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Senate Bill 652, introduced by Senator Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) creates an environmental rules review committee–stacked with representatives from polluting industries. This committee will oversee DEQ rulemaking, amend DEQ draft rules, and offer final approval or denial of all environmental rules proposed by the DEQ. This committee will include :

1. A representative of the solid waste management industry,
2. A representative of a statewide manufacturing organization,
3. A representative of a statewide organization that represents small businesses,
4. A representative of a public utility,
5. A representative of a statewide environmental organization,
6. A representative of the oil and gas industry,
7. A representative of a statewide agriculture organization,
8. A representative of local government,
9. A representative of a statewide land conservancy,
10. One member of the general public, and
11. One member who is a medical professional.

• Individuals who are employed by the state or who worked for the DEQ within the proceeding 3 years are not allowed to serve on the environmental rules review committee.
• Multi-client registered lobbyists are not able to serve on the rules review committee, but registered lobbyists who only represent 1 client can.
• The Governor makes appointments to the environmental rules review committee and the Michigan Senate has advise and consent authority over those appointments.
• The director of the DEQ can appoint a science advisor to help advise the rules review committee
• The environmental rule review committee will oversee all rule-making of the DEQ.
• A majority of members of the environmental rules review committee can vote to prevent a rule-making from going forward
• The environmental rules review committee can also vote to make changes to a rules package.
• The environmental rules review committee has final approval over draft rules