HF 20

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 01/10/2011 10:56am

A bill for an act
relating to environment; modifying environmental impact statement process;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116D.04, subdivisions 2a, 3a, 11, 13,
by adding a subdivision; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116D.04,
subdivisions 5a, 9, 10.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116D.04, subdivision 2a, is amended to
read:

Subd. 2a.

When prepared.

Where there is potential for significant environmental
effects resulting from any major governmental action, the action shall be preceded by a
detailed environmental impact statement prepared by the responsible governmental unit. new text begin
A responsible governmental unit may contract for the preparation of an environmental
impact statement. new text end The environmental impact statement shall be an analytical rather than
an encyclopedic document which describes the proposed action in detail, analyzes its
significant environmental impacts, discusses appropriate alternatives to the proposed
action and their impacts, and explores methods by which adverse environmental impacts
of an action could be mitigated. deleted text begin The environmental impact statement shall also analyze
those economic, employment and sociological effects that cannot be avoided should
the action be implemented. deleted text end To ensure its use in the decision-making process, the
environmental impact statement shall be prepared as new text begin rapidly and new text end early as practical in the
formulation of an action. No mandatory environmental impact statement may be required
for an ethanol plant, as defined in section 41A.09, subdivision 2a, paragraph (b), that
produces less than 125,000,000 gallons of ethanol annually and is located outside of the
seven-county metropolitan area.

(a) The board shall by rule establish categories of actions for which environmental
impact statements and for which environmental assessment worksheets shall be prepared
as well as categories of actions for which no environmental review is required under
this section.

(b) The responsible governmental unit shall promptly publish notice of the
completion of an environmental assessment worksheet in a manner to be determined by
the board and shall provide copies of the environmental assessment worksheet to the board
and its member agencies. Comments on the need for an environmental impact statement
may be submitted to the responsible governmental unit during a 30-day period following
publication of the notice that an environmental assessment worksheet has been completed.
The responsible governmental unit's decision on the need for an environmental impact
statement shall be based on the environmental assessment worksheet and the comments
received during the comment period, and shall be made within 15 days after the close of
the comment period. deleted text begin The board's chair may extend the 15-day period by not more than 15
additional days upon the request of the responsible governmental unit.
deleted text end

(c) deleted text begin An environmental assessment worksheet shall also be prepared for a proposed
action whenever material evidence accompanying a petition by not less than 25
individuals, submitted before the proposed project has received final approval by the
appropriate governmental units, demonstrates that, because of the nature or location of a
proposed action, there may be potential for significant environmental effects. Petitions
requesting the preparation of an environmental assessment worksheet shall be submitted to
the board. The chair of the board shall determine the appropriate responsible governmental
unit and forward the petition to it. A decision on the need for an environmental assessment
worksheet shall be made by the responsible governmental unit within 15 days after the
petition is received by the responsible governmental unit. The board's chair may extend
the 15-day period by not more than 15 additional days upon request of the responsible
governmental unit.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end Except in an environmentally sensitive location where Minnesota Rules, part
4410.4300, subpart 29, item B, applies, the proposed action is exempt from environmental
review under this chapter and rules of the board, if:

(1) the proposed action is:

(i) an animal feedlot facility with a capacity of less than 1,000 animal units; or

(ii) an expansion of an existing animal feedlot facility with a total cumulative
capacity of less than 1,000 animal units;

(2) the application for the animal feedlot facility includes a written commitment by
the proposer to design, construct, and operate the facility in full compliance with Pollution
Control Agency feedlot rules; and

(3) the county board holds a public meeting for citizen input at least ten business
days prior to the Pollution Control Agency or county issuing a feedlot permit for the
animal feedlot facility unless another public meeting for citizen input has been held with
regard to the feedlot facility to be permitted. The exemption in this paragraph is in
addition to other exemptions provided under other law and rules of the board.

