Bill Text: MI HB4882 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Natural resources; Great Lakes; sinking of vessels and other recreational diving structures in the Great Lakes for scuba diving; provide for. Amends secs. 1301, 32501, 32503, 32512, 76101, 76102, 76103, 76104, 76105, 76107, 76108, 76109, 76110, 76111, 76112, 76113, 76114, 76115 & 76118 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.1301 et seq.) & adds secs. 32512b & 76112a.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-09-07 - Printed Bill Filed 08/25/2011 [HB4882 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2011-HB4882-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL No. 4882
August 24, 2011, Introduced by Reps. MacMaster, Potvin and Rogers and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending sections 1301, 32501, 32503, 32512, 76101, 76102,
76103, 76104, 76105, 76107, 76108, 76109, 76110, 76111, 76112,
76113, 76114, 76115, and 76118 (MCL 324.1301, 324.32501, 324.32503,
324.32512, 324.76101, 324.76102, 324.76103, 324.76104, 324.76105,
324.76107, 324.76108, 324.76109, 324.76110, 324.76111, 324.76112,
324.76113, 324.76114, 324.76115, and 324.76118), section 1301 as
amended by 2009 PA 120, sections 32501 and 32512 as amended by 2003
PA 14, sections 32503, 76105, and 76109 as amended by 2004 PA 325,
sections 76101 and 76115 as added by 1995 PA 58, sections 76102,
76103, 76104, 76108, 76110, 76111, 76112, 76113, 76114, and 76118
as amended by 2001 PA 75, and section 76107 as amended by 2001 PA
155, and by adding sections 32512b and 76112a.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1301. As used in this part:
(a) "Application period" means the period beginning when an
application for a permit is received by the state and ending when
the application is considered to be administratively complete under
section 1305 and any applicable fee has been paid.
(b) "Department" means the department, agency, or officer
authorized by this act to approve or deny an application for a
particular permit.
(c) "Director" means the director of the state department
authorized under this act to approve or deny an application for a
particular permit or the director's designee.
(d) "Permit" means a permit or operating license required by
any of the following sections or by rules promulgated thereunder,
or, in the case of section 9112, by an ordinance or resolution
adopted thereunder:
(i) Section 3104, floodplain alteration permit.
(ii) Section 3503, permit for use of water in mining iron ore.
(iii) Section 4105, sewerage system construction permit.
(iv) Section 6516, vehicle testing license.
(v) Section 6521, motor vehicle fleet testing permit.
(vi) Section 8310, restricted use pesticide dealer license.
(vii) Section 8310a, agricultural pesticide dealer license.
(viii) Section 8504, license to manufacture or distribute
fertilizer.
(ix) Section 9112, local soil erosion and sedimentation control
permit.
(x) Section 11509, solid waste disposal area construction
permit.
(xi) Section 11512, solid waste disposal area operating
license.
(xii) Section 11542, municipal solid waste incinerator ash
landfill operating license amendment.
(xiii) Section 11702, septage waste servicing license or septage
waste vehicle license.
(xiv) Section 11709, septage waste site permit.
(xv) Section 30104, inland lakes and streams project permit.
(xvi) Section 30304, state permit for dredging, filling, or
other activity in wetland. Permit includes an authorization for a
specific project to proceed under a general permit issued under
section 30312.
(xvii) Section 31509, dam construction, repair, removal permit.
(xviii) Section 32312, flood risk, high risk, or environmental
area permit.
(xix) Section 32503, 32512, permit
for dredging and filling
bottomland.
(xx) Section 35304, department permit for critical dune area
use.
(xxi) Section 36505, endangered species permit.
(xxii) Section 41702, game bird hunting preserve license.
(xxiii) Section 42101, dog training area permit.
(xxiv) Section 42501, fur dealer's license.
(xxv) Section 42702, game dealer's license.
(xxvi) Section 44513, charter boat operating permit under
reciprocal agreement.
(xxvii) Section 44517, boat livery operating permit.
(xxviii) Section 45503, permit to take frogs for scientific use.
(xxix) Section 45902, game fish propagation license.
(xxx) Section 45906, game fish import license.
(xxxi) Section 61525, oil or gas well drilling permit.
(xxxii) Section 62509, brine, storage, or waste disposal well
drilling or conversion permit or test well drilling permit.
(xxxiii) Section 63103a, metallic mineral mining permit.
(xxxiv) Section 63514 or 63525, surface coal mining and
reclamation permit or revision of the permit during the term of the
permit, respectively.
(xxxv) Section 63704, sand dune mining permit.
(xxxvi) Section 72108, use permits for Michigan trailway.
