Covered waterfront owners would need regular inspections and repairs

Covered owners would submit engineer inspection reports to state environmental regulators and their local municipality. Coverage includes structures that substantially contribute to a waterfront property's high-risk classification and other business docks, piers, and seawalls. Owner duties also cover people who lease, control, operate, maintain, or manage these structures. An environmental consultant who is a licensed professional engineer would inspect the structure and prepare the report. The bill would take effect only if Senate Bills 1182 and 1184 also become law. The inspection schedule would begin January 1, 2028. Regulators would stagger reports across each year and notify owners in writing when reports are due.

Covered owners would pay for required inspections and reports and promptly fix problems identified in those reports. Reports would assess structural strength at foreseeable water levels, possible failures, and needed repairs. They would also check for failures that could release pollution when the structure is designed to prevent such releases. Regulators could require extra reports after events or changed conditions that could threaten a structure, or a closer review when an inspection shows a need. If an owner fails to submit a required report, regulators could arrange the work and sue to recover its cost. These requirements would take effect only if Senate Bills 1182 and 1184 also become law.

State environmental regulators could order compliance, and the attorney general could seek a court order at their request. Enforcement would cover violations of the waterfront structure requirements and rules or orders issued under them. Compliance orders would identify the violation, required action, and a reasonable deadline based on its seriousness and any threats. Courts would impose fines in enforcement cases. Collected fines would go to the Great Lakes and rivers protection fund. These enforcement provisions would take effect only if Senate Bills 1182 and 1184 also become law.