SF 4431

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 10/06/2020 11:28am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; appropriating money to develop statewide plan to
reduce chloride contamination in waters of the state, for training to reduce chloride
contamination, and for feasibility analysis of chloride alternatives and water
softening changes.

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

Section 1. new text begin STATEWIDE PLAN TO REDUCE CHLORIDE CONTAMINATION IN
WATERS OF THE STATE; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
the Pollution Control Agency to develop a statewide plan to reduce chloride contamination
in the waters of the state and to require annual reporting of salt use by state agencies and
local governments. The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency must develop the
plan in consultation with the commissioner of health and the Board of Regents of the
University of Minnesota. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin TRAINING TO REDUCE CHLORIDE CONTAMINATION IN WATERS
OF THE STATE; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
the Pollution Control Agency to provide training in best practices to reduce chloride
contamination in waters of the state.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin CHLORIDE ALTERNATIVES AND WATER SOFTENER ANALYSIS;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Regents
of the University of Minnesota to perform an analysis of the costs, benefits, and feasibility
of:
new text end

new text begin (1) requiring use of alternatives to chemicals or products currently in use that contribute
to chloride contamination in waters of the state. As part of this analysis, the Board of Regents
must quantify all significant sources of chloride in waters of the state;
new text end

new text begin (2) requiring centralized water softening at drinking water treatment plants;
new text end

new text begin (3) prohibiting sale of water softening systems that do not allow the operator to reduce
the amount of salt used by the softener; and
new text end

new text begin (4) any other potentially viable methods identified by the Board of Regents for reducing
chloride contamination in waters of the state.
new text end

new text begin (b) The appropriation in this section is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin REPORTING.
new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2021, the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency and the Board
of Regents of the University of Minnesota must submit the materials developed under
sections 1 and 3 to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives
and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources
policy.
new text end