(xxxvii) Section 76105, permit for exploration or excavation of
aboriginal remains.
(xxxviii) (xxxvii) Section
76109, sunken aircraft or watercraft
abandoned property recovery permit.
(xxxix) (xxxviii) Section
76504, Mackinac Island motor vehicle and
land use permits.
(xxxx) (xxxix) Section
80159, buoy or beacon permit.
(e) "Processing deadline" means the last day of the processing
period.
(f) "Processing period" means the following time period after
the close of the application period, for the following permit, as
applicable:
(i) Twenty days for a permit under section 61525 or 62509.
(ii) Thirty days for a permit under section 9112.
(iii) Thirty days after the department consults with the
underwater salvage and preserve committee created under section
76103, for a permit under section 76109.
(iv) Sixty days, for a permit under section 30104 for a minor
project as established by rule under section 30105(7) or for a
permit under section 32312.
(v) Sixty days or, if a hearing is held, 90 days for a permit
under section 35304.
(vi) Sixty days or, if a hearing is held, 120 days for a permit
under section 30104, other than a permit for a minor project as
established by rule under section 30105(7), or for a permit under
section 31509.
(vii) Ninety days for a permit under section 11512, a revision
of a surface coal mining and reclamation permit during the term of
the permit under section 63525, or a permit under section 72108.
(viii) Ninety days or, if a hearing is held, 150 days for a
permit
under section 3104, 30304, or 32503 32512 or an
authorization for a specific project to proceed under a general
permit issued under section 30312.
(ix) One hundred and twenty days for a permit under section
11509, 11542, 63103a, 63514, or 63704.
(x) One hundred fifty days for a permit under section 36505.
However, if a site inspection or federal approval is required, the
150-day period is tolled pending completion of the inspection or
receipt of the federal approval.
(xi) For any other permit, 150 days or, if a hearing is held,
90 days after the hearing, whichever is later.
Sec. 32501. As used in this part:
(a)
"Beach" means the area landward of the shoreline of the
Great
Lakes as the term shoreline is defined in section 32301.
(b)
"Beach maintenance activities" means any of the following
in
the area of Great Lakes bottomlands lying below the ordinary
high-water
mark and above the water's edge:
(i) Manual or mechanized leveling of sand.
(ii) Mowing of vegetation.
(iii) Manual de minimis removal of vegetation.
(iv) Grooming of soil.
(v) Construction and maintenance of a path.
(c)
"Debris" means animal or fish carcasses, zebra mussel
shells,
dead vegetation, trash, and discarded materials of human-
made
origin.
(a) (d)
"Department" means the
department of environmental
quality.
(b) (e)
"Director" means the
director of the department.
(c) (f)
"Environmental area"
means an environmental area as
defined in section 32301.
(g)
"Grooming of soil" means raking or dragging, pushing, or
pulling
metal teeth through the top 4 inches of soil without
disturbance
of or destruction to plant roots, for the purpose of
removing
debris.
(h)
"Leveling of sand" means the relocation of sand within
areas
being leveled that are predominantly free of vegetation,
including
the redistribution, grading, and spreading of sand that
has
been deposited through wind or wave action onto upland riparian
property.
(d) (i)
"Marina purposes" means
an operation making use of
submerged bottomlands or filled-in bottomlands of the Great Lakes
for the purpose of service to boat owners or operators, which
operation may restrict or prevent the free public use of the
affected bottomlands or filled-in lands.
(e) (j)
"Mowing of vegetation"
means the cutting of vegetation
to a height of not less than 2 inches, without disturbance of soil
or plant roots.
(k)
"Path" means a temporary access walkway from the upland
riparian
property directly to the shoreline across swales with
standing
water, not exceeding 6 feet in bottom width and consisting
of
sand and pebbles obtained from the exposed, nonvegetated
bottomlands
or from the upland riparian property.
(f) "Recreational diving structure" means any of the
following:
(i) A vessel.
(ii) An aircraft.
(iii) An artifact of maritime history other than a vessel or
aircraft.
(iv) An artifact or other structure that may be used for
recreational scuba diving that will enhance habitat for sport fish
species and promote underwater recreation.
(g) (l) "Removal
of vegetation" means the manual or mechanized
removal of vegetation other than the de minimis removal of
vegetation.
(h) (m)
"Wetland" means that term
as it is defined in section
30301.
