Sec. 20117.

(1) To determine the need for response activity or selecting or taking a response activity or otherwise enforcing this part or a rule promulgated under this part, the directors or their authorized representatives may upon reasonable notice require a person to furnish any information that the person may have relating to any of the following:

(a) The identification, nature, and quantity of materials that have been or are generated, treated, stored, handled, or disposed of at a facility or transported to a facility.

(b) The nature or extent of a release or threatened release at or from a facility.

(2) Upon reasonable notice, a person required to furnish information pursuant to subsection (1) shall either:

(a) Grant the directors or their authorized representatives access at all reasonable times to any place, property, or location to inspect and copy the related information.

(b) Copy and furnish to the directors or their authorized representatives the related information.

(3) If there is a reasonable basis to believe that there may be a release or threat of release, the directors or their authorized representatives have the right to enter at all reasonable times any public or private property for any of the following purposes:

(a) Identifying a facility.

(b) Investigating the existence, origin, nature, or extent of a release or threatened release.

(c) Inspecting, testing, taking photographs or videotapes, or sampling of any of the following: soils, air, surface water, groundwater, suspected hazardous substances, or any containers or labels of suspected hazardous substances.

(d) Determining the need for or selecting any response activity.

(e) Taking or monitoring implementation of any response activity.

(4) A person that enters public or private property pursuant to subsection (3) shall present credentials; make a reasonable effort to contact the person in charge of the facility or that person's designee; describe the nature of the activities authorized under subsection (3) to be undertaken; and inform the person that is in charge of the facility that he or she is entitled to participate in the collection of split samples, and is entitled to a copy of the results of any analysis of samples and a copy of any photograph or videotape taken. The person in charge or his or her agent may accompany the directors or their authorized representatives during the activities authorized under subsection (3) that take place and may participate in the collection of any split samples on the property. The absence or unavailability of the person in charge or that person's agent shall not delay or limit the authority of the directors or their authorized representatives to enter the property or proceed with the activities authorized under subsection (3).

(5) If the directors or their authorized representatives obtain any samples, before leaving the property they shall give to the person in charge of the property from which the samples were obtained a receipt describing the sample. A copy of the results of any analysis of the samples shall upon request be furnished promptly to the person in charge. A copy of any photograph or videotape taken pursuant to subsection (3)(c) shall upon request be furnished promptly to the person in charge.

(6) All inspections and investigations undertaken by the directors or their authorized representatives under this section shall be completed with reasonable promptness.

(7) If refused entry or information under subsections (1) to (4), for the purposes of enforcing the information gathering and entry authority provided in this section, the attorney general, on behalf of the state, may do either of the following:

(a) Petition the court of appropriate jurisdiction for a warrant authorizing access to property or information pursuant to this section.

(b) Commence a civil action to compel compliance with a request for information or entry pursuant to this section, to authorize information gathering and entry provided for in this section, and to enjoin interference with the exercise of the authority provided in this section.

(8) In a civil action brought pursuant to subsection (7), if there is a reasonable basis to believe there may be a release or a threatened release, the court shall in the case of interference or noncompliance with information requests pursuant to subsection (1), or with entry or inspection requests pursuant to subsection (3), enjoin interference with and direct compliance with the requests unless the defendant establishes that, under the circumstances of the case, the request is arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.

(9) In a civil action brought pursuant to subsection (7), if there is a reasonable basis to believe there may be a release or a threatened release, the court may assess a civil fine not to exceed $25,000.00 for each day of noncompliance against a person that unreasonably fails to comply with subsection (1), (2), or (3).

(10) Information obtained by the directors or their authorized representatives as authorized under subsection (1) or (2) shall be available to the public to the extent provided by the freedom of information act, Act No. 442 of the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.231 to 15.246 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. A person who provides information pursuant to subsection (1) or (2), or the person in charge of a facility at which photographs or videotapes are taken pursuant to subsection (3), may designate the information that the person believes to be entitled to protection as if the information was exempt from disclosure as being either trade secrets or information of a personal nature under section 13(1)(a) or (g) of the freedom of information act, Act No. 442 of the Public Acts of 1976, being section 15.243 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and submit that specifically designated information separately from other information required to be provided under this section.

(11) Notwithstanding subsection (10), the following information obtained by the directors or their authorized representatives as required by this section shall be available to the public:

(a) The trade name, common name, or generic class or category of the hazardous substance.

(b) The physical properties of a hazardous substance, including its boiling point, melting point, flash point, specific gravity, vapor density, solubility in water, and vapor pressure at 20 degrees Celsius.

(c) The hazards to the public health, safety, or welfare, or the environment posed by a hazardous substance, including physical hazards, such as explosion, and potential acute and chronic health hazards.

(d) The potential routes of human exposure to the hazardous substance at the facility being investigated, entered, or inspected under this section.

(e) The location of disposal of any waste stream released or threatened to be released from the facility.

(f) Monitoring data or analysis of monitoring data pertaining to disposal activities related to the facility.

(g) Hydrogeologic data.

(h) Groundwater monitoring data.

(12) To collect information for the purpose of identifying persons who are liable under section 20126 or to otherwise enforce this part or a rule promulgated under this part, the attorney general may by administrative subpoena require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and production of papers, reports, documents, answers to questions, and other information the attorney general considers necessary. Witnesses shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of this state. If a person fails or refuses to obey the administrative subpoena, the circuit court for the county of Ingham or for the county in which that person resides has jurisdiction to order that person to comply with the subpoena. A failure to obey the order of the court is punishable by the court as contempt.

(13) As used in this section, “information” includes, but is not limited to, documents, materials, records, photographs, and videotapes.

History: 1994, Act 451, Eff. Mar. 30, 1995 ;-- Am. 1995, Act 71, Imd. Eff. June 5, 1995 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: Environmental RemediationPopular Name: Environmental Response ActPopular Name: NREPA