HF 38

as introduced - 91st Legislature, 2020 5th Special Session (2020 - 2020) Posted on 10/12/2020 11:49am

A bill for an act
relating to environment; prohibiting consideration of greenhouse gas emissions
for agricultural permits; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 116.07,
subdivision 4a.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 116.07, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:

Subd. 4a.

Permits.

(a) The Pollution Control Agency may issue, continue in effect or
deny permits, under such conditions as it may prescribe for the prevention of pollution, for
the emission of air contaminants, or for the installation or operation of any emission facility,
air contaminant treatment facility, treatment facility, potential air contaminant storage
facility, or storage facility, or any part thereof, or for the sources or emissions of noise
pollution.

new text begin (b) new text end The Pollution Control Agency may also issue, continue in effect or deny permits,
under such conditions as it may prescribe for the prevention of pollution, for the storage,
collection, transportation, processing, or disposal of waste, or for the installation or operation
of any system or facility, or any part thereof, related to the storage, collection, transportation,
processing, or disposal of waste.

new text begin (c) new text end The agency may not issue a permit to a facility without analyzing and considering
the cumulative levels and effects of past and current environmental pollution from all sources
on the environment and residents of the geographic area within which the facility's emissions
are likely to be deposited, provided that the facility is located in a community in a city of
the first class in Hennepin County that meets all of the following conditions:

(1) is within a half mile of a site designated by the federal government as an EPA
superfund site due to residential arsenic contamination;

(2) a majority of the population are low-income persons of color and American Indians;

(3) a disproportionate percent of the children have childhood lead poisoning, asthma,
or other environmentally related health problems;

(4) is located in a city that has experienced numerous air quality alert days of dangerous
air quality for sensitive populations between February 2007 and February 2008; and

(5) is located near the junctions of several heavily trafficked state and county highways
and two one-way streets which carry both truck and auto traffic.

new text begin (d) new text end The Pollution Control Agency may revoke or modify any permit issued under this
subdivision and section 116.081 whenever it is necessary, in the opinion of the agency, to
prevent or abate pollution.

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end The Pollution Control Agency has the authority for approval over the siting,
expansion, or operation of a solid waste facility with regard to environmental issues.
However, the agency's issuance of a permit does not release the permittee from any liability,
penalty, or duty imposed by any applicable county ordinances. Nothing in this chapter
precludes, or shall be construed to preclude, a county from enforcing land use controls,
regulations, and ordinances existing at the time of the permit application and adopted
pursuant to sections 366.10 to 366.181, 394.21 to 394.37, or 462.351 to 462.365, with regard
to the siting, expansion, or operation of a solid waste facility.

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end Except as prohibited by federal law, a person may commence construction,
reconstruction, replacement, or modification of any facility prior to the issuance of a
construction permit by the agency.

new text begin (g) When considering whether to approve permits for agricultural activities, the
commissioner must not consider the impact of emissions of greenhouse gases, as defined
in Minnesota Rules, chapter 7005.
new text end