Sec. 32503. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section,
the department, after finding that the public trust in the waters
will not be impaired or substantially affected, may enter into
agreements pertaining to waters over and the filling in of
submerged patented lands, or to lease or deed unpatented lands,
after approval of the state administrative board. Quitclaim deeds,
leases, or agreements covering unpatented lands may be issued or
entered into by the department with any person, and shall contain
such terms, conditions, and requirements as the department
determines to be just and equitable and in conformance with the
public trust. The department shall reserve to the state all mineral
rights, including, but not limited to, coal, oil, gas, sand,
gravel, stone, and other materials or products located or found in
those lands, except where lands are occupied or to be occupied for
residential purposes at the time of conveyance.
(2)
A riparian owner shall not dredge or place spoil or other
materials
on bottomland except as authorized by a permit issued by
the
department pursuant to part 13.
(2) (3)
The department shall not enter into
a lease or deed
that allows drilling operations beneath unpatented lands for the
exploration or production of oil or gas.
(3) (4)
An agreement, lease, or deed
entered into under this
part by the department with the United States shall be entered into
and executed pursuant to the property rights acquisition act, 1986
PA 201, MCL 3.251 to 3.262.
Sec.
32512. (1) Unless a permit has been granted issued by
the
department pursuant to part 13 or authorization has been granted by
the legislature, or except as to boat wells and slips facilitating
private, noncommercial, recreational boat use, not exceeding 50
feet in length where the spoil is not disposed of below the
ordinary high-water mark of the body of water to which it is
connected, a person shall not do any of the following:
(a) Construct, dredge, commence, or do any work with respect
to an artificial canal, channel, ditch, lagoon, pond, lake, or
similar waterway where the purpose is ultimate connection of the
waterway with any of the Great Lakes, including Lake St. Clair.
(b) Connect any natural or artificially constructed waterway,
canal, channel, ditch, lagoon, pond, lake, or similar waterway with
any of the Great Lakes, including Lake St. Clair, for navigation or
any other purpose.
(c) Dredge or place spoil or other material, including a
recreational diving structure, on bottomland.
(d) Construct a marina.
(2)
Notwithstanding subsection (1), and with respect to lands
covered
and affected by this part, a permit or other approval is
not
required under this part for either of the following:
(a)
Until November 1, 2007, beach maintenance activities that
meet
all of the following conditions:
(i) The activities shall not occur in environmental
areas and
shall
not violate part 365 or rules promulgated under that part, or
the
endangered species act of 1973, Public Law 93-205, 87 Stat.
884,
or rules promulgated under that act.
(ii) The width of any mowing of vegetation shall not
exceed the
width
of the riparian property or 100 feet, whichever is less.
(iii) All collected debris shall be disposed of properly
outside
of
any wetland.
(b)
Until 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory
act
that added this subdivision, removal of vegetation as
authorized
in section 32516.
Sec. 32512b. (1) A person who wishes to place a recreational
diving structure on bottomlands may submit an application to the
department.
(2) The department shall grant a permit under section 32512 to
place a recreational diving structure on bottomland if the
department determines all of the following:
(a) The recreational diving structure has been decommissioned,
as applicable, in compliance with best practices described in the
document entitled "National Guidance: Best Management Practices for
Preparing Vessels Intended to Create Artificial Reefs" published by
the United States environmental protection agency and the United
States maritime administration, dated May 2006, or other practices
as determined by the department.
(b) The recreational diving structure is suitable or will be
made suitable for recreational scuba diving.
(c) The public trust will not be impaired or substantially
injured by the placement of the recreational diving structure on
bottomlands.
(d) The location of the proposed placement of the recreational
diving structure will provide opportunities for recreational scuba
diving or glass bottom boat tours, or both.
(e) If the recreational diving structure is proposed to be
placed within a Great Lakes bottomlands preserve established under
part 761, the underwater salvage and preserve committee established
in section 76103 has determined that the placement of the
recreational diving structure is consistent with the preservation
and use of the Great Lakes bottomland preserve.
(f) The placement of the recreational diving structure will
not cause negative impacts to aquatic species.
(g) The applicant agrees to reasonable conditions of the
department related to the transport and sinking of the recreational
diving structure.
(h) The applicant will transfer ownership and relinquish all
rights associated with the recreational diving structure to the
state upon placement of the recreational diving structure on
bottomlands.
Sec. 76101. As used in this part:
(a) "Abandoned property" means an aircraft; a watercraft,
including a ship, boat, canoe, skiff, raft, or barge; the rigging,
gear, fittings, trappings, and equipment of an aircraft or
watercraft; the personal property of the officers, crew, and
passengers of an aircraft or watercraft; and the cargo of an
aircraft or watercraft, which have been deserted, relinquished,
cast away, or left behind and for which attempts at reclamation
have been abandoned by owners and insurers. Abandoned property also
means materials resulting from activities of historic and
prehistoric Native Americans.
(b) "Bottomlands" means the unpatented lake bottomlands of the
Great Lakes.
