Water
The primary legal mechanisms for the regulation of water pollution in Michigan are Part 31 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA), MCL 324.31 et seq, the federal Clean Water Act, 33 USC 1251 et seq, and the rules promulgated under each act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the implementation and enforcement of these acts, but the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have the primary responsibility and authority to administer Michigan’s federally approved water program.
This chapter begins by providing the general principles of the Clean Water Act, such as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, minimum national effluent standards, and enforcement. The second part of the chapter deals with Michigan’s water pollution statutes, regulations, and permitting process. This chapter provides only an overview of the statutes and regulations relating to water pollution in Michigan. It is therefore important for the reader to refer to the appropriate statutes, regulations, and case law for more details.