SF 450

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 11/09/2021 01:26pm

A bill for an act
relating to environment; repealing certain authority of the Pollution Control Agency
related to automobile emissions; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section
116.07, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116.07, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Adopting standards.

(a) 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, new text begin not new text end 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.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

(d) 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.

(e) 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.

(f) In any rulemaking proceeding under chapter 14 to adopt standards for air quality,
solid waste, or hazardous waste under this chapter, or standards for water quality under
chapter 115, the statement of need and reasonableness must include:

(1) an assessment of any differences between the proposed rule and:

(i) existing federal standards adopted under the Clean Air Act, United States Code, title
42, section 7412(b)(2); the Clean Water Act, United States Code, title 33, sections 1312(a)
and 1313(c)(4); and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, United States Code, title
42, section 6921(b)(1);

(ii) similar standards in states bordering Minnesota; and

(iii) similar standards in states within the Environmental Protection Agency Region 5;
and

(2) a specific analysis of the need and reasonableness of each difference.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end