(c) "Committee" means the underwater salvage and preserve
committee created in section 76103.
(d) "Great Lakes" means lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, St.
Clair, and Superior.
(e) "Great Lakes bottomlands preserve" means an area located
on the bottomlands of the Great Lakes and extending upward to and
including the surface of the water, which is delineated and set
aside by rule for special protection of abandoned property of
historical value, or ecological, educational, geological, or scenic
features or formations having recreational, educational, or
scientific value. A preserve may encompass a single object,
feature, or formation, or a collection of several objects,
features, or formations.
(f) "Historical value" means value relating to, or
illustrative of, Michigan history, including the statehood,
territorial, colonial, and historic, and prehistoric native
American periods.
(g) "Mechanical or other assistance" means all humanmade
devices, including pry bars, wrenches and other hand or power
tools, cutting torches, explosives, winches, flotation bags, lines
to surface, extra divers buoyancy devices, and other buoyance
devices, used to raise or remove artifacts.
(h) "Recreational diving structure" means that term as it is
defined in section 32501.
(i) (h)
"Recreational value"
means value relating to an
activity that the public engages in, or may engage in, for
recreation or sport, including scuba diving and fishing.
Sec. 76102. (1) The state reserves to itself the exclusive
right and privilege, except as provided in this part, of exploring,
surveying, excavating, and regulating through its authorized
officers, agents, and employees, all aboriginal records and other
antiquities, including mounds, earthworks, forts, burial and
village sites, mines or other relics, and abandoned property of
historical or recreational value found upon or within any of the
lands owned by or under the control of the state.
(2) The state reserves to itself a possessory right or title
superior to that of a finder to abandoned property of historical or
recreational value found on the state owned bottomlands of the
Great Lakes. This property shall belong to this state with
administration
and protection jointly vested in the department. and
the
department of history, arts, and libraries.
Sec. 76103. (1) The underwater salvage and preserve committee
is created in the department to provide technical and other advice
to
the department and the department of history, arts, and
libraries
with respect to their its responsibilities
under this
part.
(2) The underwater salvage and preserve committee shall
consist of 9 members appointed as follows:
(a) Two individuals appointed by the department who have
primary responsibility in the department for administering this
part.
(b)
Two individuals appointed by the director of the
department
of history, arts, and libraries who have primary
responsibility
in the department of history, arts, and libraries
for
administering this part.
(b) One individual appointed by travel Michigan.
(c) One individual appointed by the director of the department
of environmental quality.
(d) (c)
Five individuals appointed by the
governor with the
advice and consent of the senate from the general public. Two of
these individuals shall have experience in recreational scuba
diving.
(3) An individual appointed to the committee shall serve for a
term of 3 years. A vacancy on the committee shall be filled in the
same manner as an original appointment and the term of a member
appointed to fill a vacancy shall be for 3 years. Members of the
committee shall serve without compensation, except for their
regular state salary where applicable.
(4)
The chairperson of the committee shall alternate between
the
representatives from the department and the department of
history,
arts, and libraries. The chairperson shall
be designated
by
the department or the director of the department of history,
arts,
and libraries, whichever is applicable from among his or her
its representatives on the committee. The chairperson's term shall
run
for 12 months, from October 1 through September 30. The
department
shall appoint the first chairperson of the committee for
a
term ending September 30, 1989. The
chairperson shall call
meetings as necessary but not less than 4 times per year, set the
agenda for meetings, ensure that adequate minutes are taken, and
file
an annual report of committee proceedings with the head of the
department
of natural resources and the director. of
the department
of
history, arts, and libraries.
(5) The committee is an advisory body and may perform all of
the following functions:
(a) Make recommendations with regard to the creation and
boundaries of Great Lakes underwater preserves.
(b) Review applications for underwater salvage permits and
make recommendations regarding issuance.
(c) Consider and make recommendations regarding the charging
of permit fees and the appropriate use of revenue generated by
those fees.
(d) Consider the need for and the content of rules intended to
implement this part and make recommendations concerning the
promulgation of rules.
(e) Consider and make recommendations concerning appropriate
legislation.
(f) Consider and make recommendations concerning program
operation.
(6) The committee shall not replace or supersede the
responsibility
or authority of the department of history, arts, and
libraries
or the department to carry out their
its responsibilities
under this part.
Sec. 76104. A deed, as provided by this part, given by this
state, except state tax deeds for the conveyance of any land owned
by the state, shall contain a clause reserving to this state a
property right in aboriginal antiquities including mounds,
earthworks, forts, burial and village sites, mines, or other relics
and also reserving the right to explore and excavate for the
aboriginal antiquity by and through this state's authorized agent
and employee. This section applies only to the sale of tax reverted
land.
