Two identical bills were introduced in the state house and senate that would require polluters to clean up their pollution as much as possible.
Supporters of the bills say Michigan used to have a law on the books requiring that polluters clean up as much as possible.
They say under Governor John Engler that was changed so that polluters only have to clean up pollutants that pose a risk to human health or exposure.
Democratic Senator Jeff Irwin is a sponsor of the new stricter measure. He said currently the Department of Environmental Quality cordons off polluted sites - instead of requiring clean up.
“That is the solution to the pollution. Just to simply leave it there and say that particular aquifer is lost forever. That I think is an example of why these lax environmental laws are so wrong.”
Irwin said lax environmental regulation is bad for residents and for businesses that are environmentally responsible.
“I don’t want to create a situation in Michigan where we advantage the types of corporate citizens who don’t want in Michigan and disadvantage the people who are responsible with their chemicals and their operations.”
Irwin admits the bills will be difficult to pass through the legislature.
Democratic Representative Yousef Rabhi introduced the house version of the bill.