SF 1746

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:23am

A bill for an act
relating to environment; requiring an analysis of state air quality, hazardous
waste, and water quality standards; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
116.07, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 116.07, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Adoption of standards.

new text begin (a) new text end The Pollution Control Agency shall improve
air quality by promoting, in the most practicable way possible, the use of energy sources
and waste disposal methods which produce or emit the least air contaminants consistent
with the agency's overall goal of reducing all forms of pollution. The agency shall also
adopt standards of air quality, including maximum allowable standards of emission of air
contaminants from motor vehicles, recognizing that due to variable factors, no single
standard of purity of air is applicable to all areas of the state. In adopting standards the
Pollution Control Agency shall give due recognition to the fact that the quantity or
characteristics of air contaminants or the duration of their presence in the atmosphere,
which may cause air pollution in one area of the state, may cause less or not cause any air
pollution in another area of the state, and it shall take into consideration in this connection
such factors, including others which it may deem proper, as existing physical conditions,
zoning classifications, topography, prevailing wind directions and velocities, and the fact
that a standard of air quality which may be proper as to an essentially residential area of
the state, may not be proper as to a highly developed industrial area of the state. Such
standards of air quality shall be premised upon scientific knowledge of causes as well as
effects based on technically substantiated criteria and commonly accepted practices. No
local government unit shall set standards of air quality which are more stringent than
those set by the Pollution Control Agency.

new text begin (b) new text end The Pollution Control Agency shall promote solid waste disposal control
by encouraging the updating of collection systems, elimination of open dumps, and
improvements in incinerator practices. The agency shall also adopt standards for the
control of the collection, transportation, storage, processing, and disposal of solid waste
and sewage sludge for the prevention and abatement of water, air, and land pollution,
recognizing that due to variable factors, no single standard of control is applicable to
all areas of the state. In adopting standards, the Pollution Control Agency shall give
due recognition to the fact that elements of control which may be reasonable and proper
in densely populated areas of the state may be unreasonable and improper in sparsely
populated or remote areas of the state, and it shall take into consideration in this connection
such factors, including others which it may deem proper, as existing physical conditions,
topography, soils and geology, climate, transportation, and land use. Such standards of
control shall be premised on technical criteria and commonly accepted practices.

new text begin (c) new text end The Pollution Control Agency shall also adopt standards describing the
maximum levels of noise in terms of sound pressure level which may occur in the outdoor
atmosphere, recognizing that due to variable factors no single standard of sound pressure
is applicable to all areas of the state. Such standards shall give due consideration to
such factors as the intensity of noises, the types of noises, the frequency with which
noises recur, the time period for which noises continue, the times of day during which
noises occur, and such other factors as could affect the extent to which noises may be
injurious to human health or welfare, animal or plant life, or property, or could interfere
unreasonably with the enjoyment of life or property. In adopting standards, the Pollution
Control Agency shall give due recognition to the fact that the quantity or characteristics
of noise or the duration of its presence in the outdoor atmosphere, which may cause
noise pollution in one area of the state, may cause less or not cause any noise pollution
in another area of the state, and it shall take into consideration in this connection such
factors, including others which it may deem proper, as existing physical conditions,
zoning classifications, topography, meteorological conditions and the fact that a standard
which may be proper in an essentially residential area of the state, may not be proper as to
a highly developed industrial area of the state. Such noise standards shall be premised
upon scientific knowledge as well as effects based on technically substantiated criteria
and commonly accepted practices. No local governing unit shall set standards describing
the maximum levels of sound pressure which are more stringent than those set by the
Pollution Control Agency.

new text begin (d) new text end The Pollution Control Agency shall adopt standards for the identification of
hazardous waste and for the management, identification, labeling, classification, storage,
collection, transportation, processing, and disposal of hazardous waste, recognizing
that due to variable factors, a single standard of hazardous waste control may not be
applicable to all areas of the state. In adopting standards, the Pollution Control Agency
shall recognize that elements of control which may be reasonable and proper in densely
populated areas of the state may be unreasonable and improper in sparsely populated
or remote areas of the state. The agency shall consider existing physical conditions,
topography, soils, and geology, climate, transportation and land use. Standards of
hazardous waste control shall be premised on technical knowledge, and commonly
accepted practices. Hazardous waste generator licenses may be issued for a term not to
exceed five years. No local government unit shall set standards of hazardous waste control
which are in conflict or inconsistent with those set by the Pollution Control Agency.

new text begin (e) new text end A person who generates less than 100 kilograms of hazardous waste per month is
exempt from the following agency hazardous waste rules:

(1) rules relating to transportation, manifesting, storage, and labeling for
photographic fixer and x-ray negative wastes that are hazardous solely because of silver
content; and

(2) any rule requiring the generator to send to the agency or commissioner a copy
of each manifest for the transportation of hazardous waste for off-site treatment, storage,
or disposal, except that counties within the metropolitan area may require generators to
provide manifests.

Nothing in this paragraph exempts the generator from the agency's rules relating to on-site
accumulation or outdoor storage. A political subdivision or other local unit of government
may not adopt management requirements that are more restrictive than this paragraph.

new text begin (f) Standards for air quality and hazardous waste adopted under this chapter and
standards for water quality adopted under chapter 115 must not exceed similar federal
standards that have been adopted under federal statutes, rule, or guidance, unless the
agency determines that the federal standard does not provide adequate protection for the
environment or public health. The agency shall not make a determination that the federal
standards do not provide adequate protection unless the determination is supported with
written documentation that includes the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) a public health risk assessment that characterizes the types of sources in this state
that are known to release the contaminants and the population groups that are potentially
at risk from the contaminants;
new text end

new text begin (2) an analysis showing that members of population groups are subjected to levels
of contaminants that are above recognized environmental health standards or will be
subjected to those levels if the agency fails to adopt the standard;
new text end

new text begin (3) an evaluation of options for managing the risks caused by the contaminants
considering the risks, costs, economic impacts, feasibility, energy, safety, and other
relevant factors and a finding that the proposed standard will reduce the risks in the most
cost-effective manner practicable; and
new text end

new text begin (4) a comparison of the proposed standards in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana,
Michigan, Ohio, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
new text end