HF 1706

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 07/09/2019 01:55pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; specifying duties and services of soil and water
conservation districts; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
103C.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [103C.332] SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS; DUTIES
AND SERVICES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin In addition to any other duty prescribed by law, soil and water
conservation districts must:
new text end

new text begin (1) respond to and provide technical and financial assistance to landowners to maintain
and improve the quality, quantity, distribution, and sustainability of natural resources,
including surface water, groundwater, soil, and ecological resources;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide technical assistance in implementing the soil erosion law under sections
103F.401 to 103F.48;
new text end

new text begin (3) arrange for employees to serve on technical evaluation panels to implement the
wetland laws as required under section 103G.2242;
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new text begin (4) locally administer the reinvest in Minnesota reserve program under section 103F.515
and rules adopted thereunder, using knowledge of local resources to manage each easement
to maximize environmental benefits;
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new text begin (5) participate in administering the Wetland Conservation Act as provided under sections
103G.221 to 103G.2375, either in an advisory capacity or as the designated local government
unit administering the program;
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new text begin (6) participate in the local water management program under chapter 103B, either in an
advisory capacity or as the designated local government unit administering the program;
new text end

new text begin (7) participate, as appropriate, in the comprehensive watershed management planning
program under section 103B.801;
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new text begin (8) participate in disaster response efforts as provided in chapter 12A;
new text end

new text begin (9) provide technical recommendations to the Department of Natural Resources on
general permit applications under section 103G.301;
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new text begin (10) provide technical assistance and local administration of the agricultural water quality
certification program under sections 17.9891 to 17.993;
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new text begin (11) provide technical assistance for the agricultural land preservation program under
chapter 40A, where applicable;
new text end

new text begin (12) maintain compliance with section 15.99 for deadlines for agency action;
new text end

new text begin (13) coordinate with appropriate county officials on matters related to electing soil and
water conservation district supervisors;
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new text begin (14) cooperate to the extent possible with federal, state, and local agencies and with
private organizations to avoid duplicating and to enhance implementing public and private
conservation initiatives within the jurisdiction of the district; and
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new text begin (15) enter into cooperative agreements with the United States Department of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other United States Department of Agriculture
agencies to leverage federal technical and financial assistance.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Services provided. new text end

new text begin To carry out the duties under subdivision 1 and implement
the soil and water conservation policy of the state as stated in section 103A.206, soil and
water conservation districts provide a range of services, including but not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) performing administrative services, including comprehensive and annual work
planning, administering grants, leveraging outside funding, establishing fiscal accountability
measures, reporting accomplishments, human resources management, and staff and supervisor
development;
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new text begin (2) providing technical expertise, including knowledge of local resources, performing
technical evaluations and certifications, assessing concerns, and providing oversight in
surveying, designing, and constructing conservation practices;
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new text begin (3) providing information and education outreach, including increasing landowner
awareness and knowledge of soil and water conservation program opportunities to protect
soil and water resources and publicizing the benefits of soil and water conservation to the
general public;
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new text begin (4) facilitating regulatory processes for impacted landowners and providing technical
review and comment on regulatory permits and development plans for regulations relating
to soil and water conservation;
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new text begin (5) administering projects and programs, including but not limited to the nonpoint source
pollution abatement program; reinvest in Minnesota reserve conservation easements program;
disaster response; local water management and comprehensive watershed management
planning programs; and projects related to floodplains, lakes, streams and ditches, wetlands,
upland resources, and groundwater resources, to maintain and improve the quality, quantity,
distribution, and sustainability of natural resources, including surface water, groundwater,
soil, and ecological resources;
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new text begin (6) monitoring and inventorying to collect data that provide a baseline understanding of
resource conditions and changes to the resources over time and analyzing and interpreting
the data to support program implementation; and
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new text begin (7) maintaining a modern technology infrastructure that facilitates planning and projects,
including geographic information systems, modeling software, mobile workstations, survey
and design equipment and software, and other technology for linking landowners with
conservation plans.
new text end