HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND OUTDOOR RECREATION
REP. GARY HOWELL
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
10:30 AM
Room 307, House Office Building
The House Committee on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation was called to order by
Chair Howell.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Howell, Markkanen, LaFave, Eisen, Wakeman, Martin, Sowerby,
Cambensy.
Absent: Rep. Aiyash.
Excused: Rep. Aiyash.
Representative Markkanen moved to adopt the meeting minutes from June 21, 2022. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 6218, HB 6220, HB 6254, HB 6255, HB 6257, HB 6258, HB 6388 and
HB 6403 before the committee:
HB 6218
(Rep. Cambensy)
A bill to amend 2012 PA 411, entitled "Rural
development fund act," by amending the title and
section 7 (MCL 286.947) and by adding section
6a.
HB 6220
(Rep. Cambensy)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding section
63225.
HB 6254
(Rep. Cambensy)
A bill to amend 1951 PA 77, entitled "An act
providing for the specific taxation of low grade
iron ore, of low grade iron ore mining property,
and of rights to minerals in lands containing low
grade iron ores; to provide for the collection and
distribution of the specific tax; to make an
appropriation; and to prescribe the powers and
duties of the state geologist and township
supervisors and treasurers with respect to the
specific tax," by amending sections 1 and 4 (MCL
211.621 and 211.624), section 1 as amended by
1987 PA 277 and section 4 as amended by 2002
PA 443, and by adding sections 4a and 4b.
HB 6255
(Rep. Cambensy)
A bill to amend 2012 PA 410, entitled "Nonferrous
metallic minerals extraction severance tax act," by
amending section 9 (MCL 211.789).
HB 6257
(Rep. Cambensy)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding part 636.
HB 6258
(Rep. Cambensy)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding part 629
to subchapter 4 of chapter 3 of article III; and to
repeal acts and parts of acts.
HB 6388
(Rep. Howell)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act," by
amending sections 63205, 63209, and 63219
(MCL 324.63205, 324.63209, and 324.63219), as
added by 2004 PA 449, and by adding sections
63102 and 63102b.
HB 6403
(Rep. LaFave)
A bill to amend 1911 PA 163, entitled "An act to
provide for the election of inspectors of mines in
certain cases and the appointment of their
deputies, for the appointment of such inspectors of
mines and their deputies until the election and
qualification of the first inspectors of mines, to
prescribe their powers and duties and to provide
for their compensation, and to repeal Act No. 213
of the Public Acts of 1887," by amending sections
1, 6, 7, 8, and 8a (MCL 425.101, 425.106,
425.107, 425.108, and 425.108a), sections 1 and 8
as amended by 1984 PA 116; and to repeal acts
and parts of acts.
Representative Cambensy testified in support of HB 6218, HB 6220, HB 6254, HB 6255, HB
6257, HB 6258, HB 6388 and HB 6403.
At 10:46 AM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 10:46 AM, Majority Vice Chair Markkanen called the committee back to order.
Representative Howell testified in support of HB 6388. Questions and discussion followed.
At 10:52 AM, Majority Vice Chair Markkanen laid the committee at ease.
At 10:52 AM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
Representative LaFave testified in support of HB 6403. Questions and discussion followed.
Travis Boeskool, representing the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and
Energy, and Adam Wygant, representing the Oil, Gas and Mineral Division, Michigan
Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, testified with no position on HB 6218,
HB 6220, HB 6254, HB 6255, HB 6257, HB 6258, HB 6388 and HB 6403.
Matt Johnson, representing the Eagle Mine, testified in support of HB 6218, HB 6220, HB
6254, HB 6255, HB 6257, HB 6258, HB 6388 and HB 6403. Questions and discussion
followed.
Emily Smith, representing the Michigan Environmental Council, testified with a neutral
position on HB 6218 and HB 6254.
Emily Smith, representing the Michigan Environmental Council, testified in support of HB
6257.
Emily Smith, representing the Michigan Environmental Council, testified in opposition to HB
6220 and HB 6388.
Dan Ruokalainen, President of United Steel Workers Local 4950, testified in opposition to
HB 6403.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 6403, but did not wish to speak:
Tricia Anderson, representing United Steel Workers Local 4974.
Bryan Fisher, representing United Steel Workers District 1.
Donald Blatt, representing the United Steel Workers.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 6218, HB 6220, HB 6254, HB 6255,
HB 6257, HB 6258, HB 6388 and HB 6403, but did not wish to speak:
Marty Fittante, representing the Invest U.P.
The following person submitted a card with a neutral position on HB 6255 and HB 6257, but
did not wish to speak:
Logan Vorce, representing the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 6258, but did not wish to speak:
Logan Vorce, representing the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 6218, HB 6220, HB 6254 and HB
6388, but did not wish to speak:
Tim Minotas, representing the Sierra Club.
Logan Vorce, representing the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
The Chair laid HB 6101 before the committee:
HB 6101
(Rep. Yaroch)
A bill to require transfer evaluations before the
sale or transfer of certain property; to provide
exceptions; to provide for the powers and duties of
certain state and local governmental officers and
entities; to require the promulgation of rules; to
require the registration of registered evaluators;
and to provide standards for the registration of
registered evaluators.
Representative Yaroch testified in support of HB 6101.
Dr. Joan Rose, representing the Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and
Wildlife, testified in support of HB 6101.
Travis Boeskool, Dana DeBruyn and Jeremy Hoeh, representing the Michigan Department of
Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, testified in support of the concept of HB 6101.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 6101 with amendments, but due to
the time constraints were unable to speak:
Megan Tinsley, representing the Michigan Environmental Council.
Michael Kramer, representing the District Health Department #10.
Bob Kingon, representing the Elk-Skegemog Lake Association.
Jennifer McKay, representing the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.
The following person submitted a card with a neutral position on HB 6101, but did not wish
to speak:
Sean McBrearty, representing Clean Water Action.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 6101, but did not wish to speak:
Nick Occhipinti, representing the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
The following people submitted a card in support to HB 6101 with amendments, but did not
wish to speak:
Horst Schmidt, representing the Upper Peninsula Environmental Council.
Seth Phillips, representing the Kalkaska County Drain Commissioner/Manistee Lake
Association.
Dave Dempsey, representing the For Love of Freshwater (FLOW).
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 6101, but did not wish to speak:
Brian Westrin, representing the Michigan Realtors.
Ryan Knight, representing the Michigan Realtors.
Norm Hess, representing the Michigan Association for Local Public Health.
Anthony Krautz, representing the Michigan Association of Local Environmental
Administrators.
Representative LaFave moved to excuse Representative Aiyash from the meeting. There
being no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Howell adjourned the meeting at
11:53 AM.
Representative Gary Howell, Chair
Molly Wingrove
Committee Clerk
mwingrove@house.mi.gov