Minnesota Session Laws - 1990, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1990 

                        CHAPTER 587-S.F.No. 1473 
           An act relating to the environment; providing for 
          mitigation of the greenhouse effect by requiring a 
          report on the use of a surcharge on carbon dioxide 
          emissions and a tree planting plan for carbon dioxide 
          absorption; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
          Statutes, chapter 116. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [116.86] [CARBON DIOXIDE; LEGISLATIVE INTENT.] 
    The legislature recognizes that waste carbon dioxide 
emissions, primarily from transportation and industrial sources, 
may be a primary component of the global greenhouse effect that 
warms the earth's atmosphere and may result in damage to the 
agricultural, water, forest, and wildlife resources of the 
state.  The legislature further recognizes that trees are a 
major factor in keeping the earth's carbon cycle balanced, and 
planting trees and perennial shrubs and vines recycles carbon 
downward from the atmosphere. 
    Sec. 2.  [TREE AND PERENNIAL SHRUBS AND VINES PLANTING FOR 
CARBON DIOXIDE ABSORPTION.] 
    By January 1, 1991, the commissioner of natural resources 
and the commissioner of the pollution control agency, in 
consultation with representatives of industry that may be 
affected by a potential surcharge on carbon dioxide emissions, 
and representatives of the forestry and environmental 
communities, shall prepare a report on carbon dioxide emissions 
and incentives to reduce emissions.  The report shall: 
    (1) consider an appropriate fee structure on sources of 
carbon dioxide emissions, including, but not limited to, motor 
vehicle and permitted facilities in the air emission inventory 
of the pollution control agency; the fee structure shall relate 
to response levels by sources as recommended in the report; 
    (2) recommend methods of encouraging tree and perennial 
shrubs and vines planting to be implemented in lieu of payment 
of part or all of a surcharge; 
    (3) include a planting plan for carbon dioxide absorption 
that identifies the proper mix of species for adequate 
absorption, the proper placement of trees for energy efficiency 
and conservation, the areas of the state most effective for 
proper tree planting, the adequate production of state nursery 
stock, the available procurement of private nursery stock, a 
range of costs to plant adequate species that absorb carbon 
dioxide, and the current and prospective distribution system to 
allow adequate species to be planted; and 
     (4) emphasize and recommend the initiation of programs that 
promote youth and community group participation. 
    The commissioners of the pollution control agency and the 
department of natural resources shall have authority to solicit 
and accept funds from nonstate sources to accomplish the 
responsibilities in this section. 
     Sec. 3.  [OTHER LAW SUPERSEDED.] 
    Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 645.26, or any 
other law passed by the 1990 session of the legislature, the 
commissioners of natural resources and the pollution control 
agency shall not prepare a report on the use of a surcharge on 
carbon dioxide emissions other than the report required by 
section 2 and may not solicit or accept money from nonstate 
sources to prepare the report. 
    Presented to the governor April 28, 1990 
    Signed by the governor May 3, 1990, 6:07 p.m.