The department under this part has all of the following powers and duties:
  (a) To foster and encourage the organization of sewage disposal and water supply districts, to act as the administrative agency in the proceedings incident to the formation of districts, and to offer and lend appropriate assistance to the directors of districts organized as provided in this part in the carrying out of any of their powers, functions, and programs.

Terms Used In Michigan Laws 324.4702

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Department: means the director of the department of natural resources or his or her designee to whom the director delegates a power or duty by written instrument. See Michigan Laws 324.301
  • Sewage disposal systems: includes all interceptor sewers, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, combined sanitary and storm sewers, sewage treatment plants, and all other plants, works, instrumentalities, and properties used or useful in connection with the collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage and industrial wastes. See Michigan Laws 324.4701
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  • United States: shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  (b) To cooperate, negotiate, and enter into contracts with the other governments, governmental units and agencies in matters concerning water supply systems and sewage disposal systems; to take steps and perform acts and execute documents as may be necessary to take advantage of any act enacted by the congress of the United States that may make available funds for any of the purposes enumerated in this part or be otherwise of assistance in carrying out the purposes of this part; to disburse money that may be appropriated by the legislature for the use and benefit of the districts created under this part or municipalities or local units of government of this state in accordance with the formula prescribed in this part or in the acts of appropriation; and to disburse money that may be received by this state from the United States government for the purposes provided for in this part in accordance with the formula set forth by applicable acts of congress.
  (c) To act as the fiscal agent for this state for the purpose of making available to local units of government and the districts as may be organized under this part money or instruments of indebtedness that may be approved by the legislature or the people of this state for the construction and operation of sewage disposal systems by local units of government or districts.
  (d) To coordinate its duties and functions with similar or related duties and functions that are performed by other state agencies or governmental units to coordinate and cooperate efforts to accomplish the purposes of this part.