HF 3576

as introduced - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the environment; modifying reporting 
  1.3             requirements for solid waste and wastewater treatment 
  1.4             facilities; extending exemption period for certain 
  1.5             toxics in packaging; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, 
  1.6             sections 115.03, subdivision 1; and 115A.965, 
  1.7             subdivision 3; repealing Minnesota Statutes 1998, 
  1.8             sections 115A.981; and 297H.13, subdivision 6. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 115.03, 
  1.11  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.12     Subdivision 1.  [GENERALLY.] The agency is hereby given and 
  1.13  charged with the following powers and duties: 
  1.14     (a) To administer and enforce all laws relating to the 
  1.15  pollution of any of the waters of the state; 
  1.16     (b) To investigate the extent, character, and effect of the 
  1.17  pollution of the waters of this state and to gather data and 
  1.18  information necessary or desirable in the administration or 
  1.19  enforcement of pollution laws, and to make such classification 
  1.20  of the waters of the state as it may deem advisable; 
  1.21     (c) To establish and alter such reasonable pollution 
  1.22  standards for any waters of the state in relation to the public 
  1.23  use to which they are or may be put as it shall deem necessary 
  1.24  for the purposes of this chapter and, with respect to the 
  1.25  pollution of waters of the state, chapter 116; 
  1.26     (d) To encourage waste treatment, including advanced waste 
  1.27  treatment, instead of stream low-flow augmentation for dilution 
  2.1   purposes to control and prevent pollution; 
  2.2      (e) To adopt, issue, reissue, modify, deny, or revoke, 
  2.3   enter into or enforce reasonable orders, permits, variances, 
  2.4   standards, rules, schedules of compliance, and stipulation 
  2.5   agreements, under such conditions as it may prescribe, in order 
  2.6   to prevent, control or abate water pollution, or for the 
  2.7   installation or operation of disposal systems or parts thereof, 
  2.8   or for other equipment and facilities; 
  2.9      (1) Requiring the discontinuance of the discharge of 
  2.10  sewage, industrial waste or other wastes into any waters of the 
  2.11  state resulting in pollution in excess of the applicable 
  2.12  pollution standard established under this chapter; 
  2.13     (2) Prohibiting or directing the abatement of any discharge 
  2.14  of sewage, industrial waste, or other wastes, into any waters of 
  2.15  the state or the deposit thereof or the discharge into any 
  2.16  municipal disposal system where the same is likely to get into 
  2.17  any waters of the state in violation of this chapter and, with 
  2.18  respect to the pollution of waters of the state, chapter 116, or 
  2.19  standards or rules promulgated or permits issued pursuant 
  2.20  thereto, and specifying the schedule of compliance within which 
  2.21  such prohibition or abatement must be accomplished; 
  2.22     (3) Prohibiting the storage of any liquid or solid 
  2.23  substance or other pollutant in a manner which does not 
  2.24  reasonably assure proper retention against entry into any waters 
  2.25  of the state that would be likely to pollute any waters of the 
  2.26  state; 
  2.27     (4) Requiring the construction, installation, maintenance, 
  2.28  and operation by any person of any disposal system or any part 
  2.29  thereof, or other equipment and facilities, or the 
  2.30  reconstruction, alteration, or enlargement of its existing 
  2.31  disposal system or any part thereof, or the adoption of other 
  2.32  remedial measures to prevent, control or abate any discharge or 
  2.33  deposit of sewage, industrial waste or other wastes by any 
  2.34  person; 
  2.35     (5) Establishing, and from time to time revising, standards 
  2.36  of performance for new sources taking into consideration, among 
  3.1   other things, classes, types, sizes, and categories of sources, 
  3.2   processes, pollution control technology, cost of achieving such 
  3.3   effluent reduction, and any nonwater quality environmental 
  3.4   impact and energy requirements.  Said standards of performance 
  3.5   for new sources shall encompass those standards for the control 
  3.6   of the discharge of pollutants which reflect the greatest degree 
  3.7   of effluent reduction which the agency determines to be 
  3.8   achievable through application of the best available 
  3.9   demonstrated control technology, processes, operating methods, 
  3.10  or other alternatives, including, where practicable, a standard 
