324.20104 Coordination of activities; rules; guideline, bulletin, interpretive statement, or operational memorandum not binding on person; damages; use of nonuse valuation methods; applicability of provisions to certain bankruptcy actions or claims.

Sec. 20104.

    (1) The department shall coordinate all activities required under this part and may promulgate rules necessary to implement this part.

    (2) A guideline, bulletin, interpretive statement, or operational memorandum under this part shall not be given the force and effect of law. A guideline, bulletin, interpretive statement, or operational memorandum under this part is not legally binding on any person.

    (3) Claims for natural resource damages may be pursued only in accordance with principles of scientific and economic validity and reliability. Contingent nonuse valuation methods or similar nonuse valuation methods shall not be utilized and damages shall not be recovered for nonuse values unless and until rules are promulgated that establish an appropriate means of determining such damages.

    (4) A contingent nonuse valuation method or similar nonuse valuation method shall not be utilized for natural resource damage calculations unless a determination is made by the department that such a method satisfies principles of scientific and economic validity and reliability and rules for utilizing a contingent nonuse valuation method or a similar nonuse valuation method are subsequently promulgated.

    (5) The provisions in this section related to natural resource damages as added by 1995 PA 71 do not apply to any judicial or administrative action or claim in bankruptcy initiated on or before March 1, 1995.