authorroutine&-token.lpsearchstring=Michael%20Hoskins&-nothing"][#0000ff]by Michael Hoskins[/#0000ff][/url] [#0000ff][/#0000ff] [#0000ff]
[/#0000ff] Using herbicides to treat waters infested by aquatic nuisance plants may soon be a lot more expensive, with state lawmakers supporting a boost in required permit fees and sending the plan to the governor for approval.
Introduced by state Sen. Bob Emerson (D-Flint) in late June, Senate Bill 596 passed through both the House and Senate on Thursday, July 17 and is now awaiting the governor's signature. This legislation calls for a hike in some aquatic herbicide permit fees from $150 to $1,500.
Currently, the application fees for a permit to apply herbicides to state waters are divided into two categories depending upon the size of the treatment area. A fee of $50 is required for treatment of areas between a half acre and 2 acres and a fee of $150 is required for treatment of areas greater than 2 acres. No fee is required for the treatment of areas less than a half acre or for water bodies under single ownership. A permit expires on Dec. 31 of the calendar year in which it was issued.
Under the bill, those application fees would rise and would be based on the size of the area impacted by herbicides instead of the size of the treatment area.
The bill would postpone the fee sunset from Oct. 1, 2003 to Oct. 1, 2008. Six categories of permits would be created, fixing fees at $75 for areas of impact less than a half acre; permits for impacted areas between 0.5 and 5 acres would cost $200; impacting areas between 5 and 20 acres would cost $400; impacting areas between 20 and 100 acres would cost $800; and impact areas greater than 100 acres would require a $1,500 permit fee.
According to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the current fee structure generates $110,000 in annual revenue and the aquatic nuisance program is supplemented with $100,000 in general fund money.
Lakes area lawmakers, for the most part, voted against the bill. State Rep. Craig M. DeRoche (R-Walled Lake, Wixom) is the only lakes area state representative that voted in favor of the bill, while state Sens. Nancy Cassis (R-Commerce, Milford, Highland, White Lake, West Bloomfield, Orchard Lake, Wixom, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake) and Deborah Cherry (D-Waterford) also supported it.
For local riparians, the bill could result in a large increase in the cost of treating a lake's nuisance plant species.
"It's not that they don't need an increase in fees of some amount, but it's the total amount that's a concern," said Dick Pinagel, who owns AquaWeed Control in Holly and treats many local lakes in Oakland County. "This could potentially mean less business for us."
Pinagel said he had spoken with representatives at the DEQ, who have said the fee hikes are part of their plan to add more staff to handle aquatic nuisance permits. One state official reportedly told Pinagel that staff would be doubled from three to six, and the fee increases would help offset that cost.
"We hope it's not a deterrent for people applying for permits," Pinagel added. "There's going to be sticker shock for people, and they're going to be steaming mad. But their (lawmakers) are the ones they should be talking to about this."
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