SF 2307

1st Engrossment - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 05/02/2019 04:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to environment; providing for disposition of fines for certain
trichloroethylene emissions; creating an account; creating stakeholder group;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 115B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [115B.55] TCE EMISSION RESPONSE ACCOUNT.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section and section 115B.56, the
terms in this subdivision have the meanings given.
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new text begin (b) "Settlement" means the stipulation agreement entered into on March 1, 2019, to
resolve alleged unlawful TCE emissions by Water Gremlin Company.
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new text begin (c) "TCE" means trichloroethylene.
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new text begin (d) "TCE area of concern" includes the area in and near White Bear Township affected
by unlawful emissions of TCE, as determined by the commissioner of the Pollution Control
Agency.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The TCE emission response account is established as an account
in the environmental fund. The account consists of the net proceeds of the civil penalty paid
to the Pollution Control Agency as part of the settlement and earnings on the investment of
money in the account. Money in the account may be invested through the State Board of
Investment.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Expenditures. new text end

new text begin Subject to appropriation by the legislature, money in the account
may be spent to assess and address the effects of unlawful emissions of TCE in the TCE
area of concern.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [115B.56] TCE EMISSION STAKEHOLDERS.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner must work with the following stakeholders to identify and recommend
to the legislature projects to receive funding from the TCE emission response account: a
representative of the Minnesota Department of Health; a representative of the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency; an elected official from the city of Gem Lake; an elected official
from the city of White Bear Lake; an elected official from White Bear Township; three
individuals appointed by the Neighborhood Concerned Citizens Group serving the White
Bear Township, White Bear Lake, and Gem Lake areas; an individual who is appointed by
the Neighborhood Concerned Citizens Group who lives within half of one mile of the Water
Gremlin facility that was the source of the TCE emissions described in the settlement; and
a representative of Ramsey County, who shall be a nonvoting member. Stakeholder
recommendations may include recommendations regarding:
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new text begin (1) the broad purposes or specific projects for which money in the TCE emission response
account should be appropriated;
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new text begin (2) the need for additional testing, investigations, or research;
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new text begin (3) ways to improve communication between state and federal officials and local
governments, citizens, and businesses when hazardous chemicals are actually or potentially
released into a community;
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new text begin (4) policy or law changes that would facilitate a better response to future releases of
hazardous chemicals; and
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new text begin (5) any other matter the stakeholders deem relevant.
new text end