The department , with the approval of the department of
history,
arts, and libraries, may waive this
reservation when
conveying platted property and when making conveyances under
subpart 3 of part 21.
Sec. 76105. (1) A person, either personally or through an
agent or employee, shall not explore or excavate an aboriginal
remain covered by this part upon lands owned by the state, except
as
authorized by a permit issued by the department , with written
approval
of the department of history, arts, and libraries,
pursuant to part 13. A permit shall be issued without charge.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the Mackinac Island state
park commission on lands owned or controlled by the Mackinac Island
state park commission.
Sec. 76107. (1) Except as provided in section 76108, a person
shall not recover, alter, or destroy abandoned property which is
in, on, under, or over the bottomlands of the Great Lakes,
including those within a Great Lakes bottomlands preserve, unless
the
person has a permit issued jointly by the department of
history,
arts, and libraries and the department under section
76109.
(2) A person who recovers abandoned property without a permit
when a permit is required by this part shall transmit the property
to
the department, of history, arts, and libraries and the
recovered
property shall be the property of the department. of
history,
arts, and libraries.
(3) A person shall not remove, convey, mutilate, or deface a
human body or the remains of a human body located on the
bottomlands of the Great Lakes. This subsection does not apply to a
person who removes or conveys a human body or the remains of a
human body pursuant to a court order, pursuant to the written
consent of the decedent's next of kin if the decedent's death
occurred less than 100 years before the removal or conveying, or to
a person who removes or conveys the body for law enforcement,
medical, archaeological, or scientific purposes. A person who
violates this subsection is guilty of a felony punishable by
imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than
$5,000.00, or both.
(4) A person who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a crime
as follows:
(a) If the value of the property is less than $200.00, the
person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for
not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or 3
times the aggregate value of the property involved, whichever is
greater, or both imprisonment and a fine.
(b) If any of the following apply, the person is guilty of a
misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or
a fine of not more than $2,000.00 or 3 times the value of the
property involved, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a
fine:
(i) The value of the property involved is $200.00 or more but
less than $1,000.00.
(ii) The person violates subdivision (a) and has 1 or more
prior convictions for committing or attempting to commit an offense
under this section.
(c) If any of the following apply, the person is guilty of a
felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a
fine of not more than $10,000.00 or 3 times the value of the
property involved, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a
fine:
(i) The value of the property involved is $1,000.00 or more but
less than $20,000.00.
(ii) The person violates subdivision (b)(i) and has 1 or more
prior convictions for violating or attempting to violate this
section. For purposes of this subparagraph, however, a prior
conviction does not include a conviction for a violation or
attempted violation of subdivision (a) or (b)(ii).
(d) If any of the following apply, the person is guilty of a
felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a
fine of not more than $15,000.00 or 3 times the value of the
property involved, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a
fine:
(i) The property involved has a value of $20,000.00 or more.
(ii) The person violates subdivision (c)(i) and has 2 or more
prior convictions for committing or attempting to commit an offense
under this section. For purposes of this subparagraph, however, a
prior conviction does not include a conviction for a violation or
attempted violation of subdivision (a) or (b)(ii).
(5) The values of property recovered or destroyed in separate
incidents pursuant to a scheme or course of conduct within any 12-
month period may be aggregated to determine the total value of the
property recovered or destroyed.
(6) If the prosecuting attorney intends to seek an enhanced
sentence based upon the defendant having 1 or more prior
convictions, the prosecuting attorney shall include on the
complaint and information a statement listing the prior conviction
or convictions. The existence of the defendant's prior conviction
or convictions shall be determined by the court, without a jury, at
sentencing or at a separate hearing for that purpose before
sentencing. The existence of a prior conviction may be established
by any evidence relevant for that purpose, including, but not
limited to, 1 or more of the following:
(a) A copy of the judgment of conviction.
(b) A transcript of a prior trial, plea-taking, or sentencing.
(c) Information contained in a presentence report.
(d) The defendant's statement.
(7) If the sentence for a conviction under this section is
enhanced by 1 or more prior convictions, those prior convictions
shall not be used to further enhance the sentence for the
conviction pursuant to section 10, 11, or 12 of chapter IX of the
code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 769.10, 769.11, and
769.12.
Sec. 76108. (1) A person may recover abandoned property
outside a Great Lakes bottomlands preserve without a permit if the
abandoned property is not attached to, nor located on, in, or
located in the immediate vicinity of and associated with a sunken
aircraft or watercraft or other recreational diving structure and
if the abandoned property is recoverable by hand without mechanical
or other assistance.
