USA: Governor Signs Booher’s Plan for Dredging

Sen. Darwin Booher, R-Evart, Onekama Marina General Manager Jim Mrozinski and FrankfortCity Superintendent Joshua Mills joined Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday as he signed Booher’s bill to provide funding for recommended Natural Resources Trust Fund (NRTF) projects and an emergency plan to dredge Michigan harbors.

Public Act 9 of 2013 authorizes the NRTF to spend $23.3 million in support of 76 acquisition and development projects. PA 9 also approves nearly $21 million for 58 emergency dredging projects by using $9.4 million in waterways funds and $11.5 million in state general funds.

The 35th Senate District will receive more than $2.9 million for five dredging projects and more than $2.3 million for nine NRTF projects.

Also signed were PAs 10-13 to provide low-interest loans for dredging to private marinas located on the Great Lakes or connecting waterways, to lower certain dredging permitting fees and to speed-up the process of issuing a dredging permit in emergency situations.

Pictured with Snyder from left are: Sen. Goeff Hansen, R-Hart; Office of the Great Lakes Director Jon Allan; Rep. Amanda Price, R-Park Township; Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division Chief Ron Olson; Onekama Marina General Manager Jim Mrozinski; Jim Coburn, Michigan Boating Industries Association; FrankfortCity Superintendent Joshua Mills; Sen. Booher; and Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant.

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Press Release, April 2, 2013