HF 1253

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/06/2013 03:03pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; modifying exemptions for wetland replacement
plans; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 103G.222, subdivision
1; 103G.2241, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 103G.222, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:

Subdivision 1.

Requirements.

(a) Wetlands must not be drained or filled, wholly or
partially, unless replaced by restoring or creating wetland areas of at least equal public
value under a replacement plan approved as provided in section 103G.2242, a replacement
plan under a local governmental unit's comprehensive wetland protection and management
plan approved by the board under section 103G.2243, or, if a permit to mine is required
under section 93.481, under a mining reclamation plan approved by the commissioner
under the permit to mine. For project-specific wetland replacement completed prior to
wetland impacts authorized or conducted under a permit to mine within the Great Lakes
and Rainy River watershed basins, those basins shall be considered a single watershed
for purposes of determining wetland replacement ratios. Mining reclamation plans shall
apply the same principles and standards for replacing wetlands by restoration or creation
of wetland areas that are applicable to mitigation plans approved as provided in section
103G.2242. Public value must be determined in accordance with section 103B.3355 or
a comprehensive wetland protection and management plan established under section
103G.2243. Sections 103G.221 to 103G.2372 also apply to excavation in permanently
and semipermanently flooded areas of types 3, 4, and 5 wetlands.

(b) Replacement must be guided by the following principles in descending order
of priority:

(1) avoiding the direct or indirect impact of the activity that may destroy or diminish
the wetland;

(2) minimizing the impact by limiting the degree or magnitude of the wetland
activity and its implementation;

(3) rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the affected
wetland environment;

(4) reducing or eliminating the impact over time by preservation and maintenance
operations during the life of the activity;

(5) compensating for the impact by restoring a wetland; and

(6) compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute wetland
resources or environments.

For a project involving the draining or filling of wetlands in an amount not exceeding
10,000 square feet more than the applicable amount in section 103G.2241, subdivision 9,
paragraph (a), the local government unit may make an on-site sequencing determination
without a written alternatives analysis from the applicant.

(c) If a wetland is located in a cultivated field, then replacement must be accomplished
through restoration only without regard to the priority order in paragraph (b), provided
that the altered wetland is not converted to a nonagricultural use for at least ten years.

(d) If a wetland is replaced under paragraph (c), or drained under section 103G.2241,
subdivision 2, paragraph (b) or deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end , the local government unit may require a deed
restriction that prohibits nonagricultural use for at least ten years. The local government
unit may require the deed restriction if it determines the wetland area drained is at risk of
conversion to a nonagricultural use within ten years based on the zoning classification,
proximity to a municipality or full service road, or other criteria as determined by the
local government unit.

(e) Restoration and replacement of wetlands must be accomplished in accordance
with the ecology of the landscape area affected and ponds that are created primarily to
fulfill storm water management, and water quality treatment requirements may not be
used to satisfy replacement requirements under this chapter unless the design includes
pretreatment of runoff and the pond is functioning as a wetland.

(f) Except as provided in paragraph (g), for a wetland or public waters wetland
located on nonagricultural land, replacement must be in the ratio of two acres of replaced
wetland for each acre of drained or filled wetland.

(g) For a wetland or public waters wetland located on agricultural land or in a greater
than 80 percent area, replacement must be in the ratio of one acre of replaced wetland
for each acre of drained or filled wetland.

(h) Wetlands that are restored or created as a result of an approved replacement plan
are subject to the provisions of this section for any subsequent drainage or filling.

(i) Except in a greater than 80 percent area, only wetlands that have been restored
from previously drained or filled wetlands, wetlands created by excavation in nonwetlands,
wetlands created by dikes or dams along public or private drainage ditches, or wetlands
created by dikes or dams associated with the restoration of previously drained or filled
wetlands may be used in a statewide banking program established in rules adopted under
section 103G.2242, subdivision 1. Modification or conversion of nondegraded naturally
occurring wetlands from one type to another are not eligible for enrollment in a statewide
wetlands bank.

(j) The Technical Evaluation Panel established under section 103G.2242, subdivision
2, shall ensure that sufficient time has occurred for the wetland to develop wetland
characteristics of soils, vegetation, and hydrology before recommending that the wetland
be deposited in the statewide wetland bank. If the Technical Evaluation Panel has reason
to believe that the wetland characteristics may change substantially, the panel shall
postpone its recommendation until the wetland has stabilized.

(k) This section and sections 103G.223 to 103G.2242, 103G.2364, and 103G.2365
apply to the state and its departments and agencies.

(l) For projects involving draining or filling of wetlands associated with a new public
transportation project, and for projects expanded solely for additional traffic capacity,
public transportation authorities may purchase credits from the board at the cost to the
board to establish credits. Proceeds from the sale of credits provided under this paragraph
are appropriated to the board for the purposes of this paragraph. For the purposes of this
paragraph, "transportation project" does not include an airport project.