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end The board may, prior to final approval of a proposed project, require
preparation of an environmental assessment worksheet by a responsible governmental unit
selected by the board for any action where environmental review under this section has
not been specifically provided for by rule or otherwise initiated.

deleted text begin (f) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end An deleted text begin early and open deleted text end new text begin expedited new text end process shall be utilized to limit the scope of
the environmental impact statement to a discussion of those impacts, which, because of
the nature or location of the project, have the potential for significant environmental
effects. The same process shall be utilized to determine the form, content and level of
detail of the statement as well as the alternatives which are appropriate for consideration
in the statement. In addition, the permits which will be required for the proposed action
shall be identified during the scoping process. Further, the process shall identify those
permits for which information will be developed concurrently with the environmental
impact statement. The board shall provide in its rules for the expeditious completion of
the scoping process. The determinations reached in the process shall be incorporated into
the order requiring the preparation of an environmental impact statement.

deleted text begin (g) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end The responsible governmental unit shall, to the extent practicable, avoid
duplication and ensure coordination between state and federal environmental review
and between environmental review and environmental permitting. Whenever practical,
information needed by a governmental unit for making final decisions on permits or
other actions required for a proposed project shall be developed in conjunction with the
preparation of an environmental impact statement.

deleted text begin (h) deleted text end new text begin (g) new text end An environmental impact statement shall be prepared and its adequacy
determined within deleted text begin 280 deleted text end new text begin 120 new text end days after notice of its preparation deleted text begin unless the time is extended
by consent of the parties or by the governor for good cause deleted text end . The responsible governmental
unit shall determine the adequacy of an environmental impact statement deleted text begin , unless within 60
days after notice is published that an environmental impact statement will be prepared,
the board chooses to determine the adequacy of an environmental impact statement deleted text end . If an
environmental impact statement is found to be inadequate, the responsible governmental
unit shall have deleted text begin 60 deleted text end new text begin 45 new text end days to prepare an adequate environmental impact statement. new text begin If the
responsible governmental unit fails to act within the time required under this paragraph,
the environmental impact statement is deemed adequate, unless a written contract of
exception has been agreed to by the project proposer.
new text end

new text begin (h) The total time allowed for public comments during an environmental assessment
worksheet or environmental impact statement process shall be 30 days.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116D.04, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:

Subd. 3a.

Final decisions.

Within deleted text begin 90 deleted text end new text begin 60 new text end days after final approval of an
environmental impact statement, final decisions shall be made by the appropriate
governmental units on those permits which were identified as required and for which
information was developed concurrently with the preparation of the environmental impact
statement. Provided, however, that the deleted text begin 90-day deleted text end new text begin 60-day new text end period may be extended where a
longer period is required by federal law or state statute or is consented to by the permit
applicant. The permit decision shall include the reasons for the decision, including
any conditions under which the permit is issued, together with a final order granting or
denying the permit.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116D.04, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11.

Failure to act.

If the board or governmental unit which is required to
act within a time period specified in this section fails to so act, deleted text begin any person may seek an
order of the district court requiring the board or governmental unit to immediately take
the action mandated by subdivisions 2a and 3a deleted text end new text begin the permit or other government action
necessary is deemed approved and the project proposer may proceed with the project new text end .

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116D.04, subdivision 13, is amended to read:

Subd. 13.

Enforcement.

This section may be enforced by injunction, action to
compel performance, or other appropriate action in the district court of the county where
the violation takes place. deleted text begin Upon the request of the board or the chair of the board, the
attorney general may bring an action under this subdivision.
deleted text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116D.04, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 15. new text end

new text begin Rules. new text end

new text begin The board shall, by June 30, 2011, amend rules to conform to
sections 1 to 4. The rules adopted under this section are not subject to the rulemaking
procedures of chapter 14 and section 14.386 does not apply. Subsequent rulemaking
authority under this section must be explicitly authorized by the legislature.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116D.04, subdivisions 5a, 9, and 10, new text end new text begin are repealed.
new text end