A pair of bills in the Michigan House that aim to expand exemptions for groundwater discharge permits are receiving support from Farm Bureau and other key ag and business groups.
Sponsored by Reps. Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville) and Gina Johnsen (R-Odessa Twp), House Bills 5698 and 5699 would exempt operations that discharge less than 100,000 gallons of wastewater per year from obtaining a groundwater discharge permit.
For comparison, the average U.S. household uses 10,000-30,000 more gallons of water per year than that, according to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan State University Extension.
“In other words, the proposed threshold is lower than the amount of water a typical household uses annually for everyday activities like showering, laundry, and dishwashing,” said Michigan Farm Bureau Associate Legislative Counsel Josh Scramlin, who testified in support of the bills before the House Ag Committee on Thursday.
He noted that the exemptions in HBs 5698 and 5699 would include many small and mid-sized operations — including fruit and vegetable processors and packers, craft beverage producers, and small dairy, cheese, honey, and other food processors.
Scramlin used an example of a small winery producing around 50,000 gallons of wastewater a year, primarily from cleaning equipment.
“Under current rules, one particular permit that winery could need to obtain costs $1,800 per year, or $9,000 over five years,” he said. “Monthly water testing adds approximately $250 per month, creating a meaningful financial burden for smaller producers.”
Scramlin went on to cite MFB’s member-driven, grassroots policy that supports “changes to the regulatory requirement that allow ag processors to land apply wastewater without permitting under a specifically defined set of circumstances.”
Under current rules, a groundwater discharge permit is required when a business must dispose of wastewater but is not connected to a municipal sewer system — which is the case for many small and mid-sized farms and processors.
“The challenge is that the current system does not always account for the size, seasonality, and capacity of smaller operations,” said MFB Conservation and Regulatory Relations Specialist Tess Van Gorder.
“As a result, these farms are often subject to requirements like those applied to much larger entities, despite generating significantly less wastewater and having more limited resources to manage compliance.”
Along with MFB, groups including the Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Association, Michigan Blueberry Advisory Committee, Michigan Apple Association, Michigan Agri-Business Association, Michigan Cherry Committee, Michigan Cattlemen’s Association, and National Federation of Independent Business have voiced their support for the bills.
As Scramlin pointed out, clear and strict environmental safeguards would remain fully in place under the proposed bills.
“Farmers have long served as stewards of the land and natural resources, and this legislation does not change that commitment,” he said.
“Rather, these bills provide meaningful relief to small agricultural producers and processors while continuing to uphold responsible environmental standards.”