50 ideas to fix Michigan

Change state land cleanup program

The Detroit News is highlighting ideas from various groups to promote discussion on reform, restructuring government and the economy.

Change state land cleanup program

Idea 37: Reform Michigan's Part 201 program for cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated land.

Why: Part 201, Michigan's state cleanup and redevelopment program, was intended to improve contaminated land and encourage interest in previously unusable sites. However, the process has become an administrative and financial burden for many businesses. The process can go on, seemingly without end, causing participation in the program to slow.

Benefit: Cleanup of contaminated lands, improvement of Michigan's natural resources and environmental quality, renewed interest in brownfield site development and investment, enhancement of the safety and health of residents.

How: Streamline the permitting process, review of the Part 201 administrative process to uncover areas where it can be simplified, reduce fees and define an endpoint for the clean up process.

Obstacles: The state Legislature and governor. Regulatory reforms since the bill's inception in 1995 have created multiple layers of bureaucracy and excessive permitting hurdles. Gov. Jennifer Granholm's announcement of the merger of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the state Department of Environmental Quality is an excellent opportunity for the newly created Department of Natural Resources to take a hard look at Part 201 and restructure the program. Without action from the new agency, legislation could accomplish the goals outlined above.

Source: Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce