1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to the environment; requiring the 
  1.3             commissioner of the pollution control agency to make 
  1.4             information regarding emissions, discharges, and other 
  1.5             releases available on the agency's Web site; 
  1.6             appropriating money to provide information regarding 
  1.7             emissions, discharges, and other releases; proposing 
  1.8             coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  [116.015] [POLLUTION INFORMATION ACCESS.] 
  1.11     By August 1, 2002, the commissioner shall make information 
  1.12  regarding emissions, discharges, and other releases available on 
  1.13  the agency's Web site and, on request, in alternative forms.  
  1.14  The commissioner shall determine the format of the Web site and 
  1.15  may edit the data to make it more understandable and, if 
  1.16  voluminous, concise.  The information must: 
  1.17     (1) be searchable by company name or address and by 
  1.18  geographic location; 
  1.19     (2) describe the source and amount of emissions, 
  1.20  discharges, and other releases by area; 
  1.21     (3) include current, accurate data that is reasonably 
  1.22  comprehensive; and 
  1.23     (4) be written in clear and coherent language using words 
  1.24  and grammar that are understandable by a person of average 
  1.25  intelligence and education. 
  1.26     The commissioner must provide context for the information, 
  1.27  including permitted levels for emissions, discharges, and other 
  2.1   releases that helps a person viewing the information to 
  2.2   understand the environmental significance of the information. 
  2.3      Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.4      $120,000 in fiscal year 2002 and $120,000 in fiscal year 
  2.5   2003 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
  2.6   of the pollution control agency to provide the emissions, 
  2.7   discharges, and other releases information required by Minnesota 
  2.8   Statutes, section 116.015.