Minnesota Session Laws - 1990, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1990 

                        CHAPTER 434-S.F.No. 2172 
           An act relating to waters; requiring the commissioner 
          of natural resources to establish a plan for drought 
          emergencies; changing the completion date for the 
          metropolitan council's long-term water supply plan; 
          amending Minnesota Statutes 1989 Supplement, section 
          473.156, subdivisions 1 and 2; proposing coding for 
          new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 105. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [105.419] [STATEWIDE DROUGHT PLAN.] 
    The commissioner shall establish a plan to respond to 
drought-related emergencies and to prepare a statewide framework 
for drought response.  The plan must consider metropolitan water 
supply plans of the metropolitan council prepared under section 
473.156.  The plan must provide a framework for implementing 
drought response actions in a staged approach related to 
decreasing levels of flows.  Permits issued under section 105.41 
must provide conditions on water appropriation consistent with 
the drought response plan established by this section.  
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1989 Supplement, section 
473.156, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
    Subdivision 1.  [PLAN COMPONENTS.] The metropolitan council 
shall develop a short-term and long-term plan for existing and 
expected water use and supply in the metropolitan area.  The 
plan shall be submitted to and reviewed by the state planning 
agency and the commissioner of natural resources for consistency 
with the statewide drought plan under section 1.  At a minimum, 
the plans must: 
    (1) update the data and information on water supply and use 
within the metropolitan area; 
    (2) identify alternative courses of action, including water 
conservation initiatives and economic alternatives, in case of 
drought conditions; and 
    (3) recommend approaches to resolving problems that may 
develop because of water use and supply. with consideration must 
be given to problems that occur outside of the metropolitan 
area, but which have an effect within the area; and 
    (4) be consistent with the statewide drought plan under 
section 1. 
    Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1989 Supplement, section 
473.156, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 2.  [COMPLETION AND REPORT.] The short-term plan must 
be completed by February 1, 1990.  The long-term plan must be 
completed by July 1, 1990 February 1, 1992, and continually 
updated as the need arises.  The plans must be prepared in 
consultation with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Leech Lake 
Reservation business committee, the Mississippi headwaters 
board, department of natural resources, and the environmental 
quality board.  Both plans must be given to the metropolitan 
affairs and natural resources committees of the house of 
representatives and senate, and be available to the public. 
    Sec. 4.  [APPLICATION.] 
    Sections 2 and 3 apply to the counties of Anoka, Carver, 
Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. 
    Presented to the governor April 12, 1990 
    Signed by the governor April 16, 1990, 4:14 p.m.