HF 1509

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/21/2019 02:06pm

A bill for an act
relating to environment; appropriating money to establish and implement
site-specific eutrophication standard for Minnesota River.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; MINNESOTA RIVER BASIN SITE-SPECIFIC
STANDARD.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Standard. new text end

new text begin (a) $500,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to convene and fund a
technical group to develop a site-specific eutrophication standard for the main channel of
the Minnesota River.
new text end

new text begin (b) Within 30 days of the effective date of this section, the commissioner of the Pollution
Control Agency must convene and contract with an outside group of technical experts in
water quality to develop a technical support document and to propose a site-specific
eutrophication standard for the main channel of the Minnesota River.
new text end

new text begin (c) The technical group must consist of no less than three and no more than five water
quality experts from separate consulting firms. The technical group must maintain regular
contact with appropriate staff at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency while developing
the technical support document. The technical group must deliver the technical support
document and the proposed site-specific eutrophication standard to the commissioner within
nine months of convening.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner must expedite review of the proposed site-specific eutrophication
standard and recommend preliminary approval or denial within 60 days after the standard
is submitted.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Implementation strategy. new text end

new text begin (a) $500,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated
from the general fund to the Minnesota State University Water Resource Center to convene
and facilitate a technical stakeholder group to design a comprehensive implementation
strategy for the site-specific eutrophication standard for the main channel of the Minnesota
River. Within 45 days of the commissioner's order in subdivision 1, paragraph (d), the Water
Resource Center, in consultation with the stakeholder group, must submit a work plan and
budget for implementing this section to the Legislative Water Commission for review.
new text end

new text begin (b) The stakeholder group must include a representative from each of the following:
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new text begin (1) Minnesota Pollution Control Agency;
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new text begin (2) Board of Water and Soil Resources;
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new text begin (3) Department of Natural Resources;
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new text begin (4) Department of Agriculture; and
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new text begin (5) city of Mankato.
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new text begin (c) The Water Resource Center must invite a representative from each of the following
organizations to participate in the stakeholder group:
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new text begin (1) Association of Minnesota Counties;
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new text begin (2) Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center;
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new text begin (3) League of Minnesota Cities;
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new text begin (4) Minnesota Environmental Science and Economic Review Board;
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new text begin (5) Minnesota Association of Townships;
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new text begin (6) Conservation Minnesota;
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new text begin (7) Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts;
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new text begin (8) Minnesota AgriGrowth Council;
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new text begin (9) Minnesota River Congress; and
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new text begin (10) Minnesota Rural Water Association.
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new text begin (d) The stakeholder group must perform the following tasks and may contract with
outside experts to assist in its efforts:
new text end

new text begin (1) study the effectiveness of point-to-point and point-to-nonpoint trading to make
nutrient reductions necessary to achieve the site-specific eutrophication standard, including
identification of specific opportunities to facilitate development of a nutrient trading program.
The stakeholder group must review local water management plans, review current practice
and science related to point-to-point and point-to-nonpoint trading, identify any obstacles
to trading in the Minnesota River basin, and recommend appropriate actions to enhance
trading opportunities to improve water quality in the Minnesota River basin, including but
not limited to developing appropriate trading ratios and creating a trading exchange;
new text end

new text begin (2) study the effectiveness of optimizing impacted wastewater treatment plants and
identify specific opportunities to optimize wastewater treatment plants to achieve the
site-specific eutrophication standard; and
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new text begin (3) study the effectiveness of best management practices for nonpoint sources in reducing
phosphorus, nitrates, and turbidity and identify incentives to promote the use of best
management and sustainable farming practices that reduce discharge of phosphorus, nitrates,
and turbidity in the Minnesota River basin.
new text end

new text begin (e) Within 12 months of submitting the work plan, the stakeholder group must submit
details of the strategy and recommendations to the commissioner of the Pollution Control
Agency and chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions
with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources.
new text end