1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to waters; appropriating money for water supply sustainability study.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; WATER SUPPLY SUSTAINABILITY STUDY.
 1.5 	$1,500,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2016 from the general fund to the 
1.6 	commissioner of natural resources for a study to evaluate long-term water supply 
1.7 	sustainability in the North and East Metro, identify options to address any challenges 
1.8 	identified to the North and East Metro's long-term water supply sustainability, and assess 
1.9 	the feasibility of those options. The study must consider available information concerning 
1.10 	interactions between the region's surface water and groundwater systems, including White 
1.11 	Bear Lake. The commissioner must conduct this study in consultation and coordination 
1.12 	with affected communities, the Metropolitan Council, St. Paul Regional Water Services, 
1.13 	industrial water permit holders, and other entities with a demonstrated interest in the 
1.14 	water supply challenges facing the North and East Metro. Options to be evaluated must 
1.15 	include Alternative 1B and Alternative 2B from the Metropolitan Council's report entitled 
1.16 	Feasibility Assessment of Approaches to Water Sustainability in the Northeast Metro-Final 
1.17 	Report, prepared in accordance with Laws 2013, chapter 137, article 2, section 9. The 
1.18 	commissioner must complete a report summarizing study findings regarding long-term 
1.19 	water supply sustainability challenges in the North and East Metro and the feasibility of 
1.20 	various options for addressing those challenges. The commissioner's report must include 
1.21 	sufficient detail regarding preliminary design considerations, including supply source, 
1.22 	treatment, distribution, operation, and financing, to inform legislative consideration of 
1.23 	possible detailed design and construction authorization for the options evaluated. The 
1.24 	report must be provided no later than December 31, 2016, to the chairs and ranking 
2.1 	minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and divisions 
2.2 	with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources finance and policy and the 
2.3 	clean water fund. No detailed design may be undertaken by the commissioner without 
2.4 	legislative approval.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2017.