General Permit Category for Limited Great Lakes Shoreline Management Activities

The Land and Water Management Division (LWMD) of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issues permits for Great Lakes Shoreline Management Activities.

A. NAME OF PERMIT OR APPROVAL:

General Permit Category for Limited Great Lakes Shoreline Management Activities

B. STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

The MDEQ may issue a General Permit (GP) only for activities that are, "...similar in nature, will cause only minimal adverse environmental effects when performed separately, and will have only minimal cumulative adverse effect on the environment."

Part 303, Wetlands Protection, Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act, Public Act 451 of 1994, as amended. (Section 324.30312)

Part 325, Great Lakes Submerged Lands, Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act, Public Act 451 of 1994, as amended. (Section 324.32512a)

C. APPLICABLE REGULATION:

General Permit Category for Limited Great Lakes Shoreline Management Activities

D. SUMMARY OF PERMIT/APPROVAL PROCESS:

 1.  Applicability (activities that require the permit)

This GP category covers bottomlands of the entire Great Lakes shoreline (including Lake St. Clair) in Michigan below the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) of the Great Lakes and above the water's edge. This GP category does not include or authorize activities below the water's edge. Activities that qualify for approval under the General Permit include the following.

• Leveling and grooming of sand in areas free of vegetation ($100 fee)
• Construction and maintenance of a temporary access walkway using on-site materials ($100 fee)
• Limited mowing of vegetation for a pathway, certain recreation areas, and in previously mowed areas of Saginaw Bay and Grand Traverse Bay ($50 fee)
• Limited mowing for control of invasive or non-native species (such as Phragmites australis) in compliance with an invasive species control plan ($50 fee)

Authorizations under the General Permit will allow continued management of shoreline areas where vegetation was legally removed under Act 14 or in areas that are naturally free of vegetation. More detailed descriptions of activities authorized under the General Permit are available at the Michigan DEQ Web site at www.michigan.gov/deqwetlands. Click on the link for Great Lakes Shorelines Management

 2.  Pre-Application Requirements

Optional pre-application meetings are available for a fee. Learn more on the preapplication meeting website.

Contractors are also available to assist with wetland determinations, see the Wetland Identification Program webpage .

 3.  Application Submission Requirements

The application form is entitled Michigan Department of Environmental Quality - Great Lakes Shoreline Management General Permit, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Application for Minor Shore Activities, Application Form and Instructions (EPQ 2709). Projects that do not meet the criteria in the general permit must use the Joint Permit Application.

 4.  Procedures and Time-Frame for Obtaining Permit or Approval

Permit processing can take anywhere between 2 and 4 months. A permit processing flowchart is available.

 5.  Operational Requirements

Applicants must comply with all applicable statutes, rules, permit conditions, and stipulations set forth in the permit.

 6.  Fees

An application fee of $50 is required for projects that propose mowing alone. All other projects require a $100 fee.

 7.  Appeal Process

If an application is denied for a proposed activity, the landowner may appeal the decision to the MDEQ Director requesting a contested case hearing pursuant to the State Administrative Procedures Act, Public Act 306 of 1969, as amended (a decision from this process can be appealed to the courts).

Information regarding contested case hearings can be obtained from the Office of Administrative Hearings Website.

 8.  Public Input Opportunities

The decision makers for this program are district staff. However, for substantial or relevant unresolved issues the deputy director or the division chief will issue the permit. The LWMD has many mechanisms for public notice of pending permit decisions. A record of applications received is available on an online searchable system called CIWPIS ( www.deq.state.mi.us/ciwpis ). This online system allows queries related to public hearings, public notices, year, county, township, range, section, water body, file number or applicant name. The LWMD district contact can be found through CIWPIS. Applications meeting this GP do not go through the public notice process. For others, the best opportunity for public input is during the 20 day public review and comment period. If the proposed project impacts regulated wetlands under the jurisdiction of Part 303 then the local units of government (village, city, township or county) have 45 days to submit comment. If a hearing is requested, then all previously notified groups and individuals are notified by mail at least 10 days prior to the hearing.

E. MICHIGAN BUSINESS ONE STOP:

The Michigan Business One Stop (One Stop) www.michigan.gov/business is a tool designed to allow businesses to interact with the State of Michigan . The tool offers:

• a set of screening questions based upon your business sector to identify permits, licenses and registrations that may be required to do business in Michigan .
• an option to pay fees online. For many programs, you can pay your business license fee in One Stop through use of an online form and shopping cart.
• many online permit applications and renewals. When starting a new business and registering in One Stop, you will need to identify a business sector (also known as a NAICS Code). You can find your code at www.naics.com, select "Code Search."  After entering this code in One Stop and answering some screening questions, links to relevant permit applications will automatically be available in your newly created workspace. One benefit of accessing applications through One Stop is that you will receive status messages throughout the application process.

Using the One Stop provides many benefits to businesses in Michigan . By conducting your business through One Stop you can organize your State of Michigan transactions in one place. If you ever need assistance with One Stop, then you can contact the Customer Assistance Center at 877-766-1779; they are open from 7 am to 6 pm. One Stop is a valuable tool that offers many benefits to business. We hope you give it a try.

F. ADMINISTERING AGENCY:

Land and Water Management Division, Permit Consolidation Unit, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 30204, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7704

• Program Phone: 517-373-9244

• Program Webpage: www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3307_29692_24403-70142--,00.html

• Environmental Assistance Center : 1-800-662-9278, mailto:deq-ead-env-assist@michigan.gov

Creation/Revision Date:

October 2010