  3.11  permitting no discharge of pollutants.  New sources shall 
  3.12  encompass buildings, structures, facilities, or installations 
  3.13  from which there is or may be the discharge of pollutants, the 
  3.14  construction of which is commenced after the publication by the 
  3.15  agency of proposed rules prescribing a standard of performance 
  3.16  which will be applicable to such source.  Notwithstanding any 
  3.17  other provision of the law of this state, any point source the 
  3.18  construction of which is commenced after May 20, 1973, and which 
  3.19  is so constructed as to meet all applicable standards of 
  3.20  performance for new sources shall, consistent with and subject 
  3.21  to the provisions of section 306(d) of the Amendments of 1972 to 
  3.22  the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, not be subject to any 
  3.23  more stringent standard of performance for new sources during a 
  3.24  ten-year period beginning on the date of completion of such 
  3.25  construction or during the period of depreciation or 
  3.26  amortization of such facility for the purposes of section 167 or 
  3.27  169, or both, of the Federal Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 
  3.28  whichever period ends first.  Construction shall encompass any 
  3.29  placement, assembly, or installation of facilities or equipment, 
  3.30  including contractual obligations to purchase such facilities or 
  3.31  equipment, at the premises where such equipment will be used, 
  3.32  including preparation work at such premises; 
  3.33     (6) Establishing and revising pretreatment standards to 
  3.34  prevent or abate the discharge of any pollutant into any 
  3.35  publicly owned disposal system, which pollutant interferes with, 
  3.36  passes through, or otherwise is incompatible with such disposal 
  4.1   system; 
  4.2      (7) Requiring the owner or operator of any disposal system 
  4.3   or any point source to establish and maintain such records, make 
  4.4   such reports, install, use, and maintain such monitoring 
  4.5   equipment or methods, including where appropriate biological 
  4.6   monitoring methods, sample such effluents in accordance with 
  4.7   such methods, at such locations, at such intervals, and in such 
  4.8   a manner as the agency shall prescribe, and providing such other 
  4.9   information as the agency may reasonably require; 
  4.10     (8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, 
  4.11  and with respect to the pollution of waters of the state, 
  4.12  chapter 116, requiring the achievement of more stringent 
  4.13  limitations than otherwise imposed by effluent limitations in 
  4.14  order to meet any applicable water quality standard by 
  4.15  establishing new effluent limitations, based upon section 
  4.16  115.01, subdivision 13, clause (b), including alternative 
  4.17  effluent control strategies for any point source or group of 
  4.18  point sources to insure the integrity of water quality 
  4.19  classifications, whenever the agency determines that discharges 
  4.20  of pollutants from such point source or sources, with the 
  4.21  application of effluent limitations required to comply with any 
  4.22  standard of best available technology, would interfere with the 
  4.23  attainment or maintenance of the water quality classification in 
  4.24  a specific portion of the waters of the state.  Prior to 
  4.25  establishment of any such effluent limitation, the agency shall 
  4.26  hold a public hearing to determine the relationship of the 
  4.27  economic and social costs of achieving such limitation or 
  4.28  limitations, including any economic or social dislocation in the 
  4.29  affected community or communities, to the social and economic 
  4.30  benefits to be obtained and to determine whether or not such 
  4.31  effluent limitation can be implemented with available technology 
  4.32  or other alternative control strategies.  If a person affected 
  4.33  by such limitation demonstrates at such hearing that, whether or 
  4.34  not such technology or other alternative control strategies are 
  4.35  available, there is no reasonable relationship between the 
  4.36  economic and social costs and the benefits to be obtained, such 
  5.1   limitation shall not become effective and shall be adjusted as 
  5.2   it applies to such person; 
  5.3      (9) Modifying, in its discretion, any requirement or 
  5.4   limitation based upon best available technology with respect to 
  5.5   any point source for which a permit application is filed after 
  5.6   July 1, 1977, upon a showing by the owner or operator of such 
