Environmental protection: hazardous waste; injection well disposal fee; provide for. Amends sec. 62506a of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.62506a).
Summary
HB4389 amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to create a specific fee structure for certain class I multisource commercial hazardous waste disposal wells. The bill defines that category of well as a class I well that received hazardous waste from more than one generator and was operating during the state fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, while excluding wells used only by an owner, its subsidiaries, or an operator and its subsidiaries. Before drilling or converting a well to this use, a person must obtain the required construction permit for on-site treatment and storage facilities.
The bill imposes a per-gallon disposal fee on waste injected into covered wells, initially set at 0.417 cents per gallon and adjusted annually for inflation using the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn Consumer Price Index. The owner or operator must collect the fee from off-site generators, pay the fee on-site for waste generated and disposed of at the same facility, and submit quarterly payments and reporting to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The bill also establishes documentation requirements for fee exemptions, authorizes enforcement against false exemption certifications and unpaid fees, and directs collected revenue into a new disposal well host community fund.
Impact
HB4389 would amend MCL 324.62506a to add a dedicated regulatory and fiscal framework for class I multisource commercial hazardous waste disposal wells. It creates a new state treasury fund, requires fee collections to be deposited into that fund, and authorizes annual grants to cities and townships where these wells are located, with grant amounts tied to the share of fee revenue generated in each jurisdiction. The bill also affects hazardous waste generators, well owners and operators, and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy by adding reporting, certification, retention, and enforcement obligations.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as an environmental protection and local-impact funding bill rather than a broadly controversial policy change. The structure suggests support for ensuring hazardous waste disposal activities contribute to oversight costs and to host communities that bear the local burden of such facilities. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, amendments, or formal opposition in the available record.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the new disposal fee, who ultimately bears its cost, and whether the fee is appropriate for off-site generators versus well owners/operators. Another likely issue is the bill’s narrow application to a defined class of wells operating during a specific fiscal year, which may raise questions about whether it is targeted at a limited number of facilities. The exemption-certification and enforcement provisions could also be disputed by regulated entities if they are viewed as administratively burdensome or as expanding state oversight of hazardous waste disposal operations.