SF 2952

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to capital investment; authorizing spending to acquire and better public
land and buildings and other improvements of a capital nature; authorizing the
issuance of state bonds; appropriating money for grants to political subdivisions
for capital projects for the beneficial use of wastewater; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [116.195] BENEFICIAL USE OF WASTEWATER; CAPITAL
GRANTS FOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms
have the meanings given them.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Agency" means the Pollution Control Agency.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Beneficial use of wastewater" means use of the effluent from a wastewater
treatment plant that replaces use of groundwater.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Capital project" means the acquisition or betterment of public land, buildings,
and other public improvements of a capital nature for the treatment of wastewater intended
for beneficial use. Capital project includes projects to retrofit, expand, or construct new
treatment facilities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants for capital project design. new text end

new text begin The agency shall make grant awards
to political subdivisions for up to 50 percent of the costs to predesign and design capital
projects that demonstrate the beneficial use of wastewater. The maximum amount for a
grant under this subdivision is $500,000. The grant agreement must provide that the
predesign and design work being funded is public information and available to anyone
without charge. The agency must make the predesign and design work available on its
Web site.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grants for capital project implementation. new text end

new text begin The agency shall make
grant awards to political subdivisions for up to 50 percent of the costs to acquire,
construct, install, furnish, and equip capital projects that demonstrate the beneficial use
of wastewater. The political subdivision must submit design plans and specifications
to the agency as part of the application.
new text end

new text begin The agency must consult with the Public Facilities Authority and the commissioner
of natural resources in reviewing and ranking applications for grants under this section.
new text end

new text begin The application must identify the uses of the treated wastewater and greater weight
will be given to applications that include a binding commitment to participate by the
user or users.
new text end

new text begin The agency must give preference to projects that will reduce use of the greatest
volume of groundwater from aquifers with the slowest rate of recharge.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Application form, procedures. new text end

new text begin The agency shall develop an application
form and procedures.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin The agency shall report by February 1 of each year to the chairs
of the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over environment policy and finance
and capital investment on the grants made and projects funded under this section. For each
demonstration project funded, the report must include information on the scale of water
constraints for the area, the volume of treated wastewater supply, the quality of treated
wastewater supplied and treatment implications for the industrial user, impacts to stream
flow and downstream users, and any considerations related to water appropriation and
discharge permits.
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 POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY; BENEFICIAL USE OF
WASTEWATER.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $5,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds
fund to the Pollution Control Agency for grants to political subdivisions under Minnesota
Statutes, section 116.195.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Bond sale. new text end

new text begin To provide the money appropriated in subdivision 1 from
the bond proceeds fund, the commissioner of finance shall sell and issue bonds of the
state in an amount up to $5,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with the effect
prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota
Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.
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