HF 4604

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/24/2022 01:59pm

A bill for an act
relating to environment; repealing environmental impact statement exemption for
engineered wood product manufacturing facility; repealing Laws 2021, First Special
Session chapter 6, article 2, section 129.

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

Section 1. new text begin ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCT MANUFACTURING FACILITY;
PERMITS.
new text end

new text begin The commissioners of natural resources and the Pollution Control Agency may not
award a permit for an engineered wood product manufacturing facility project that was
exempted from environmental impact statement requirements under Laws 2021, First Special
Session chapter 6, article 2, section 129, prior to its repeal, unless an environmental impact
statement has been completed or the project no longer meets environmental impact statement
requirements.
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

Sec. 2. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 6, article 2, section 129, new text end new text begin is repealed.
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

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Session Laws: 22-07277

Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 6, article 2, section 129

Sec. 129. new text begin FACILITATE ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCT MANUFACTURING FACILITY; ITASCA COUNTY. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a corporation or other legal business entity that proposes an economic development project to build an engineered wood product manufacturing facility in Itasca County and that receives a written offer of financial incentives to be provided for that project from both the Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation anytime during 2021 is exempt from the requirement to conduct a mandatory environmental impact statement that is triggered solely by the proposed facility's gross floor space area. The business entity is still required to conduct an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) for any mandatory EAW categories, along with any subsequent environmental permitting required for the project after environmental review is complete. For any work in wetlands that cannot be avoided or further minimized for this project, the business entity must conduct all required wetland permitting and agree to mitigate for any wetlands impacts at a ratio of 1.5 times the required mitigation ratio determined by regulatory agencies. Any wetland credits must be purchased in the same watershed. new text end