  5.7   point source satisfactory to the agency that such modified 
  5.8   requirements will represent the maximum use of technology within 
  5.9   the economic capability of the owner or operator and will result 
  5.10  in reasonable further progress toward the elimination of the 
  5.11  discharge of pollutants; and 
  5.12     (10) Requiring that applicants for wastewater discharge 
  5.13  permits evaluate in their applications the potential reuses of 
  5.14  the discharged wastewater; 
  5.15     (f) To require to be submitted and to approve plans and 
  5.16  specifications for disposal systems or point sources, or any 
  5.17  part thereof and to inspect the construction thereof for 
  5.18  compliance with the approved plans and specifications thereof; 
  5.19     (g) To prescribe and alter rules, not inconsistent with 
  5.20  law, for the conduct of the agency and other matters within the 
  5.21  scope of the powers granted to and imposed upon it by this 
  5.22  chapter and, with respect to pollution of waters of the state, 
  5.23  in chapter 116, provided that every rule affecting any other 
  5.24  department or agency of the state or any person other than a 
  5.25  member or employee of the agency shall be filed with the 
  5.26  secretary of state; 
  5.27     (h) To conduct such investigations, issue such notices, 
  5.28  public and otherwise, and hold such hearings as are necessary or 
  5.29  which it may deem advisable for the discharge of its duties 
  5.30  under this chapter and, with respect to the pollution of waters 
  5.31  of the state, under chapter 116, including, but not limited to, 
  5.32  the issuance of permits, and to authorize any member, employee, 
  5.33  or agent appointed by it to conduct such investigations or, 
  5.34  issue such notices and hold such hearings; 
  5.35     (i) For the purpose of water pollution control planning by 
  5.36  the state and pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control 
  6.1   Act, as amended, to establish and revise planning areas, adopt 
  6.2   plans and programs and continuing planning processes, including, 
  6.3   but not limited to, basin plans and areawide waste treatment 
  6.4   management plans, and to provide for the implementation of any 
  6.5   such plans by means of, including, but not limited to, 
  6.6   standards, plan elements, procedures for revision, 
  6.7   intergovernmental cooperation, residual treatment process waste 
  6.8   controls, and needs inventory and ranking for construction of 
  6.9   disposal systems; 
  6.10     (j) To train water pollution control personnel, and charge 
  6.11  such fees therefor as are necessary to cover the agency's 
  6.12  costs.  All such fees received shall be paid into the state 
  6.13  treasury and credited to the pollution control agency training 
  6.14  account; 
  6.15     (k) To impose as additional conditions in permits to 
  6.16  publicly owned disposal systems appropriate measures to insure 
  6.17  compliance by industrial and other users with any pretreatment 
  6.18  standard, including, but not limited to, those related to toxic 
  6.19  pollutants, and any system of user charges ratably as is hereby 
  6.20  required under state law or said Federal Water Pollution Control 
  6.21  Act, as amended, or any regulations or guidelines promulgated 
  6.22  thereunder; 
  6.23     (l) To set a period not to exceed five years for the 
  6.24  duration of any National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 
  6.25  permit; 
  6.26     (m) To require each governmental subdivision identified as 
  6.27  a permittee for a wastewater treatment works to annually 
  6.28  evaluate in every odd-numbered year the condition of its 
  6.29  existing system and identify future capital improvements that 
  6.30  will be needed to attain or maintain compliance with a national 
  6.31  pollutant discharge elimination system or state disposal system 
  6.32  permit; and 
  6.33     (n) To train individual sewage treatment system personnel, 
  6.34  including persons who design, construct, install, inspect, 
  6.35  service, and operate individual sewage treatment systems, and 
  6.36  charge fees as necessary to pay the agency's costs.  All fees 
  7.1   received must be paid into the state treasury and credited to 
  7.2   the agency's training account.  Money in the account is 
  7.3   appropriated to the agency to pay expenses related to training. 
  7.4   The information required in clause (m) must be submitted 
  7.5   annually in every odd-numbered year to the commissioner on a 
  7.6   form provided by the commissioner.  The commissioner shall 
  7.7   provide technical assistance if requested by the governmental 
  7.8   subdivision. 
