HF 1796

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/06/2017 05:07pm

A bill for an act
relating to waters; providing for improving water quality; establishing improvement
goal; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [103A.213] PROGRESS FOR IMPROVING WATER QUALITY.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Water quality; improvement goal. new text end

new text begin It is the goal of the state to accelerate
the pace of progress for improving water-quality protection and restoration to reach a goal
of 25 percent improvement in water quality by 2025. Progress must be reviewed by and
based on measures reported by the cooperating agencies listed under subdivision 2 or as
described in local water management plans approved and adopted under chapter 103B.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Cooperating agencies and input process. new text end

new text begin The Departments of Agriculture,
Health, and Natural Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, the Board of Water and Soil
Resources, the Metropolitan Council, the Public Facilities Authority, and the Environmental
Quality Board must jointly conduct a broad public and stakeholder engagement process
across the state seeking input on how to achieve the goal under subdivision 1. The process
must consider, but is not limited to, water safety and quality parameters such as chloride,
infectious agents, phosphorus, sediment, nitrates, lead, and other factors that can contribute
to biological and human health risks. The Clean Water Council and local government
representatives must be consulted before the public and stakeholder input process begins.
The initial public and stakeholder input process must be completed by November 15, 2017.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Scope of public and stakeholder input. new text end

new text begin The public and stakeholder input
process must include, but is not limited to, obtaining input on:
new text end

new text begin (1) what additional data or analyses are needed and how the data or analyses can be used
to accomplish and measure progress toward the goal;
new text end

new text begin (2) mechanisms to provide assurance, accountability, and cost-benefit measures for
accomplishing progress toward the goal;
new text end

new text begin (3) what changes to the Clean Water Legacy Act or other state statutes or agency
programs would be helpful to accelerate and sustain progress toward the goal;
new text end

new text begin (4) what local government programs or authorities could be added or modified to
accelerate and sustain progress toward the goal;
new text end

new text begin (5) options to prioritize, sequence, and locate multiple-benefit practices, projects, and
infrastructure needed to accelerate and sustain progress toward the goal;
new text end

new text begin (6) options to leverage nonstate funding for practices, projects, and infrastructure needed
to accelerate and sustain progress toward the goal;
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new text begin (7) how technology and private sector roles or investments could be used to accelerate
and sustain progress toward the goal;
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new text begin (8) how to accomplish personal, community, ecological, and economic health objectives
and goals as part of accelerating and sustaining progress toward the water quality
improvement goal; and
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new text begin (9) information deemed relevant and useful according to the objectives outlined in
sections 103A.212, 103H.001, and 114D.10 and other related information deemed relevant
and useful by the Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, the Pollution
Control Agency, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, the Metropolitan Council, the
Public Facilities Authority, and the Environmental Quality Board.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report and recommendations. new text end

new text begin By December 15, 2017, the cooperating
agencies must jointly submit a report to the governor and the Legislative Water Commission
on the results of the public input process. The report must include any policy and budget
recommendations based on the input received.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end