HF 2191

as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to appropriations; appropriating money for 
  1.3             local road wetland replacement. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  1.6      (a) An amount equal to .18 percent of the annual net 
  1.7   revenue in the highway user tax distribution fund, as provided 
  1.8   in the Minnesota Constitution, article XIV, is appropriated from 
  1.9   the general fund, and .06 percent of the annual net revenue in 
  1.10  the highway user tax distribution fund, as provided in the 
  1.11  Minnesota Constitution, article XIV, is appropriated to the 
  1.12  board of water and soil resources for each year of the 2002-2003 
  1.13  biennium to acquire wetland banking credits, land, and related 
  1.14  services for the purpose of restoring or creating wetlands to be 
  1.15  used to replace wetlands drained or filled as a result of the 
  1.16  repair, maintenance, or rehabilitation of existing public roads 
  1.17  as required by Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.222, subdivision 
  1.18  1, paragraph (l). 
  1.19     (b) $400,000 for fiscal year 2002 and $400,000 for fiscal 
  1.20  year 2003 are appropriated from the general fund to the board of 
  1.21  water and soil resources for implementation costs.  These 
  1.22  appropriations are added to the agency's base and are available 
  1.23  until expended.  The purchase price paid for acquisition of 
  1.24  wetland banking credits, land in fee or perpetual easement, or 
  2.1   services must be the amount considered reasonable by the board.  
  2.2   The board may enter into agreements with the federal government, 
  2.3   other state agencies, political subdivisions, and nonprofit 
  2.4   organizations or fee owners to acquire land and restore or 
  2.5   create wetlands or acquire existing wetland banking credits with 
  2.6   money provided by this appropriation.  Acquisition or conveyance 
  2.7   of land may be in the name of the political subdivision.  The 
  2.8   board may also replace wetlands impacted by public road projects 
  2.9   by designating eligible replacement credits resulting from 
  2.10  wetlands restored under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515, 
  2.11  provided the cost of the easement acquisition and wetland 
  2.12  restoration project is paid from these appropriations.