  7.9      The powers and duties given the agency in this subdivision 
  7.10  also apply to permits issued under chapter 114C. 
  7.11     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 115A.965, 
  7.12  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  7.13     Subd. 3.  [EXEMPTIONS.] (a) Until January 1, 2000 2010, the 
  7.14  following packaging is exempt from the requirements of 
  7.15  subdivisions 1 and 2: 
  7.16     (1) packaging that would not exceed the total toxics 
  7.17  concentration levels under subdivision 2 but for the addition in 
  7.18  the packaging of materials that have fulfilled their intended 
  7.19  use and have been discarded by consumers; and 
  7.20     (2) packages that are reused but exceed the total toxics 
  7.21  concentration levels in subdivision 2, provided that:  
  7.22     (i) the product being conveyed by the package is regulated 
  7.23  under federal or state health or safety requirements; 
  7.24     (ii) transportation of the packaged product is regulated 
  7.25  under federal or state transportation requirements; and 
  7.26     (iii) disposal of the package is performed according to 
  7.27  federal or state radioactive or hazardous waste disposal 
  7.28  requirements. 
  7.29     (b) Until January 1, 2000 2010, packages that have a 
  7.30  controlled distribution and reuse, but exceed the total toxics 
  7.31  concentration levels in subdivision 2 and do not meet the 
  7.32  requirements of paragraph (a), may be exempted from subdivisions 
  7.33  1 and 2 if the manufacturers or distributors of the packages 
  7.34  petition for and receive approval from the commissioner.  In 
  7.35  granting approval, the commissioner shall base the decision on 
  7.36  satisfactory demonstrations that the environmental benefit of 
  8.1   the controlled distribution and reuse is significantly greater 
  8.2   compared to the same package manufactured in compliance with the 
  8.3   total toxics concentration levels in subdivision 2, and on plans 
  8.4   proposed by the manufacturer that include each of the following 
  8.5   elements: 
  8.6      (1) a means of identifying the packaging in a permanent and 
  8.7   visible manner; 
  8.8      (2) a method of regulatory and financial accountability so 
  8.9   that a specified percentage of the packaging manufactured and 
  8.10  distributed to other persons is not discarded by those persons 
  8.11  after use but are returned to the manufacturer or the 
  8.12  manufacturer's designee; 
  8.13     (3) a system of inventory and record maintenance to account 
  8.14  for the packaging placed in, and removed from, service; 
  8.15     (4) a means of transforming packaging that is no longer 
  8.16  reusable into recycled materials for manufacturing or into 
  8.17  manufacturing wastes which are subject to existing federal or 
  8.18  state laws or regulations governing such manufacturing wastes 
  8.19  that ensure that these wastes do not enter the industrial or 
  8.20  mixed municipal solid waste stream; and 
  8.21     (5) a system of annually reporting to the commissioner 
  8.22  changes to the system and changes in designees. 
  8.23     (c) Packaging to which lead, cadmium, mercury, or 
  8.24  hexavalent chromium has been intentionally introduced in the 
  8.25  manufacturing process may be exempted from the requirements of 
  8.26  subdivisions 1 and 2 by the commissioner of the pollution 
  8.27  control agency if: 
  8.28     (1) the use of the toxic element in the packaging is 
  8.29  required by federal or state health or safety laws; or 
  8.30     (2) there is no feasible alternative for the packaging 
  8.31  because the toxic element used is essential to the protection, 
  8.32  safe handling, or function of the contents of the package.  
  8.33     The commissioner may grant an exemption under this 
  8.34  paragraph for a period not to exceed two years upon application 
  8.35  by the packaging manufacturer that includes documentation 
  8.36  showing that the criteria for an exemption are met.  Exemptions 
  9.1   granted by the commissioner may be renewed upon reapplication 
  9.2   every two years. 
  9.3      Sec. 3.  [REPEALER.] 
  9.4      Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 115A.981; and 297H.13, 
  9.5   subdivision 6, are repealed. 
  9.6      Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  9.7      Section 2 is effective the day following final enactment.