DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT DIVISION

INLAND LAKES AND WETLANDS UNIT

AQUATIC NUISANCE CONTROL

(By authority conferred on the department of environmental quality by section 12561(3) of

1978 PA 368, MCL 333.12561)

R 323.3101 Definitions.

Rule 1. As used in these rules:

(a) "Act" means 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.12561 et seq.

(b) "Active ingredient" means an ingredient that will prevent, destroy, repel, or control

target organisms, act as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant, or otherwise alter the

behavior of plants or chemicals.

(c) "Algae" means any of the group of nonvascular aquatic plants which do not have

stems, flowers, leaves, and roots, and which are single-celled, colonial, or filamentous

forms.

(d) "Applicant" means any of the following entities:

(i) A person who is the bottomland owner.

(ii) A lake board established under part 309 of 1994 PA 451.

(iii) A state or local government.

(iv) A person who has written authorization to act on behalf of an entity specified in this

subdivision.

(e) "Aquatic nuisance" means any organism which lives or propagates, or both, within the

aquatic environment and which impairs the use or enjoyment of the waters of the state,

including the intermediate aquatic hosts for schistosomes that cause swimmers' itch.

(f) "Aquatic vegetation" means both algae and higher aquatic plants.

(g) "Area of impact" means the area within a waterbody where target organisms may be

adversely affected or destroyed.

(h) "Certificate of coverage" means written authorization from the department to

implement a project under a general permit.

(i) "Chemical" means any product designed to control, aid in the control, eliminate, or

restrict the growth of aquatic nuisances.

(j) "Commercial applicator" means a person who is required to be a registered or certified

applicator under part 83 of 1994 PA 451, who uses or supervises the use of a restricted use

pesticide, or holds himself or herself out to the public as being in the business of applying

pesticides.

(k) "Department" means the Michigan department of environmental quality.

(l) "Director" means the director of the department.

(m) "Emergency notification procedure" means a department-approved procedure

submitted annually by a commercial applicator, or state or local government, which

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provides a description of all available means of contact, such as home telephone number,

business telephone number, mobile telephone number, or pager number.

(n) "EPA" means the United States environmental protection agency.

(o) "FIFRA" means the federal insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide act, as amended,

being 7 U.S.C. §§136 to 136(y).

(p)

"Fluridone"

means

1-methyl-3-phenyl-5-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4(1h)-

pyridinone.

(q) "General permit" means a permit for a category of activities that the department

determines will not negatively impact human health and will have no more than minimal

short-term adverse impacts on the natural resources and environment.

(r) "Higher aquatic plant" means any of a group of vascularized plants which have true

stems, flowers, leaves, and roots, which live in water, and which belong to the class

angiospermae.

(s) "Littoral zone" means the area of a waterbody from the water's edge to the limit of the

depth of light penetration where rooted aquatic vegetation typically grows.

(t) "Outlet" means any natural or artificially created watercourse or structure which allows

passage of water out of a waterbody into other surface waters of the state, in an intermittent

or continuous flow.

(u) "Person" means any of the following entities:

(i) An individual.

(ii) Sole proprietorship.

(iii) Partnership.

(iv) Corporation.

(v) Municipality.

(vi) This state.

(vii) An instrumentality or agency of this state.

(viii) The federal government.

(ix) An instrumentality or agency of the federal government.

(x) Another legal entity.

(v) "Pesticide" means a substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing,

destroying, repelling, or mitigating aquatic nuisances.

(w) "Swimmers' itch" means the inflammation of a swimmer's skin resulting from an

allergic reaction to the penetration of the skin by the immature stages of blood fluke

parasites which live a part of their life cycle in certain aquatic snails.

(x) "Waters of the state" means groundwaters, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and wetlands

and all other watercourses and waters within the jurisdiction of this state and also the great

lakes bordering this state. For the purposes of these rules, "waters of the state" may also be

referred to as a waterbody.

History: 1979 AC; 2003 AACS.

