Sec. 32707.

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), a person who is required to register under section 32705 or holds a permit under section 32723 shall file a report annually with the department on a form provided by the department. Reports shall be submitted by April 1 of each year. Except as provided in subsection (8), reports shall include the following information:

(a) The amount and rate of water withdrawn on an annual and monthly basis.

(b) The source or sources of the water supply.

(c) The use or uses of the water withdrawn.

(d) The amount of consumptive use of water withdrawn.

(e) If the source of the water withdrawn is groundwater, the location of the well or wells in latitude and longitude, with the accuracy of the reported location data to within 25 feet.

(f) If the source of water withdrawn is groundwater, the static water level of the aquifer or aquifers, if practicable.

(g) Other information specified by rule of the department.

(h) At the discretion of the registrant or permit holder, the baseline capacity of the withdrawal and, if applicable, a description of the system capacity.

(i) At the discretion of the registrant or permit holder, the amount of water returned to the source watershed.

(j) Beginning in 2010, an acknowledgment that the registrant has reviewed applicable environmentally sound and economically feasible water conservation measures prepared under section 32708a.

(2) If a person reports the information required by this section to the department in conjunction with a permit or for any other purpose, that reporting, upon approval of the department, satisfies the reporting requirements of this section.

(3) The owner of a farm who reports water use under section 32708 is not required to report under subsection (1).

(4) The department may, upon request from a person required to report under this section, accept a formula or model that provides to the department's satisfaction the information required in subsection (1).

(5) The department shall develop forms for reporting under this section that minimize paperwork and allow for a notification to the department instead of a report if the annual amount of water withdrawn by a person required to report under this section is within 4% of the amount last reported and the other information required in subsection (1) has not changed since the last year in which a report was filed.

(6) Information described in section 32701(d)(i)(B) that is provided to the department under subsection (1)(h) is exempt from disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246, and shall not be disclosed unless the department determines that the withdrawal is causing an adverse resource impact.

(7) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a person who files an annual report or notification under this section shall annually remit a water use reporting fee of $200.00 to the department. Water use reporting fees shall be remitted to the department in conjunction with the annual report or notification submitted under this section. The department shall transmit water use reporting fees collected under this section to the state treasurer to be credited to the water use protection fund created in section 32714. A water use reporting fee is not required for a report or notification related to a farm that reports withdrawals under section 32708 or for a report under subsection (8).

(8) A person who withdraws less than 1,500,000 gallons of water in any year shall indicate this fact on the reporting form and is not required to provide information under subsection (1)(a) or (d). A person who withdraws less than 1,500,000 gallons of water in any year is not required to pay the water use reporting fee under subsection (7).

History: Add. 1995, Act 59, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 434, Imd. Eff. Dec. 2, 1996 ;-- Am. 2003, Act 148, Imd. Eff. Aug. 8, 2003 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 33, Imd. Eff. Feb. 28, 2006 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 182, Imd. Eff. July 9, 2008 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: NREPA