Minnesota Session Laws - 2002, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 253-S.F.No. 2932 
                  An act relating to the environment; encouraging 
                  citizen water quality monitoring; amending Minnesota 
                  Statutes 2000, section 115.06, by adding a subdivision.
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 115.06, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 4.  [CITIZEN MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY.] (a) The 
        agency may encourage citizen monitoring of ambient water quality 
        for public waters by: 
           (1) providing technical assistance to citizen and local 
        group water quality monitoring efforts; 
           (2) integrating citizen monitoring data into water quality 
        assessments and agency programs, provided that the data adheres 
        to agency quality assurance and quality control protocols; and 
           (3) seeking public and private funds to: 
           (i) collaboratively develop clear guidelines for water 
        quality monitoring procedures and data management practices for 
        specific data and information uses; 
           (ii) distribute the guidelines to citizens, local 
        governments, and other interested parties; 
           (iii) improve and expand water quality monitoring 
        activities carried out by the agency; and 
           (iv) continue to improve electronic and Web access to water 
        quality data and information about public waters that have been 
        either fully or partially assessed. 
           (b) This subdivision does not authorize a citizen to enter 
        onto private property for any purpose. 
           (c) By January 15 of each odd-numbered year, the 
        commissioner shall report to the senate and house of 
        representatives committees with jurisdiction over environmental 
        policy and finance on activities under this section. 
           (d) This subdivision shall sunset June 30, 2005. 
           Presented to the governor March 20, 2002 
           Signed by the governor March 22, 2002, 2:03 p.m.