HF 4736

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/31/2022 03:43pm

A bill for an act
relating to environment; requiring rulemaking to address certain climate issues for
wastewater and water supply projects; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections
116.182, subdivision 5; 446A.081, subdivision 12.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116.182, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Rules.

The agency shall adopt rules for the administration of the financial
assistance program. For wastewater treatment projects, the rules must include:

(1) application requirements;

(2) criteria for the ranking of projects in order of priority based on factors including new text begin :
new text end

new text begin (i) new text end the type of project deleted text begin and deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (ii) new text end the degree of environmental impact deleted text begin , and deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (iii) new text end scenic and wild river standards;

new text begin (iv) climate resiliency; and
new text end

new text begin (v) reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; new text end and

(3) criteria for determining essential project components.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 446A.081, subdivision 12, is amended to read:

Subd. 12.

Rules of the department.

new text begin (a) new text end The Department of Health shall adopt rules
relating to the procedures for administration of the Department of Health's duties under the
act and this section.

new text begin (b) Rules that establish criteria for ranking new or upgrade water supply system projects
in order of priority must assign priority points for projects that:
new text end

new text begin (1) address climate resiliency; and
new text end

new text begin (2) reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin INTERIM PROJECT PRIORITY LIST RECOMMENDATIONS;
POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY.
new text end

new text begin Until rules factoring in climate resiliency and greenhouse gas emissions are adopted
under Minnesota Statutes, section 116.182, subdivision 5, the commissioner of the Pollution
Control Agency must review each project priority list developed and provide
recommendations to the Public Facilities Authority that prioritize the projects based on
climate resiliency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Public Facilities
Authority must use the recommendations when developing the intended use plan developed
under Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.07, and when making other funding decisions
dependent on the Pollution Control Agency's project priority list.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin INTERIM PROJECT PRIORITY LIST RECOMMENDATIONS;
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
new text end

new text begin Until rules factoring climate resiliency and greenhouse gas emissions are adopted under
Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.081, subdivision 12, the commissioner of health must
review each project priority list developed and provide recommendations to the Public
Facilities Authority that prioritize the projects based on climate resiliency and the reduction
of greenhouse gas emissions. The Public Facilities Authority must use the recommendations
when developing the intended use plan developed under Minnesota Statutes, section
446A.081, subdivision 5, and when making other funding decisions dependent on the
Department of Health's project priority list.
new text end