Sec. 5523.

(1) A county in which a city with a population of 750,000 or more is located may apply for a delegation from the department to issue state permits and administer and enforce the applicable provisions of this part, rules promulgated under this part, the clean air act, and the state implementation plan. After a public hearing, the department shall grant the delegation if the department finds that the county's application demonstrates all of the following:

(a) That the county program complies with the applicable provisions of this part, the rules promulgated under this part, the clean air act, and the state implementation plan.

(b) That the county has, and will continue to have, the capacity to carry out the applicable provisions of this part, rules promulgated under this part, the clean air act, and the state implementation plan including, but not limited to, adequate and qualified staff to do all of the following:

(i) Monitor ambient air at locations specified by the department using equipment and procedures specified by the department.

(ii) Process and review applications for installation permits, operating permits, tax exemptions, and construction waivers pursuant to sections 5505 and 5506, part 59, and the clean air act, demonstrating a thorough knowledge of permit applicability, procedures, and regulations by developing permits that are free of significant errors and inaccuracies as defined in the performance standards section of the annual contract between the department and participating counties.

(iii) Perform necessary sampling and laboratory analyses.

(iv) Conduct regular and complete inspections and record reviews of all significant sources of air pollution.

(v) Respond to citizen complaints related to air pollution.

(vi) Notify sources of identified violations of applicable provisions of this part, rules promulgated under this part, the clean air act, and the state implementation plan and conduct appropriate enforcement, up to and including administrative, civil, and criminal enforcement.

(vii) Perform dispersion modeling analyses, collect emissions release information, and develop necessary state implementation plan demonstrations.

(viii) Carry out other activities required by this part, rules promulgated under this part, the clean air act, and the state implementation plan.

(c) That the county has adequate funding to carry out the applicable provisions of this part, rules promulgated under this part, the clean air act, and the state implementation plan. This shall include identification of funding from air quality fees and any federal, state, or county funds along with an identification of the activities that are funded by each funding source. The county funding shall be sufficient to provide the required grantee match for any federal air pollution grant.

(d) That the county has performed in accordance with the terms of the most recent contract, if any, between the state and the county that describes the work activities and program to be carried out by the county. This shall be demonstrated through state audit reports and the county's prompt and permanent correction of any deficiencies identified in state audit reports.

(e) That the county program contains provisions for public notice and public participation consistent with this part, the rules promulgated under this part, and the clean air act.

(f) That the county has the capacity to administer the state air quality fee program in the manner prescribed in section 5522 for all fee-subject facilities subject to this part, located within the county, and subject to the delegated program of the county. This shall include an ability to identify fee-subject facilities, calculate and assess fees, implement collections, maintain a dedicated account, and process fee challenges.

(2) A delegation under this section shall be for a term of not more than 5 years and not less than 2 years, and may be renewed by the department. The delegation shall be in the form of a written contract that does all of the following:

(a) Describes the activities the county shall carry out during the term of the delegation.

(b) Provides for the delegated program to be consistent with implementation of the state's air program, using state procedures, forms, databases, and other means.

(c) Provides for ongoing communication between the county and state to assure consistency under subdivision (b).

(3) One hundred eighty days prior to the expiration of the term of delegation, the county may submit an application to the department for renewal of their delegation of authority. The department shall hold a public hearing and following the public hearing make its decision on a renewal of delegation at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the term of the delegation. The department shall deny the renewal of a delegation of authority upon a finding that the county no longer meets the criteria described in subsection (1) or provisions of the delegation contract. The county may appeal a finding under subsection (1) or this subsection to a court of competent jurisdiction.

(4) A county delegated authority under this section annually shall submit a report to the department that documents the county's ability to meet the criteria described in subsection (1) and the delegation contract during the past 12 months.

(5) In addition to the report of the county under subsection (4), the auditor general of the state shall annually submit to the governor, the legislature, and the department an independent report regarding whether a county meets the criteria provided in subsection (1) and a review of the fiscal integrity of a county delegated authority under this section. The auditor general's report shall also determine the county's pro rata share of the state's support services for title V programs that are attributable to and payable by a county.

(6) Within 60 days after a county delegated authority under this section submits its annual report as required under subsection (4), the department shall notify the county, in writing, whether the report of the county meets the requirements of this section or states, with particularity, the deficiencies in that report or any findings in the auditor general's report that render the county in noncompliance with the criteria in subsection (1). The county shall have 90 days to correct any stated deficiencies. If the department finds that the deficiencies have not been corrected by the county, the department shall notify the county, in writing, within 30 days of the submission of the county's corrections and may terminate a county's delegation. The county shall have 21 days from receipt of the decision of termination in which to appeal the department's decision to a court of competent jurisdiction. If the department fails to notify the county within 60 days, the report shall be considered satisfactory for the purposes of this subsection.

(7) Notwithstanding any other statutory provision, rule, or ordinance, a county delegated authority under this section to administer and enforce this part shall issue state permits and implement its responsibilities only in accordance with its delegation, the delegation contract, this part, rules promulgated under this part, the clean air act, and the applicable provisions of the state implementation plan. State permits issued by a county that is delegated authority under this section have the same force and effect as permits issued by the department, and if such a county issues a state permit pursuant to section 5505 or 5506, no other state or county permit is required pursuant to section 5505 or 5506, respectively.

(8) Upon receipt of a permit application, prior to taking final action to issue a state permit or entering into a consent order, the county shall transmit to the department a copy of each administratively complete permit application, application for a permit modification or renewal, proposed permit, or proposed consent order. The county shall transmit to the department a copy of each state permit issued by the county and consent order entered within 30 days of issuance of the state permit or entry of the consent order.

(9) Notwithstanding a delegation under this part, the department retains the authority to bring any appropriate enforcement action under sections 5515, 5516, 5518, 5526, 5527, 5528, 5529, 5530, 5531, and 5532 as authorized under this part and the rules promulgated under this part to enforce this part and the rules promulgated under this part. The department may bring any appropriate action to enforce a state permit issued or a consent order entered into by a county to which authority is delegated.

(10) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, in a county that has been delegated authority under this section, that county shall impose and collect fees in the manner prescribed in section 5522 on all fee-subject facilities subject to this part and located within the corporate boundaries and subject to the delegated program of the county. The department shall not levy or collect an annual air quality fee from the owner or operator of a fee-subject facility who pays fees pursuant to this section. A county that is delegated authority under this section shall not assess a fee for a program or service other than as provided for in this part or title V or assess a fee covered by this part or title V greater than the fees set forth in section 5522. A county that is delegated authority under this section shall pay to the state the pro rata share of the state's support services for title V programs attributable to the county.

(11) Fees imposed and collected by a county with delegated authority under this section shall be paid to the county treasury.

(12) The county treasurer of a county delegated authority under this section shall create a clean air implementation account in the county treasury, and the county treasurer shall deposit all fees received pursuant to the delegation authorized under this section in the account. The fees shall be expended only in accordance with section 5521(6), the rules promulgated under this part, and the clean air act.

History: 1994, Act 451, Eff. Mar. 30, 1995 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 245, Imd. Eff. July 8, 1998 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: NREPA