HF 3472

1st Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/26/2018 04:40pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; modifying requirements for saltwater aquatic farms;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, sections 17.494; 17.4982, by adding
subdivisions; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 17.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 17.494, is amended to read:

17.494 AQUACULTURE PERMITS; RULES.

new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner shall act as permit or license coordinator for aquatic farmers and
shall assist aquatic farmers to obtain licenses or permits.

deleted text begin By July 1, 1992, deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end A state agency issuing multiple permits or licenses for aquaculture
shall consolidate the permits or licenses required for every aquatic farm location. The
Department of Natural Resources transportation permits are exempt from this requirement.
State agencies shall adopt rules or issue commissioner's orders that establish permit and
license requirements, approval timelines, and compliance standards. new text begin Saltwater aquatic farms,
as defined in section 17.4982, and processing facilities for saltwater aquatic life, as defined
in section 17.4982, must be classified as agricultural operations for purposes of any
construction, discharge, or other permit issued by the Pollution Control Agency.
new text end

Nothing in this section modifies any state agency's regulatory authority over aquaculture
production.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 17.4982, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 20a. new text end

new text begin Saltwater aquaculture. new text end

new text begin "Saltwater aquaculture" means the commercial
propagation and rearing of saltwater aquatic life including, but not limited to, crustaceans,
primarily for consumption as human food.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 17.4982, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 20b. new text end

new text begin Saltwater aquatic farm. new text end

new text begin "Saltwater aquatic farm" means a facility used for
saltwater aquaculture including but not limited to artificial ponds, vats, tanks, raceways,
and other facilities that an aquatic farmer owns or has exclusive control of for the sole
purpose of producing saltwater aquatic life.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 17.4982, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 20c. new text end

new text begin Saltwater aquatic life. new text end

new text begin "Saltwater aquatic life" means aquatic species that
are saltwater obligates or perform optimally when raised in salinities closer to that of natural
seawater and need saltwater to survive.
new text end

Sec. 5.

new text begin [17.499] TRANSPORTATION OR IMPORTATION OF SALTWATER
AQUATIC LIFE; QUARANTINE REQUIREMENT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Purpose. new text end

new text begin The legislature finds that it is in the public interest to increase
private saltwater aquaculture production and processing in this state under the coordination
of the commissioner of agriculture. Additional private production will reduce dependence
on foreign suppliers and benefit the rural economy by creating new jobs and economic
activity.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Transportation permit. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding the requirements in section
17.4985, saltwater aquatic life transportation and importation requirements are governed
by this section. A transportation permit is required prior to any importation or intrastate
transportation of saltwater aquatic life not exempted under subdivision 3. A transportation
permit may be used for multiple shipments within the 30-day term of the permit if the source
and the destination remain the same. Transportation permits must be obtained from the
commissioner prior to shipment of saltwater aquatic life.
new text end

new text begin (b) An application for a transportation permit must be made in the form required by the
commissioner. The commissioner may reject an incomplete application.
new text end

new text begin (c) An application for a transportation permit must be accompanied by satisfactory
evidence, as determined by the commissioner, that the shipment is free of any nonindigenous
species of animal other than the saltwater aquatic species and either:
new text end

new text begin (1) the facility from which the saltwater aquatic life originated has been certified by an
approved laboratory for at least the last 36 consecutive months as free of any disease listed
by OIE - the World Organisation for Animal Health for that species following the testing
guidelines outlined in the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code for crustaceans or the AFS Fish
Health Blue Book for other species, as appropriate; or
new text end

new text begin (2) the saltwater aquatic life to be imported or transported was certified by an approved
laboratory as free of any disease listed by OIE - the World Organisation for Animal Health
for crustaceans or in the AFS Fish Health Blue Book for other species, as appropriate.
new text end

new text begin If a shipment authorized by the commissioner under clause (2) includes saltwater aquatic
life that originated in a foreign country, the shipment must be quarantined at the receiving
facility according to a quarantine plan approved by the commissioner. A shipment authorized
by the commissioner under clause (2) must be quarantined at the receiving facility according
to a quarantine plan approved by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (d) For purposes of this subdivision, "approved laboratory" means a laboratory approved
by the commissioner or the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Services.
new text end

new text begin (e) No later than 14 calendar days after a completed transportation permit application
is received, the commissioner must approve or deny the transportation permit application.
new text end

new text begin (f) A copy of the transportation permit must accompany a shipment of saltwater aquatic
life while in transit and must be available for inspection by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (g) A vehicle used by a licensee for transporting aquatic life must be identified with the
license number and the licensee's name and town of residence as it appears on the license.
A vehicle used by a licensee must have identification displayed so that it is readily visible
from either side of the vehicle in letters and numbers not less than 2-1/2 inches high and
three-eighths inch wide. Identification may be permanently affixed to vehicles or displayed
on removable plates or placards placed on opposite doors of the vehicle or on the tanks
carried on the vehicle.
new text end

new text begin (h) An application to license a vehicle for brood stock or larvae transport or for use as
a saltwater aquatic life vendor that is received by the commissioner is a temporary license
until approved or denied by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Exemptions. new text end

new text begin (a) A transportation permit is not required to transport or import
saltwater aquatic life:
new text end

new text begin (1) previously processed for use as food or other purposes unrelated to propagation;
new text end

new text begin (2) transported directly to an outlet for processing as food or for other food purposes if
accompanied by shipping documents;
new text end

new text begin (3) that is being exported if accompanied by shipping documents;
new text end

new text begin (4) that is being transported through the state if accompanied by shipping documents;
or
new text end

new text begin (5) transported intrastate within or between facilities licensed for saltwater aquaculture
by the commissioner if accompanied by shipping documents.
new text end

new text begin (b) Shipping documents required under paragraph (a) must include the place of origin,
owner or consignee, destination, number, species, and satisfactory evidence, as determined
by the commissioner, of the disease-free certification required under subdivision 2, paragraph
(c), clauses (1) and (2).
new text end