HF 2914

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 05/20/2019 10:06pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; requiring a comprehensive review of mining;
appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. COMPREHENSIVE MINING REVIEW; APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) $....... in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated to the commissioner of health to study the
potential health impacts of mining activity in the state, including impacts on water quality
and the health impacts on humans, fish, and wildlife that use impacted waters.

(b) $....... in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated to the commissioner of management and
budget for a comprehensive review of the financial impacts of mining on the state, including:

(1) an analysis of the financial health of mining companies, including the history of the
mining industry overall and individual mining companies;

(2) indemnification; and

(3) an assessment of the ability to ensure accountability of foreign companies.

(c) $....... in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated to the commissioner of employment and
economic development for a study that estimates the impact of mining operations on state
employment, including:

(1) the number of jobs created due to mining, including the duration of the jobs, wage
rates, and the number of Minnesotans and out-of-state people employed;

(2) a review of the use of robots and other forms of mechanization used as a substitute
for human labor; and

(3) an assessment of the condition of communities affected following the completion of
mining operations.

(d) $....... in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated to the attorney general for an analysis of
the current permitting process for mining operations and its adequacy to address current
mining operations. This analysis must include:

(1) a review of the process used for the permit to mine issued for the PolyMet operation;

(2) a review of concerns regrading the need for a health assessment and recommendations
for updating the current process to address the concerns;

(3) public hearings and a chance for public comment during various stages of the analysis;
and

(4) recommendations and any statutory changes necessary to:

(i) ensure that the permitting process includes a clear identification of lands and waters
to be affected;

(ii) ensure the state retains the right to require operations to cease if the state determines
that a condition of a permit has been violated;

(iii) ensure that the public's interests in the state's water, air, and lands are protected and
clearly articulated in statute; and

(iv) clearly state the role of state government to provide stewardship to protect the state's
natural resources.

The attorney general must consult with the state's Indian tribes throughout the stages of the
analysis.