1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to water; requiring groundwater management area advisory teams and 
1.3 	approval of groundwater management area plans;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.4 	2013 Supplement, section 103G.287, subdivision 4.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 103G.287, subdivision 4, 
1.7 	is amended to read:
1.8 		Subd. 4.Groundwater management areas. (a) The commissioner may designate 
1.9 	groundwater management areas and limit total annual water appropriations and uses within 
1.10 	a designated area to ensure sustainable use of groundwater that protects ecosystems, water 
1.11 	quality, and the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Water appropriations 
1.12 	and uses within a designated management area must be consistent with a groundwater 
1.13 	management area plan approved by the commissioner that addresses water conservation 
1.14 	requirements and water allocation priorities established in section 103G.261. Before 
1.15 	implementing a groundwater management area plan developed under this subdivision, the 
1.16 	commissioner must receive approval of the plan from the advisory team established in 
1.17 	paragraph (c).
1.18 	(b) Notwithstanding section 103G.271, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), and Minnesota 
1.19 	Rules, within designated groundwater management areas, the commissioner may require 
1.20 	general permits as specified in section 103G.271, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), for water 
1.21 	users using less than 10,000 gallons per day or 1,000,000 gallons per year and water 
1.22 	suppliers serving less than 25 persons for domestic purposes. The commissioner may 
1.23 	waive the requirements under section 103G.281 for general permits issued under this 
1.24 	paragraph, and the fee specified in section 103G.301, subdivision 2, paragraph (c), does 
2.1 	not apply to general permits issued under this paragraph. The commissioner shall not 
2.2 	implement permit requirements under this paragraph unless the requirements have been 
2.3 	included in a groundwater management area plan that has been approved as required 
2.4 	under this subdivision.
2.5 	(c) When designating a groundwater management area, the commissioner shall 
2.6 	assemble an advisory team to assist in developing the boundaries and a groundwater 
2.7 	management area plan for the area. Local units of government shall comprise half of the 
2.8 	members, with preference given to members representing local units of government that 
2.9 	hold one or more state water appropriation permits. These members shall be selected 
2.10 	by the League of Minnesota Cities, the Association of Minnesota Counties, and the 
2.11 	Minnesota Association of Townships. The other half of the advisory team members shall 
2.12 	include members representing other water appropriation permit holders, the Department 
2.13 	of Natural Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the 
2.14 	Department of Health, and the Metropolitan Council if the groundwater management area 
2.15 	includes land located in the seven-county metropolitan area. The advisory team may 
2.16 	also include nonvoting members from the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota State 
2.17 	Colleges and Universities, and federal agencies.

2.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective retroactively from January 1, 2013, 
2.19 	and applies to all groundwater management areas designated or to be designated in the state.