Rep. Chris Kolb of Michigan introduced HB 4996, the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, at the request of the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC). The MEC, a coalition of environmental and public health organizations, had just completed a study called “Greening the Governments” which reported the results of a yearlong study comparing environmental conditions in the eight Great Lakes states. In it, experts convened by MEC found that environmental data are so patchy and inconsistent that it is impossible to determine the exact quality of the region’s air and water.

The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act would make information on the state's environmental enforcement efforts publicly accessible, prevent polluters from benefiting economically from breaking environmental laws, clearly report how much enforcement activities will cost in order to ensure fees are set appropriately, and bar chronic violators from receiving certain state contracts.

After Rep. Kolb introduced the bill in 2001, it was sent to the Committee on Land Use and Environment where it was never taken up. Due to the rigorous oversight and public exposure included in the bill, polluting enterprises may have applied political pressure to prevent the bill from being taken up by the committee for a full hearing. Such legislation is likely to meet similar opposition in other states, so any introduction would benefit from considerable public attention and mobilization focusing on the bill’s economic, health, and accountability benefits.