HF 3691

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; establishing a task force and requiring a plan for the
management of the Rainy/Lake of the Woods Watershed; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin RAINY/LAKE OF THE WOODS WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
PLAN.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Creation. new text end

new text begin The governor shall appoint a task force composed of
a representative from each of the following entities to develop the plan required in
subdivision 2:
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new text begin (1) the Department of Natural Resources;
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new text begin (2) the Pollution Control Agency;
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new text begin (3) the Department of Commerce;
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new text begin (4) the Department of Transportation;
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new text begin (5) the Department of Labor and Industry;
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new text begin (6) the Department of Employment and Economic Development;
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new text begin (7) the Department of Agriculture; and
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new text begin (8) the Board of Water and Soil Resources.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The task force must develop a plan for the management of the
Rainy/Lake of the Woods Watershed and submit the plan to the legislature in order to:
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new text begin (1) help resolve outstanding issues regarding the management of the region by
federal, state, local, and international government entities;
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new text begin (2) simplify and streamline regulations of government entities having jurisdiction
in the region;
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new text begin (3) promote coordination and cooperative agreements between and among
government entities at all levels;
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new text begin (4) help resolve issues regarding the use of the United States-Canada boundary
waters by updating the 1909 Root-Bryce Treaty; and
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new text begin (5) promote a water quality agreement with Canada.
new text end

new text begin A preliminary plan shall be submitted no later than June 30, 2010, and the final
plan shall be submitted no later than June 30, 2012. The plans shall be submitted to the
legislature in compliance with Minnesota Statutes, sections 3.195 and 3.197.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Administrative provisions. new text end

new text begin (a) The governor or the governor's designee
shall convene the initial meeting of the task force and act as the chair of the task force.
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new text begin (b) The task force expires June 30, 2012, or upon submission of the final report
required under subdivision 2, whichever is earlier.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Deadline for appointments. new text end

new text begin The appointments authorized by this section
must be completed by August 1, 2008.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... is appropriated from the ... to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for
the purposes of the task force established in section 1.
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