R 323.3102 Activities requiring a permit or certificate of coverage.

Rule 2. (1) A permit or certificate of coverage shall be obtained from the department

before any chemical treatment of waters of the state for the purpose of aquatic nuisance

control, of waters of the state, where the area of impact contains visible water at the time

of chemical treatment. A permit or certificate of coverage shall also be obtained for

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chemical treatment of the Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair where the area of impact is

exposed bottomland located below the ordinary high water mark.

(2) A person is authorized to chemically treat waters of the state without obtaining a

permit or a certificate of coverage from the department if all of the following criteria are

met:

(a) A waterbody does not have an outlet.

(b) There is no record of a state or federal endangered or threatened species, pursuant to

part 365 of 1994 PA 451.

(c) A waterbody has a surface area of less than 10 acres.

(d) The bottomlands of a waterbody are owned by either of the following:

(i) A single person.

(ii) More than 1 person and written permission for the proposed chemical treatment is

obtained from each person.

(3) A person conducting a chemical treatment authorized by subrule (2) of this rule shall

maintain written permissions and records of treatment, including treatment date, chemicals

applied and amounts, and a map indicating the area of impact, for 1 year from the date of

each chemical application. The records shall be made available to the department upon

request. Each chemical treatment shall be posted as specified in R 323.3106(d).

History: 1979 AC; 2003 AACS.

R 323.3103 Registration of pesticides; use of certain chemicals prohibited.

Rule 3. (1) Pesticides used in waters of the state for aquatic nuisance control shall be

registered with the EPA, pursuant to section 3 of FIFRA, and the Michigan department of

agriculture, pursuant to section 8307, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.8307, for the nuisance

control activity for which it is proposed.

(2) The department may conduct evaluations of the impacts and effectiveness for any

chemicals that are proposed for use in waters of the state. This may include the issuance of

permits for field assessments of the chemicals.

(3) The director, in consultation with the director of the Michigan department of

agriculture, may prohibit or suspend the use of a chemical if, based on substantial scientific

evidence, use of a chemical is shown to cause unacceptable negative impacts to human

health or the environment. The department shall not issue permits authorizing the use of

such chemicals. In addition, a person shall cease the use of such chemicals upon

notification by the department.

History: 1979 AC; 2003 AACS.

R 323.3104 Application for permit or certificate of coverage.

Rule 4. (1) An applicant shall file an application for a permit or a certificate of coverage

with the department on a form provided by the department. An application shall include all

of the following information:

(a) The active ingredient or chemical trade name, and proposed application rate for each

chemical proposed for use.

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(b) A map or maps, to scale, of the waterbody which clearly delineates the proposed area

or areas of impact for each chemical type.

(c) The name, address or lot number, and telephone number for all bottomland owners

whose property is in the proposed area of impact, except as follows:

(i) If the proposed area of impact is to involve the property of 5 or more bottomland

owners, contact information is required for 5 persons who will know the date of treatment,

the chemicals used, and the area or areas of impact for each chemical treatment.

(ii) If an applicant has an emergency notification procedure, contact information is

required for 1 person who will know the date of treatment, the chemicals used, and the area

or areas of impact for each chemical treatment.

(iii) If an applicant has contracted with a person to provide chemical treatment of aquatic

nuisances, who has an emergency notification procedure, the applicant shall identify the

person and provide a copy of the contract or authorization form.

(d) Any additional information the department deems pertinent to reaching a decision.

(2) An applicant shall provide a lake management plan as part of an application for permit,

if a whole lake treatment is proposed.

(3) The department may require an applicant to provide a lake management plan as part

of an application for permit based on the type of proposed chemical treatment (for example,

treatments evaluating the effectiveness of a pesticide) or on the significance of proposed

impacts on natural resources (for example, treatments where threatened or endangered

species or habitats are present, treatment of a waterbody where removal of a large portion

of native aquatic vegetation is proposed), or on the extent of bottomlands owned by public

institutions. If a lake management plan is required, then the department shall notify

potential applicants at least 1 year in advance of the requirement. At a minimum,

notification shall be posted on the department internet web site, and shall be published in

pertinent department publications.

