SF 3046

as introduced - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the environment; providing for certain 
  1.3             regulations regarding greenhouse gas emissions from 
  1.4             motor vehicles; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.5             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [116.401] [LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.] 
  1.8      (a) The legislature finds and declares the following: 
  1.9      (1) global warming is a matter of increasing concern for 
  1.10  public health and the environment of Minnesota; 
  1.11     (2) a significant cause of global warming is the emission 
  1.12  of air pollutants known as greenhouse gases, including carbon 
  1.13  dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, 
  1.14  perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride; 
  1.15     (3) control and reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases 
  1.16  are critical to slow the effects of global warming; 
  1.17     (4) global warming threatens Minnesota's environmental and 
  1.18  economic security through projected changes in temperature, 
  1.19  precipitation, and sea level that will harm natural ecosystems 
  1.20  and threaten industries such as agriculture, forestry, and 
  1.21  tourism; 
  1.22     (5) global warming threatens the health of Minnesota 
  1.23  residents as rising temperatures will adversely affect people 
  1.24  with respiratory problems and others, particularly seniors, who 
  1.25  are susceptible to heat-related illnesses; 
  2.1      (6) motor vehicles produce nearly one-third of the total 
  2.2   greenhouse gas emissions emitted in Minnesota; 
  2.3      (7) Minnesota has a long history of state leadership on 
  2.4   technological and regulatory innovation to protect air quality, 
  2.5   the environment, and public health; 
  2.6      (8) technological solutions to reduce greenhouse gas 
  2.7   emissions will stimulate the Minnesota economy and provide 
  2.8   enhanced job opportunities; 
  2.9      (9) current federal emissions standards are not sufficient 
  2.10  to address public health and environmental concerns, and it is 
  2.11  appropriate and necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 
  2.12  from motor vehicles, which contribute to global warming; and 
  2.13     (10) in 2002, California enacted chapter 200 that requires 
  2.14  the California Air Resources Board to develop and adopt 
  2.15  standards that achieve the maximum feasible reduction of 
  2.16  greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. 
  2.17     (b) The intent of the legislature is to require the 
  2.18  Pollution Control Agency to adopt rules that will conform to the 
  2.19  same emissions standards adopted by California for the purposes 
  2.20  of reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global 
  2.21  warming.  The further intent of the legislature is that the 
  2.22  greenhouse gas reductions take effect in accordance with any 
  2.23  limitations that may be imposed pursuant to the federal Clean 
  2.24  Air Act and the waiver provisions of the act. 
  2.25     Sec. 2.  [116.402] [GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION RULES; MOTOR 
  2.26  VEHICLES.] 
  2.27     (a) Pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act, United States 
  2.28  Code, title 42, section 7543 (e)(2)(B), by December 31, 2005, 
  2.29  the Pollution Control Agency shall adopt rules which are 
  2.30  identical to the California air emissions reduction standards 
  2.31  for the cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions 
  2.32  from motor vehicles.  The rules shall be effective for the 2009 
  2.33  model year and any model year thereafter.  The agency shall 
  2.34  review and revise the rules annually in order to retain their 
  2.35  consistency with the California air emissions standards for the 
  2.36  cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from motor 
  3.1   vehicles. 
  3.2      (b) For the purposes of this section, "motor vehicle" means 
  3.3   a passenger vehicle, light-duty truck, or any other vehicle 
  3.4   determined by the agency to be a vehicle whose primary use is 
  3.5   noncommercial personal transportation.