(m) A replacement plan for wetlands is not required for individual projects that
result in the filling or draining of wetlands for the repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction,
or replacement of a currently serviceable existing state, city, county, or town public road
necessary, as determined by the public transportation authority, to meet state or federal
design or safety standards or requirements, excluding new roads or roads expanded solely
for additional traffic capacity lanes. This paragraph only applies to authorities for public
transportation projects that:

(1) minimize the amount of wetland filling or draining associated with the project
and consider mitigating important site-specific wetland functions on site;

(2) except as provided in clause (3), submit project-specific reports to the board, the
Technical Evaluation Panel, the commissioner of natural resources, and members of the
public requesting a copy at least 30 days prior to construction that indicate the location,
amount, and type of wetlands to be filled or drained by the project or, alternatively,
convene an annual meeting of the parties required to receive notice to review projects to
be commenced during the upcoming year; and

(3) for minor and emergency maintenance work impacting less than 10,000 square
feet, submit project-specific reports, within 30 days of commencing the activity, to the board
that indicate the location, amount, and type of wetlands that have been filled or drained.

Those required to receive notice of public transportation projects may appeal
minimization, delineation, and on-site mitigation decisions made by the public
transportation authority to the board according to the provisions of section 103G.2242,
subdivision 9. The Technical Evaluation Panel shall review minimization and delineation
decisions made by the public transportation authority and provide recommendations
regarding on-site mitigation if requested to do so by the local government unit, a
contiguous landowner, or a member of the Technical Evaluation Panel.

Except for state public transportation projects, for which the state Department of
Transportation is responsible, the board must replace the wetlands, and wetland areas of
public waters if authorized by the commissioner or a delegated authority, drained or filled
by public transportation projects on existing roads.

Public transportation authorities at their discretion may deviate from federal and
state design standards on existing road projects when practical and reasonable to avoid
wetland filling or draining, provided that public safety is not unreasonably compromised.
The local road authority and its officers and employees are exempt from liability for
any tort claim for injury to persons or property arising from travel on the highway and
related to the deviation from the design standards for construction or reconstruction under
this paragraph. This paragraph does not preclude an action for damages arising from
negligence in construction or maintenance on a highway.

(n) If a landowner seeks approval of a replacement plan after the proposed project
has already affected the wetland, the local government unit may require the landowner to
replace the affected wetland at a ratio not to exceed twice the replacement ratio otherwise
required.

(o) A local government unit may request the board to reclassify a county or
watershed on the basis of its percentage of presettlement wetlands remaining. After
receipt of satisfactory documentation from the local government, the board shall change
the classification of a county or watershed. If requested by the local government unit,
the board must assist in developing the documentation. Within 30 days of its action to
approve a change of wetland classifications, the board shall publish a notice of the change
in the Environmental Quality Board Monitor.

(p) One hundred citizens who reside within the jurisdiction of the local government
unit may request the local government unit to reclassify a county or watershed on the basis
of its percentage of presettlement wetlands remaining. In support of their petition, the
citizens shall provide satisfactory documentation to the local government unit. The local
government unit shall consider the petition and forward the request to the board under
paragraph (o) or provide a reason why the petition is denied.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 103G.2241, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Drainage.

(a) For the purposes of this subdivision, "public drainage
system" means a drainage system as defined in section 103E.005, subdivision 12, and any
ditch or tile lawfully connected to the drainage system.

(b) A replacement plan is not required for draining of type 1 wetlands, or up to five
acres of type 2 or 6 wetlands, in an unincorporated area on land that has been assessed
drainage benefits for a public drainage system, provided that:

(1) during the 20-year period that ended January 1, 1992:

(i) there was an expenditure made from the drainage system account for the public
drainage system;

(ii) the public drainage system was repaired or maintained as approved by the
drainage authority; or

(iii) no repair or maintenance of the public drainage system was required under
section 103E.705, subdivision 1, as determined by the public drainage authority; and

(2) the wetlands are not drained for conversion to:

(i) platted lots;

(ii) planned unit, commercial, or industrial developments; or

(iii) any development with more than one residential unit per 40 acres, except for
parcels subject to local zoning standards that allow for family members to establish an
additional residence on the same 40 acres.

If wetlands drained under this paragraph are converted to uses prohibited under clause
(2) during the ten-year period following drainage, the wetlands must be replaced under
section 103G.222.

(c) A replacement plan is not required for draining or filling of wetlands deleted text begin , except for
draining types 3, 4, and 5 wetlands that have been in existence for more than 25 years,
deleted text end resulting from maintenance and repair of existing public drainage systems new text begin or existing
drainage systems other than public drainage systems, including maintenance and repair
intended to restore the function of a drainage system as originally designed new text end .

deleted text begin (d) A replacement plan is not required for draining or filling of wetlands, except
for draining wetlands that have been in existence for more than 25 years, resulting from
maintenance and repair of existing drainage systems other than public drainage systems.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end A replacement plan is not required for draining agricultural land that: (1)
was planted with annually seeded crops before July 5, except for crops that are normally
planted after that date, in eight out of the ten most recent years prior to the impact; (2) was
in a crop rotation seeding of pasture grass, cover crop, or legumes, or was fallow for a
crop production purpose, in eight out of the ten most recent years prior to the impact; or
(3) was enrolled in a state or federal land conservation program and met the requirements
of clause (1) or (2) before enrollment.

deleted text begin (f) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end The public drainage authority may, as part of the repair, install control
structures, realign the ditch, construct dikes along the ditch, or make other modifications
as necessary to prevent drainage of the wetland.

deleted text begin (g) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end Wetlands of all types that would be drained as a part of a public drainage
repair project are eligible for the permanent wetlands preserve under section 103F.516.
The board shall give priority to acquisition of easements on types 3, 4, and 5 wetlands
that have been in existence for more than 25 years on public drainage systems and other
wetlands that have the greatest risk of drainage from a public drainage repair project.