News

Groundwater Discharge Permit Fees Reduced For Laundromats and Car Washes

Several business categories, such as coin-operated laundromats and public car washes, are the beneficiaries of new legislation that will reduce the annual groundwater discharge permit fees for the next few years. On December 31, 2015, Governor Snyder approved Senate Bill 552, which amends Part 31 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA). The primary changes are as follows:

• A new subcategory of Group 2 facilities (titled “Group 2a”), has been created. The annual permit fee for Group 2a facilities is $250 (instead of $1,500), provided one or more of the following conditions are satisfied:
  • The facility’s discharge is from a coin-operated laundromat;
  • The facility’s discharge is from a car wash or vehicle wash open to the public;
  • The facility’s discharge consists of a subsurface sanitary discharge of less than 10,000 gallons per day; or
  • The facility’s discharge is a seasonal sanitary discharge from a recreational vehicle park or campground, recreational or vacation camp, or public park.

• The annual groundwater discharge fees for all facility group types are as follows:
  • $3,650 for a Group 1 facility;
  • $1,500 for a Group 2 facility or a municipality of 1,000 or fewer residents;
  • $250 for a Group 2a facility; and
  • $200 for a Group 3 facility.

The fees will sunset on September 30, 2019.

Additional information on the DEQ’s Groundwater Discharge program can be obtained at the following web page: http://michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313_4117—,00.html.

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