as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/13/2024 04:23pm
A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; requiring reporting of subsurface drain tile installation
and modification; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
103F.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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(b) "Board" means the Board of Water and Soil Resources.
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(c) "Drain tile" means a system of tile, corrugated plastic tubing, pipe, or other conduit
installed beneath the ground surface on private or public land to collect and convey water.
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(d) "Modification" means an act to enlarge, extend, deepen, reline, improve, replace, or
otherwise intentionally alter existing drain tile. Modification does not mean the repair or
regular maintenance of existing drain tile.
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A landowner must report to the local soil
and water conservation district any installation or modification of drain tile on the landowner's
property by December 31 of the year of installation or modification. The landowner must
report in the manner required by the district and provide all information required by the
board, including but not limited to the following for each drain tile installation or modification
project, when applicable:
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(1) the project location, type, and date;
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(2) tile material and type;
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(3) a project map that is accurate to scale and identifies the location of drain tile, including
all outlets and control structures, and the drainage water flow path for the first mile
downstream of the project;
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(4) the subsurface area drained by the project, in acres;
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(5) the diameter of all drain tile lines, including mains and individual laterals;
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(6) the design flow at each outlet in cubic feet per second;
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(7) the drainage coefficient in inches per day;
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(8) riprap or other erosion control measures employed at each outlet; and
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(9) for a modification project, the project's anticipated impact on clauses (4) to (8).
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At least annually and in the manner required by the board,
each soil and water conservation district must report to the board the information submitted
by landowners under subdivision 2.
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If the board or a soil and water conservation district determines
a landowner is not in compliance with this section, the district must notify the landowner
and attempt to obtain compliance. If the district's efforts are not successful, the district must
issue the landowner a written notice of warning and notify the board, and the board may
issue penalty orders under section 103B.101, subdivision 12.
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This section is effective August 1, 2024, and applies to drain tile
installation or modification projects that begin on or after that date.
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