(2) A person who recovers abandoned property valued at more
than $10.00 without a permit pursuant to subsection (1) shall file
a written report within 30 days after removal of the property with
the
department or the department of history, arts, and libraries if
the property has been abandoned for more than 30 years. The written
report shall list all recovered property that has been abandoned
for more than 30 years and the location of the property at the time
of recovery. For a period of 90 days after the report is filed, the
person shall make the recovered property available to the
department
and the department of history, arts, and libraries for
inspection
at a location in this state. If the department of
history,
arts, and libraries determines that
the recovered property
does
not have historical value, the department of history, arts,
and
libraries shall release the
property to the person by means of
a written instrument.
Sec. 76109. (1) A person shall not recover abandoned property
located on, in, or located in the immediate vicinity of and
associated with a sunken aircraft or watercraft or other
recreational diving structure except as authorized by a permit
issued
by the department and the department of history, arts, and
libraries
pursuant to part 13.
(2) Notwithstanding section 1303(1), a person shall file an
application for a permit with the department on a form prescribed
by
the department. and approved by the department of history, arts,
and
libraries. The application shall
contain all of the following
information:
(a) The name and address of the applicant.
(b) The name, if known, of the watercraft or aircraft or other
recreational diving structure on or around which recovery
operations are to occur and a current photograph or drawing of the
watercraft or aircraft or other recreational diving structure, if
available.
(c) The location of the abandoned property to be recovered and
the depth of water in which it may be found.
(d) A description of each item to be recovered.
(e) The method to be used in recovery operations.
(f) The proposed disposition of the abandoned property
recovered, including the location at which it will be available for
inspection
by the department. and the department of history, arts,
and
libraries.
(g)
Other information which that
the department or the
department
of history, arts, and libraries considers
necessary in
evaluating the request for a permit.
(3) An application for a permit is not complete until all
information requested on the application form and any other
information
requested by the department or the department of
history,
arts, and libraries has been
received by the department.
After receipt of an otherwise complete application, the department
may request additional information or documents as are determined
to be necessary to make a decision to grant or deny a permit.
(4)
The department and the department of history, arts, and
libraries
shall approve or deny an
application for a permit with
the advice of the committee. A condition to the approval of an
application shall be in writing on the face of the permit. The
department
and the department of history, arts, and libraries may
impose such conditions as are considered reasonable and necessary
to protect the public trust and general interests, including
conditions that accomplish 1 or more of the following:
(a) Protect and preserve the abandoned property to be
recovered , and the recreational value of the area in which
recovery is being accomplished.
(b) Assure reasonable public access to the abandoned property
after recovery.
(c) Conform with rules applying to activities within a Great
Lakes bottomlands preserve.
(d) Prohibit injury, harm, and damage to a bottomlands site or
abandoned property not authorized for removal during and after
salvage operations by the permit holder.
(e) Prohibit or limit the amount of discharge of possible
pollutants, such as floating timbers, planking, and other debris,
which may emanate from the shipwreck, plane wreck, or salvage
equipment.
(f) Require the permit holder to submit a specific removal
plan prior to commencing any salvaging activities. Among other
matters
considered appropriate by either the department, or
the
department
of history, arts, and libraries, or both, the removal
plan may be required to ensure the safety of those removing or
assisting in the removal of the abandoned property and to address
how the permit holder proposes to prevent, minimize, or mitigate
potential adverse effects upon the abandoned property to be
removed, that portion of the abandoned property which is not to be
removed, and the surrounding geographic features.
(5) The department shall approve an application for a permit
unless the department determines that the abandoned property to be
recovered has substantial recreational value in itself or in
conjunction with other abandoned property in its vicinity
underwater, or the recovery of abandoned property would not comply
with rules applying to a Great Lakes bottomlands preserve.
(6)
The department of history, arts, and libraries shall
approve
the application for a permit unless the department of
history,
arts, and libraries determines that the abandoned property
to
be recovered has substantial historical value in itself or in
conjunction
with other abandoned property in its vicinity. If the
abandoned property has substantial historical value, the
department, of
history, arts, and libraries, pursuant to subsection
(4), may impose a condition on the permit requiring the permittee
to
turn over recovered property to the department of history, arts,
and
libraries for the purpose of
preserving the property or
permitting
public access to the property. The department of
history,
arts, and libraries may authorize
the display of the
property in a public or private museum or by a local unit of
government. In addition to the conditions authorized by subsection
(4),
the department of history, arts, and libraries may provide for
payment of salvage costs in connection with the recovery of the
abandoned property.
