HF 1729

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/27/2017 01:47pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; appropriating money to negotiate agreements for
assumption of section 404 permit program.

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

Section 1. new text begin FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 404 ASSUMPTION;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $200,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from
the general fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to negotiate draft agreements
with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Environmental
Protection Agency to assume administration of the section 404 permit program of the federal
Clean Water Act. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (b) The draft agreements must:
new text end

new text begin (1) optimize the use of local government units in implementing section 404 permit
program assumption;
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new text begin (2) minimize the increase in state agency staffing to implement section 404 permit
program assumption; and
new text end

new text begin (3) optimize the jurisdiction of assumed waters to correspond with wetlands regulated
through Minnesota's Wetland Conservation Act and public-waters work permit program.
new text end

new text begin (c) The Board of Water and Soil Resources must conduct quarterly stakeholder meetings
to inform and gather input on the status of the negotiations.
new text end

new text begin (d) By January 1, 2019, the Board of Water and Soil Resources must submit the draft
agreements along with recommendations for required changes to Minnesota Statutes to
secure assumption of the section 404 permit program to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the house of representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction
over the environment and natural resources.
new text end