SF 4525
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 04/08/2026 09:45 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to environment; modifying notice requirements for water discharges;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 115.061.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 115.061, is amended to read:
115.061 DUTY TO NOTIFY; AVOIDING WATER POLLUTION.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), it is the duty of every person to notify the agency
immediately of the discharge, accidental or otherwise, of any substance or material under
its control which, if not recovered, may cause pollution of waters of the state, and the
responsible person shall recover as rapidly and as thoroughly as possible such substance or
material and take immediately such other action as may be reasonably possible to minimize
or abate pollution of waters of the state caused thereby.
(b) Notification is not required under paragraph (a) for a discharge of five gallons or
less of petroleum, as defined in section 115C.02, subdivision 10. This paragraph does not
affect the other requirements of paragraph (a).
(c) Promptly after notifying the agency of a discharge under paragraph (a), a publicly
owned treatment works or a publicly or privately owned domestic sewer system owner must
provide noticenew text begin of the dischargenew text end to deleted text begin thedeleted text end potentially impactednew text begin downstream users, including thenew text end
publicnew text begin , Tribal governments,new text end and deleted text begin to any downstreamdeleted text end drinking water deleted text begin facility that may be
impacted by the dischargedeleted text end new text begin facilitiesnew text end . Notice deleted text begin to the public and to any drinking water facilitydeleted text end
must be made using the most efficient communications system available to the facility
owner such as in person, telephone call, radio, social media, web page, or another expedited
form. In addition, signage must be posted at all impacted public use areas within the same
jurisdiction or notification must be provided to the entity that has jurisdiction over any
impacted public use areas. A notice under this paragraph must include the date and time of
the discharge, a description of the material released, a warning of the potential public health
risk, and the permittee's contact information.
(d) The agency must provide guidance that includes but is not limited to methods and
protocols for providing timely notice under this section.