Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy
Water Resources Division
Administrative Rules for Sewerage Systems
Rule Set 2024-52 EQ
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
11:00 AM
In Person: ConCon Conference Room, Constitution Hall, 525 West Allegan Street, Lansing, MI 48933
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy will hold a public hearing to receive public
comments on proposed changes to the Sewerage Systems rule set.
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), will hold a public hearing to receive
public comments on proposed changes to the Sewerage System administrative rule set.
The proposed rule set (2024-52 EQ) will amend the current administrative rules to require facility
classification and operator certification for collection systems and retention treatment basins (RTB).
Currently, wastewater collection systems that discharge to a wastewater treatment facility are operated
by individuals that are not certified with a system-specific certification. EGLE is addressing longstanding
operation and maintenance issues with collection systems such as breakdowns, blockages, capacity
issues, infiltration and inflow, and structural integrity issues. The additional oversight, operation, and
maintenance requirements for the collection systems will provide more protection for public health and
the environment and assist the receiving wastewater treatment plants to better manage their systems to
meet permit requirements.
The proposed RTB facility classification and corresponding operator certification requirement will
improve the quality of operation of RTB facilities by focusing operator knowledge on operational
situations and processes unique to these types of facilities. Most RTB facilities require operator
certification at the Class D level or with industrial wastewater treatment certifications that reflect the
waste treatment at those systems. Neither of those certification processes accurately reflect the nature
of an RTB facility. The proposed RTB certification will allow those operators to become properly certified
with relevant information and continuing education requirements.
Additionally, construction permit requirements are being streamlined to better address continuity of
service concerns for privately owned, publicly used sewer or sewerage systems. This is currently
addressed with Water Resources Division (WRD) Policy and Procedure No. WRD-010, Part 41 –
Sewerage Systems Permit Approval, and the process has been somewhat cumbersome for both
applicants and WRD staff who process construction permits. The proposed rules will include
requirements for such systems and streamline the permit process by setting clear expectations in rule for
privately owned, publicly used systems so that they may plan accordingly when submitting applications
for Part 41 Wastewater Construction Permits (Part 41 Permit). Additionally, requirements for approval of
plan revisions have been updated to be consistent with the Part 41 statute.
EGLE is proposing to rescind R 299.2972, R 299.2973, and R 299.2974 due to duplicative language that
exists in the Administrative Procedures Act, 1969 PA 306, as amended; the administrative rules
pertaining to the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules; and additional rules pertaining to
contested cases and declaratory rulings.
These rules are promulgated by authority conferred on the director of EGLE by section(s) 324.4104(1) of
the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended, MCL 324.4101.