(7) A person shall not recover cargo situated on, in, or
associated with an abandoned watercraft that is located outside of
a Great Lakes bottomlands preserve except as authorized by a permit
issued pursuant to this section and part 13. Subject to subsection
(4), the permit shall be issued to the first person applying for
the permit. However, only the person who discovered the abandoned
watercraft may apply for a permit during the first 90 days after
the discovery. When a watercraft containing cargo is simultaneously
discovered by more than 1 person, a permit shall be approved with
respect to the first person or persons jointly applying for a
permit.
(8) A person aggrieved by a condition contained on a permit or
by the denial of an application for a permit may request an
administrative review of the condition or the denial by the
commission
or the department. of
history, arts, and libraries,
whichever
disapproves the application or imposes the condition. A
person
shall file the request for review with the commission or the
department
of history, arts, and libraries, whichever is
applicable,
within 90 days after the permit
application is
submitted to the department. An administrative hearing conducted
pursuant to this subsection shall be conducted under the procedures
set forth in chapter 4 of the administrative procedures act of
1969,
1969 PA 306, MCL 24.271 to 24.287. If neither the department
nor
the department of history, arts, and libraries approves the
application
and an administrative review is requested from both the
commission
and the department of history, arts, and libraries, the
appeals
shall be combined upon request of the appellant or either
the
commission or the department of history, arts, and libraries
and
a single administrative hearing shall be conducted. The
commission
and Following the
administrative hearing, the department
of
history, arts, and libraries shall
issue jointly the final
decision and order in the case.
(9) A permit issued under this section is valid until December
31 of the year in which the application for the permit was filed
and is not renewable. If an item designated in a permit for
recovery is not recovered, a permit holder may, upon request
following the expiration of the permit, be issued a new permit to
remove the same abandoned property if the permit holder
demonstrates that diligence in attempting recovery was exercised
under the previously issued permit.
(10) A permit issued under this section shall not be
transferred or assigned unless the assignment is approved in
writing
by both the department. and the department of history,
arts,
and libraries.
Sec. 76110. (1) Within 10 days after recovery of abandoned
property, a person with a permit issued pursuant to section 76109
shall report the recovery in writing to the department. The person
recovering the abandoned property shall give authorized
representatives
of the department and the department of history,
arts,
and libraries an opportunity to
examine the abandoned
property for a period of 90 days after recovery. Recovered
abandoned property shall not be removed from this state without
written
approval of the department. and the department of history,
arts,
and libraries. If the recovered
abandoned property is removed
from the state without written approval, the attorney general, upon
request
from the department, or the department of history, arts,
and
libraries, shall bring an action
for the recovery of the
property.
(2)
If the department of history, arts, and libraries
determines that the recovered abandoned property does not have
historical
value, the department of history, arts, and libraries
shall release the property to the person holding the permit by
means of a written instrument.
Sec.
76111. (1) Subject to subsection (7), the department of
environmental
quality shall establish Great Lakes
bottomlands
preserves by rule. A Great Lakes bottomlands preserve shall be
established by emergency rule if it is determined by the department
that this action is necessary to immediately protect an object or
area of historical or recreational value.
(2) A Great Lakes bottomlands preserve may be established
whenever a bottomlands area includes a single watercraft of
significant historical value, includes 2 or more abandoned
watercraft, or contains other features of archaeological,
historical, recreational, geological, or environmental
significance. Bottomlands areas containing few or no watercraft or
other features directly related to the character of a preserve may
be excluded from preserves.
(3) In establishing a Great Lakes bottomlands preserve, the
department
of environmental quality shall consider all of the
following factors:
(a) Whether creating the preserve is necessary to protect
either abandoned property possessing historical or recreational
value, or significant underwater geological or environmental
features.
(b) The extent of local public and private support for
creation of the preserve.
(c) Whether a preserve development plan has been prepared by a
state or local agency.
(d) The extent to which preserve support facilities such as
roads, marinas, charter services, hotels, medical hyperbaric
facilities, and rescue agencies have been developed in or are
planned for the area.
(4)
The department of environmental quality and the department
of
history, arts, and libraries shall
not grant a permit to recover
abandoned artifacts within a Great Lakes bottomlands preserve
except for historical or scientific purposes or when the recovery
will not adversely affect the historical, cultural, or recreational
integrity of the preserve area as a whole.
(5) An individual Great Lakes bottomlands preserve shall not
exceed 400 square miles in area. Great Lakes bottomlands preserves
shall be limited in total area to not more than 10% of the Great
Lakes bottomlands within this state. However, the limitations
provided in this subsection do not apply to the Thunder Bay Great
Lakes bottomland preserve established in subsection (7).
