Since 2014, CCM has actively engaged in efforts led by the MDEQ (since changed by Governor Whitmer to EGLE) to amend Part 115 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) and was a leading participant in the Composting Work Group of the Solid Waste and Sustainability Advisory Panel (SWSAP). The Part 115 work intensified immensely last fall when the MDEQ shared their draft bill language. The excessive regulatory changes proposed were economically unviable and would have disseminated the composting industry in Michigan. CCM submitted thirteen pages of written comments to the MDEQ recommending changes. The MDEQ worked internally on revisions to their proposal and in June 2018 shared with us a new draft. While CCM was pleased to see many of their recommendations incorporated into the newest bill draft, several provisions remained that simply could not be supported. CCM met with the MDEQ in July 2018 and successfully resolved one of their greatest objections: excessive financial assurance requirements and were successful in reaching an agreement on all the remaining concerns with the Part 115 bill draft. That bill was introduced by term-limited Republican Rep. Rob VerHuelen as HB 6483. The bill was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources November 11, 2018.
June 2020 Update – This bill came up in the House Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation committee in June 2020. Testimony opposed to the current draft of the Part 115 amendments (HB 5812) provided by CCM President, Bill Whitley, on June 9, 2020, is linked here.