(4) A lake management plan shall be provided on department forms and shall include, at

a minimum, all of the following:

(a) All of the following physical characteristics of the waterbody:

(i) Location.

(ii) Lake size.

(iii) Maximum depth.

(iv) Mean depth.

(v) Size of littoral zone.

(vi) Shoreline length.

(vii) Retention time.

(viii) Location map.

(ix) Bathymetric map, including all of the following:

(A) Tributaries.

(B) Outlets.

(C) Public/private access sites.

(D) Public land.

(E) Critical fish spawning areas.

(F) Wetlands.

(G) Special habitats.

(H) Parks.

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(I) Water control structures.

(b) A description of the water quality, including data for water quality indicators, such as

dissolved oxygen, temperature, total alkalinity, and transparency (secchi disk).

(c) All of the following biological characteristics of the waterbody:

(i) Aquatic vegetation map(s) and data analysis.

(ii) Total higher aquatic plant surface coverage.

(iii) A description of the fish, wildlife, and plant communities, including identification of

any special concern, threatened, or endangered species.

(d) Land use activities including a description of the land use, and a land use map.

(e) History of waterbody management.

(f) Documentation of opportunities for involvement in plan development by stakeholders

and agencies responsible for managing public trust resources, including a description of all

input obtained.

(g) Vegetation management plan that includes a description of the aquatic nuisance

problem, management goals, management goal maps, management options, proposed

actions necessary to attain the management goals, management timeline, and monitoring

and evaluation processes.

(5) The department shall either issue or deny a certificate of coverage within 15 working

days after receipt of a complete application. If denied, the department shall notify the

applicant, in writing, of the reasons for denial.

(6) The department shall issue a permit, grant the permit in part, or deny the permit within

30 working days after receipt of a complete application. If denied or granted in part, the

department shall notify the applicant, in writing, of the reasons for denial.

(7) An applicant shall obtain authorization to chemically treat the proposed area or areas

of impact by obtaining written permission from each person who owns bottomlands in the

area or areas of impact. The applicant shall maintain the written permission for 1 year from

the expiration date of the permit, and shall make the records available to the department

upon request. Written permission from each bottomland owner is not required if the

applicant is providing, or has contracted to provide, chemical treatment for either of the

following:

(a) A lake board established under part 309 of 1994 PA 451.

(b) A state or local government acting under authority of state law to conduct lake

improvement projects or to control aquatic vegetation.

History: 1979 AC; 2003 AACS.

R 323.3105 Permits.

Rule 5. (1)A permit shall, at a minimum, include all of the following information:

(a) The active ingredient or the trade name of each chemical to be applied.

(b) The application rate of each chemical.

(c) The maximum amount of each chemical to be applied per treatment.

(d) Minimum length of time between treatments for each chemical.

(e) A map or maps that clearly delineate the approved area or areas of impact.

(2) The department may impose additional conditions on a permit to protect the natural

resources or the public health; to prevent economic loss, recreational damage, and

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unacceptable negative impacts to nontarget organisms; and to prevent a failure to provide

control of the aquatic nuisance.

(3) The department may issue general permits.

History: 1979 AC; 2003 AACS.

R 323.3106 Permit conditions.

Rule 6. (1) As a condition of a permit, the department may require the permittee to do any

of the following:

(a) Notify the department not less than 2 working days in advance of chemical treatment.

(b) Proceed with chemical treatment only if a department representative is present.

(c) Allow the department or its representative to collect a sample of the chemical or

chemicals used before or during any chemical treatment.

(d) Post the area or areas of impact before chemical treatment. All of the following posting

requirements apply:

(i) Signs shall be of a brilliant color and made of durable material. Minimum sign

dimensions shall be 14 inches by 11 inches and shall be attached to a supporting device

with the bottom of the sign extending not less than 12 inches above the ground surface.