(6)
Upon the approval of the committee,
not more than 1 vessel
associated
with Great Lakes maritime history recreational
diving
structures may be sunk intentionally within a Great Lakes
bottomlands preserve if a permit is obtained under section 32512b.
However, state money shall not be expended to purchase, transport,
or sink the vessel.
(7) The Thunder Bay Great Lakes state bottomland preserve
established under R 299.6001 of the Michigan administrative code
shall
have boundaries identical with those described in 15 C.F.R.
CFR 922.190 for the Thunder Bay national marine sanctuary and
underwater preserve. As long as the Thunder Bay national marine
sanctuary and underwater preserve remains a designated national
marine sanctuary, the right and privilege to explore, survey,
excavate, and regulate abandoned property of historical or
recreational value found upon or within the lands owned by or under
control of the state within those boundaries shall be jointly
managed
and regulated by the department of environmental quality
and the national oceanic and atmospheric administration. However,
this subsection shall not be construed to convey any ownership
right or interest from the state to the federal government of
abandoned property of historical or recreational value found upon
or within the lands owned by or under control of the state.
Sec.
76112. (1) The department and the department of history,
arts,
and libraries, jointly or separately, may
promulgate rules as
are necessary to implement this part.
(2)
Within each Great Lakes bottomlands preserve, the The
department
and the department of history, arts, and libraries may
jointly
promulgate rules that govern access
to and use of a Great
Lakes bottomlands preserve. These rules may regulate or prohibit
the alteration, destruction, or removal of abandoned property,
features, or formations within a preserve.
Sec. 76112a. The department, in conjunction with travel
Michigan, shall do all of the following:
(a) Publicize and promote the use of Great Lakes bottomlands
preserves.
(b) Publicize and promote recreational scuba diving in the
Great Lakes.
(c) Upon the sinking of recreational diving structures in the
Great Lakes, publicize and promote recreational scuba diving
opportunities associated with recreational diving structures.
Sec. 76113. Sections 76107 to 76110 shall not be considered to
impose the following limitations:
(a) A limitation on the right of a person to engage in diving
for recreational purposes in and upon the Great Lakes or the
bottomlands of the Great Lakes.
(b)
A limitation on the right of the department or the
department
of history, arts, and libraries to
recover, or to
contract for the recovery of, abandoned property in and upon the
bottomlands of the Great Lakes.
(c) A limitation on the right of a person to own either
abandoned property recovered before July 2, 1980 or abandoned
property released to a person after inspection.
Sec.
76114. (1) If the department or the department of
history,
arts, and libraries finds that the
holder of a permit
issued pursuant to section 76105 or 76109 is not in compliance with
this part, a rule promulgated under this part, or a provision of or
condition in the permit, or has damaged abandoned property or
failed to use diligence in attempting to recover property for which
a
permit was issued, the department or the department of history,
arts,
and libraries, individually or jointly, may summarily suspend
or revoke the permit. If the permit holder requests a hearing
within 15 days following the effective date of the suspension or
revocation,
the commission or the department of history, arts, and
libraries
shall conduct an administrative
hearing pursuant to
chapter 4 of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA
306, MCL 24.271 to 24.287, to consider whether the permit should be
reinstated.
(2)
The attorney general, on behalf of the department, or the
department
of history, arts, and libraries, individually or
jointly,
may commence a civil action in
circuit court to enforce
compliance with this part, to restrain a violation of this part or
any action contrary to a decision denying a permit, to enjoin the
further removal of artifacts, geological material, or abandoned
property, or to order the restoration of an affected area to its
prior condition.
Sec. 76115. Each person who participates in the sport of scuba
diving on the Great Lakes bottomlands accepts the dangers that
adhere
inhere in that sport insofar as the dangers are obvious and
necessary. Those dangers include, but are not limited to, injuries
which can result from entanglements in sunken watercraft or
aircraft or other recreational diving structures; the condition of
sunken watercraft or aircraft or other recreational diving
structures; the location of sunken watercraft or aircraft or other
recreational diving structures; the failure of the state to fund
staff or programs at bottomlands preserves; and the depth of the
objects and bottomlands within preserves.
Sec. 76118. (1) The underwater preserve fund is created as a
separate fund in the state treasury, and it may receive revenue as
provided
in this part , or
revenue from any other source.
(2) Money in the underwater preserve fund shall be
appropriated to the department for only the following purposes:
(a)
To the department of history, arts, and libraries for the
The development of maritime archaeology in the Great Lakes.
(b)
The and for the promotion of Great Lakes
bottomlands
preserves in this state.
(c) The promotion of recreational scuba diving in the Great
Lakes.
(d) (b)
To the department for the The
enforcement of this
part.