Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 299. Natural Resources § 299.11

1. The Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Commission are hereby designated the state entity responsible for the development and coordination of all environmental functions and programs of the State of Michigan. In carrying out this mandate, the responsibilities of the Department and the Commission, in addition to the duties already prescribed by law, shall include but not be limited to the following:

2. The statutory authority, powers, duties, functions and responsibilities of the Water Resources Commission created under Section 1, Act 245, P.A.1929, as amended, being Section 323.1 of the Compiled Laws of 1948, are hereby transferred to the Department of Natural Resources by a Type II transfer as defined by Section 3(b) of Act 380 of the Public Acts of 1965, except that the Water Resources Commission shall continue to exercise independent authority with respect to quasi-judicial functions, rule-making, and issuance of permits and orders in the water pollution control functions, as specified in Section 2, Section 5, subsection (1) of Section 7, and subsection (b) of Section 8 of Act No. 245 of the Public Acts of 1929, as amended. In all other areas it shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Natural Resources Commission and staff.

3. The statutory authority, powers, duties, functions and responsibilities of the Michigan State Waterways Commission created under Section 2 of Act 320 of Public Acts of 1947, being section 281.502 of the Compiled Laws of 1948 is hereby transferred to the Department of Natural Resources by a Type II transfer as defined by Section 3(b) of Act 380 of Public Acts of 1965.

4. The statutory authority, powers, duties, functions and responsibilities of the Air Pollution Control Commissions created by Section 3 of Act No. 348 of the Public Acts of 1965 being 336.13 of the Compiled Laws of 1948 is hereby transferred from the Department of Public Health to the department of Natural Resources by a Type II transfer as defined by Section 3(b) of Act No. 380 of the Public Acts of 1965, except that the Air Pollution Control Commission shall continue to exercise independent authority with respect to quasi-judicial functions, rule-making, and issuance of permits and orders in the air pollution control function, as specifically prescribed by Section 4, subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (h) of Section 5; Section 7; Section 9; Section 10; and Section 11 of Act No. 348 of the Public Acts of 1965, as amended. In all other areas it shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Natural Resources Commission and staff. The statutory authority, powers, duties, functions and responsibilities of the State Health Commissioner pursuant to Section 6, of Act No. 348 of the Public Acts of 1965, as amended, being Section 336.16 of the Compiled Laws of 1970, is transferred from the Department of Public Health to the Department of Natural Resources by a Type II transfer as defined by Section 3(b) of Act No. 380 of the Public Acts of 1965; further the Director of Public Health shall continue to exercise independent authority with respect to the emergency powers in Section 14 of Act No. 348 of the Public Acts of 1965.

5. There is hereby transferred from the Department of Public Health to the Department of Natural Resources, by a Type II transfer, as defined by Section 3(b) of Act 380 of Public Acts of 1965, the statutory authority, powers, duties, functions and responsibilities set forth in the following:

6. There is hereby transferred from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Natural Resources the statutory authority, powers, duties, functions and responsibilities set forth in Act No. 238 of the Public Acts of 1972, establishing authority and appropriations for the coordination of watershed development.

7. [Stricken by E.R.O. No. 1976-1].

8. The Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Commission are hereby ordered to assume complete responsibility for the development of a State Land Use Plan and to prepare legislative proposals to effectuate that program within one year of the effective date of this Executive Order.

The Special Commission on Land Use created by Executive Order 1970-15, as amended, by Executive Order 1971-7, is hereby abolished. The Interim Office on Land Use within the Executive Office of the Governor is hereby abolished. All of the duties, responsibilities, and functions of the Special Commission on Land Use and the Interim Office are hereby transferred to the Department of Natural Resources by a Type II transfer along with all records, property, personnel and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations and other funds used, held, employed, available, or to be made available to the Special Commission on Land Use and the Interim Office on Land Use.

9. Executive Order 1969-1 creating the Advisory Council for Environmental Quality is hereby rescinded. The powers, duties, functions and responsibilities of the Council as set forth therein are hereby transferred to the Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Commission.

10. All rules and orders of the agencies and entities transferred by this Executive Order lawfully adopted prior to the effective date of this Order shall continue to be effective until revised, amended, or repealed.

11. All hearings and proceedings before commissions or other agencies included in the functions transferred by this Order shall be transferred to the Department of Natural Resources.

12. The Natural Resources Commission, after the effective date of this order, shall issue an administrative order to internally reorganize the Department as may be deemed necessary to promote economic and efficient administration and operation of the Department, and shall promulgate all necessary administrative rules to implement the reorganization.