(ii) Posting signs shall be placed in the following locations unless the department

determines that the locations are impractical or infeasible based upon a written request

from an applicant which includes an explanation of the necessity for alternative posting

locations and a description of the proposed posting locations:

(A) For an area or areas of impact that total less than 2 acres, signs shall be placed along

the shoreline of the areas of impact not more than 100 feet apart. Riparian lands adjacent

to the area shall also be posted, if permitted by the riparian owner.

(B) For an area of impact that is greater than or equal to 2 acres, posting signs shall be

posted as in paragraph (ii)(A) of this subdivision. In addition, all access sites, boat

launching areas, and private and public parks located on the waterbody shall be posted

conspicuously, such as at the entrances, boat ramps, and bulletin boards, if permitted by

their managers or owners. If the access sites, launching areas, and parks are not to be treated

or are not adjacent to the areas of impact, then the signs shall clearly indicate the location

of the areas of impact and shall contain the other information specified in paragraph (iii)

of this subdivision.

(iii) At a minimum, posting signs shall include all of the following information:

(A) The permit number.

(B) The name of the waterbody.

(C) The date of treatment.

(D) The name, address, and telephone number of the person conducting the treatment.

(E) The name of the chemical or chemicals used and the restrictions on the use of treated

water pursuant to the permit.

(F) The expiration date of water use restrictions for each chemical used during treatment.

(G) The phrase "do not remove posting signs or maps until all water use restrictions have

expired."

(e) Publish a notice in a local newspaper or make an announcement on a local radio station

regarding the chemical treatment. The notice or announcement shall include all of the

following information:

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(i) The permit number.

(ii) The name of the waterbody.

(iii) A list of the chemicals to be used with corresponding water use restrictions.

(iv) A description of the areas of impact.

(v) The proposed treatment dates.

(f) Apply chemicals so that swimming restrictions and fish-consumption restrictions are

not imposed on any Saturday, Sunday, or state-declared holiday.

(g) Take special precautions to avoid or minimize potential impacts to human health, the

environment, and nontarget organisms.

(h) Notify, in writing, an owner of any waterfront property within 100 feet of the area of

impact, not less than 7 days, and not more than 45 days, before the initial chemical

treatment. Written notification shall include all of the following information:

(i) Name, address, and telephone number of the permittee.

(ii) A list of chemicals proposed for use with corresponding water use restrictions.

(iii) All approximate treatment dates per chemical. If the owner is not the occupant of the

waterfront property or the dwelling located on the property, then the owner is responsible

for notifying the occupant.

(i) Complete and return the treatment report form provided by the department for each

treatment season.

(j) Perform lake water residue analysis to verify the chemical concentrations in the

waterbody according to a frequency, timing, and methodology approved by the department.

(k) Perform aquatic vegetation surveys according to a frequency, timing, and

methodology that has been approved by the department prior to submittal of a permit

application.

(l) Use chemical control methods for nuisance aquatic vegetation that are consistent with

the approved vegetation management plan submitted separately or as part of a lake

management plan. The department may approve modifications to the vegetation

management plan upon receipt of a written request from the permittee that includes

supporting documentation.

(m) Perform pretreatment monitoring of the target plant population according to a

frequency, timing, and methodology that has been approved by the department prior to

submittal of a permit application.

History: 1979 AC; 2003 AACS.

R 323.3107 Fluridone use.

Rule 7. (1) The department may issue permits for the use of a liquid formulation of

fluridone as a spring treatment to control Eurasian watermilfoil, as follows:

(a) A permit may be issued if the department determines that both of the following

provisions apply:

(i) There is widespread distribution of Eurasian watermilfoil in the lake.

(ii) The abundance of Eurasian watermilfoil causes it to be an aquatic nuisance.

(b) An application shall include information necessary for the department to make the

determination under subdivision (a) of this subrule, including an aquatic vegetation survey

performed in August or September of the year before the proposed fluridone application

and corresponding survey data analysis. The aquatic vegetation survey and data analysis

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shall be performed according to methods that have been approved by the department before

submittal of a permit application.

