Section 124.760 - Property as site of environmental contamination; information to be provided to department of environmental quality; property subject to certain conditions; liability(1) If an authority has reason to believe that property held by the authority may be the site of environmental contamination, the authority shall provide the department of environmental quality with any information in the possession of the authority that suggests that the property may be the site of environmental contamination.(2) If property held by an authority is a facility as defined under section 20101(1)(o) of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.20101, prior to the sale or transfer of the property under this section, the property is subject to all of the following:(a) Upon reasonable written notice from the department of environmental quality, the authority shall provide access to the department of environmental quality, its employees, its contractors, and any other person expressly authorized by the department of environmental quality to conduct response activities at the property. Reasonable written notice under this subdivision may include, but is not limited to, notice by electronic mail or facsimile, if the authority consents to notice by electronic mail or facsimile prior to provision of notice by the department of environmental quality.(b) If requested by the department of environmental quality to protect public health, safety, and welfare or the environment, the authority shall grant an easement for access to conduct response activities on the property as authorized under chapter 7 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.20101 to 324.20302.(c) If requested by the department of environmental quality to protect public health, safety, and welfare or the environment, the authority shall place and record deed restrictions on the property as authorized under chapter 7 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.20101 to 324.20302.(d) The department of environmental quality may place an environmental lien on the property as authorized under section 20138 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.20138.(3) For purposes of part 201 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.20101 to 324.20142, an authority shall be considered a local unit of government. Except as provided under parts 111, 115, and 315 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.11101 to 324.11153, 324.11501 to 324.11550, and 324.31501 to 324.31529, the acquisition or control of property through tax delinquent forfeiture, foreclosure, or sale, abandonment, court order, circumstances in which the authority has acquired title or control of the property under this act, or by a transfer of the property to the authority by this state, an agency or department of this state, or any local unit of government of this state shall not subject the authority to liability under the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.101 to 324.90106, unless the authority is responsible for an activity causing a release on the property or other activity giving rise to liability under the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.101 to 324.90106. This subsection shall not be considered to restrict or diminish any protection from liability that is otherwise available to the authority under the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.101 to 324.90106.Added by 2003, Act 258, s 10, eff. 1/5/2004.