Expedited Application Reviews
For
Construction Permits for Community Water Supply Water Mains

In accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, 1976 PA 399, as amended (Act 399), before commencing the construction of a waterworks system or an alteration, addition, or improvement to a system, a supplier of water shall submit the plans and specifications for the improvements to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and secure from the DEQ a permit for construction as provided by rule.  In accordance with a newly enacted amendment to Act 399 (Section 4a), the DEQ is providing, for a fee, an expedited application review process for construction permits.  The following is a link to Section 4a of Act 399. 

Safe Drinking Water Act (Excerpt), Act 399 of 1976
A summary of the expedited review process is provided below, along with the address for required contacts with the DEQ. 

Expedited reviews are authorized for eligible applications submitted through September 30, 2010. 

If you have questions about the expedited application review process, please send an e-mail to DEQ-Expedited-Permits@michigan.gov. 

Project Eligibility
Eligible projects shall be located in Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, or Wayne County and are limited to water main projects less than or equal to 10,000 feet.  "Water main" means a pipe owned or controlled by a supplier that may convey water to a customer service connection or to a fire hydrant. 

Expedited permit application reviews are not allowed for other projects requiring a permit under Act 399 including, but not limited to, projects involving water treatment processes, ground or elevated storage tanks, chemical feed systems, wells, booster stations, pumps, new proposed waterworks systems subject to a capacity assessment, or projects funded under the State Drinking Water Revolving Fund established under Section 16b of the Shared Credit Rating Act, 1985 PA 227, as amended, MCL 141.1066b.

See the table under item 4 below for specific details of the associated fees. 

Expedited Act 399 Permit Application Submittal Process

1.  Submit electronic notification of intent to request expedited review to DEQ-Expedited-Permits@michigan.gov.

• The electronic notification shall be submitted at least 10 business days prior to submission of the electronic application and fee. 
• The project title shall be included in the subject line of the e-mail and shall match the project title on the subsequent permit application form. 
• The e-mail shall clearly indicate applicant contact information including name, e-mail address, phone number, and mailing address. 

2.  Submit a completed electronic Act 399 permit application, in PDF file format, to DEQ-Expedited-Permits@michigan.govat least 10 business days after submission of the initial notification described above. 

• The project title shall be included in the subject line of the e-mail and shall match the project title in the prior initial e-mail notification and on the permit application form. 
• The application form may be found at:

http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313_3675_3691-72232--,00.html

• Note:  "complete application" means that a DEQ-provided application form is completed, all requested information has been provided, and the application can be processed without additional information.

3.  On the same date as the electronic Act 399 permit application (described in item 2 above) is submitted, a completed paper copy of the Act 399 permit application (postmarked with the same date as the electronic application was sent) with original signature along with 2 complete sets of construction plans and specifications that have been prepared, signed and sealed by a State of Michigan licensed professional engineer, shall be submitted to:

Department of Environmental Quality
Water Bureau - Southeast Michigan District Office
Expedited Application Review
27700 Donald Court
Warren, Michigan  48092-2793

4.   On the same date of the electronic Act 399 permit application submittal described in item 2 above (i.e., the mail submittal shall be postmarked on this date also), appropriate payment of the fee shall be made, in check form, payable to the State of Michigan (credit card payment is not available at this time).  The check and a copy of the cover page of the permit application shall be submitted to:

Mail Delivery
Department of Environmental Quality
Cashier's Office
WB-IC
P.O. Box 30657
Lansing, Michigan 48909-8157

Office Delivery (e.g., UPS, Fed Ex, by hand)
Department of Environmental Quality
Cashier's Office
WB-IC
5^th Floor South, Constitution Hall
525 West Allegan
Lansing, Michigan 48933

The expedited review fee is based on the following fee structure:

5.   If the applicant fails to sign the Act 399 permit application, submits construction plans and specifications that have not been prepared, signed and sealed by a licensed professional engineer, or submits an insufficient fee, the DEQ will notify the applicant within 5 business days of the deficiency.  The application will not be processed until the deficient items are addressed.  If the applicant does not provide the deficient items within 5 business days after notification by the DEQ, the application will be handled as described in item 6. 

6.   If application deficiencies exist, other than those described in item 5 above or if deficiencies exist as described in item 5 above and are not corrected within 5 business days of notification to the applicant, the DEQ will not conduct an expedited review and shall keep the original fee amount.  The applicant will be notified of the application deficiencies.  Upon receipt of this notification, the applicant may correct the deficiencies and resubmit the application and request expedited review based on the following:

7.   The DEQ will review and make a decision on a complete application submitted with a request for an expedited review in accordance with the following schedule: 

• For an expedited review request submitted until September 30, 2008, within 20 business days.
• For an expedited review request submitted from October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2009, within 15 business days.
• For an expedited review request submitted from October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2010, within 10 business days.

The DEQ will notify applicants electronically of decisions regarding expedited review requests.  If a permit is issued, the DEQ will send a PDF copy of the signed permit to the permittee electronically, followed with the paper copy via regular mail.