(c) A permit or permit amendment shall not authorize a lake water fluridone concentration

to be more than 6 parts per billion.

(d) The department may amend a permit to authorize an additional treatment 14 to 21

days following initial treatment, if the average fluridone concentration of all surface

samples taken 13 to 15 days after treatment is less than 5 parts per billion.

(2) The department may issue permits for the evaluation of uses of fluridone other than

as a spring treatment to control Eurasian watermilfoil.

(3) An applicant proposing chemical treatment of a waterbody using fluridone shall

provide a lake management plan as described in R 323.3104(2).

(4) As a condition of all permits authorizing the use of fluridone, the department shall

require the permittee to perform the activities listed in R 323.3106(j), (k), and (l).

(5) The department shall not issue a permit for the use of fluridone in the same waterbody

more than once in any 3-year period, unless either of the following provisions applies:

(a) The department determines, in the year of treatment, that a fluridone treatment failed

to control Eurasian watermilfoil.

(b) A use of fluridone approved by the department pursuant to subrule (2) of this rule

explicitly includes the use of fluridone in more than 1 year during a 3-year period.

History: 1979 AC; 2003 AACS.

R 323.3108 Denial of a permit or a certificate of coverage.

Rule 8. (1) The department shall deny a permit application, or a part of a permit

application, in any of the following circumstances:

(a) The proposed use of a pesticide is inconsistent with its label pursuant to FIFRA.

(b) The proposed use of a pesticide is not registered by the Michigan department of

agriculture pursuant to part 83 of 1994 PA 451 and the EPA pursuant to FIFRA.

(c) The proposed use of a chemical, though in accordance with the label and otherwise in

compliance with these rules or in combination with other aquatic management activities,

is likely to result in economic loss, recreational damage, a public health hazard,

unacceptable negative impacts to natural resources, or failure to provide control of the

aquatic nuisance, as determined by the department.

(d) An application for chemical treatment of higher aquatic plants is postmarked after

August 15 in the year for which treatment is proposed.

(2) The department shall deny a certificate of coverage if the proposed project does not

meet the requirements for the general permit under which the application is made.

(3) The department shall deny a permit application or an application for a certificate of

coverage if an applicant has committed 2 or more violations of other permits previously

issued under the act, conditions of a permit, or these rules within 1 calendar year. For

purposes of this subrule, "violation" means conviction in a court of law, or revocation of a

permit or certificate of coverage by the department, pursuant to R 323.3109(b) and (c).

History: 1979 AC; 2003 AACS.

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R 323.3109 Revocation of permit or certificate of coverage.

Rule 9. (1) The department may revoke a permit or certificate of coverage for cause,

including any of the following:

(a) The department determines, through information not available to the department at the

time of permit issuance, that the use of a chemical, although otherwise in accordance with

the label and these rules or in combination with other aquatic management activities, is

likely to result in economic loss, recreational damage, a public health hazard, unacceptable

negative impacts to natural resources, or failure to provide control of the aquatic nuisance,

as determined by the department.

(b) Failure to comply with any condition of a permit, the act, or these rules, as determined

by the department.

(c) Obtaining a permit or certificate of coverage by misrepresentation or failure to fully

disclose relevant facts.

History: 1979 AC; 2003 AACS.

R 323.3110 Permit amendments.

Rule 10. (1) The department may make minor revisions, based on minimizing the impacts

to the natural resources, public health, and safety, to a permit before permit expiration, if

the proposed revisions do not involve a change in the scope of the project, and upon receipt

of a written request from the permittee that includes all of the following information:

(a) The proposed changes to the permit.

(b) An explanation of the necessity for the proposed changes.

(c) Maps that clearly delineate any proposed changes to the area or areas of impact.

(d) Additional information that would help the department reach a decision on a permit

amendment.

History: 1979 AC; 2003 AACS.

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