Minnesota Session Laws - 2010, Regular Session

CHAPTER 218--H.F.No. 3067

An act

relating to waters; modifying watershed plan provisions;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 103B.231, subdivisions 7, 9, 11; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 103B.231, subdivision 8.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 103B.231, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Review of the draft plan.

(a) Upon completion of the plan but before final adoption by the organization, the organization must submit the draft plan for a 60-day review and comment period to all counties, the Metropolitan Council, the state review agencies, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, soil and water conservation districts, towns, and statutory and home rule charter cities having territory within the watershed. A local government unit that expects that substantial amendment of its local comprehensive plan will be necessary to bring local water management into conformance with the watershed plan must describe as specifically as possible, within its comments, the amendments to the local plan that it expects will be necessary. If the county has a groundwater plan, the county must review and comment on the consistency of the watershed plan with the county groundwater plan. Differences among local governmental agencies regarding the plan must be mediated. Notwithstanding sections 103D.401, 103D.405, and 473.165, the council shall review the plan in the same manner and with the same authority and effect as provided for the council's review of the comprehensive plans of local government units under section 473.175. The council shall comment on the apparent conformity with metropolitan system plans of any anticipated amendments to local comprehensive plans. The council shall advise the Board of Water and Soil Resources on whether the plan conforms with the management objectives and target pollution loads stated in the council's water resources plan and shall recommend changes in the plan that would satisfy the council's plan.

(b) The watershed management organization must respond in writing to any concerns expressed by the review agencies deleted text begin within 30 days of receipt thereof deleted text end new text begin at least ten days before the public hearing new text end .

(c) The watershed management organization must hold a public hearing on the draft plan no sooner than deleted text begin 30 days and no later than 45 deleted text end new text begin 14 new text end days after the 60-day review period of the draft plan. The board or boards of the affected counties shall approve or disapprove projects in the capital improvement program which may require the provision of county funds pursuant to section 103B.251 or 103D.901, subdivision 2. Each county has up until the date of the public hearing on the draft plan to complete its review of the capital improvement program. If the county fails to complete its review within the prescribed period, unless an extension is agreed to by the organization the program shall be deemed approved. If the watershed extends into more than one county and one or more counties disapprove of all or part of a capital improvement program while the other county or counties approve, the program shall be submitted to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for review pursuant to subdivision 9.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 103B.231, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Approval by board.

After completion of the review under subdivision deleted text begin 8, deleted text end new text begin 7, the draft plan, any amendments thereto, all written comments received on the draft plan, a record of the public hearing, and a summary of changes incorporated as a result of the review process shall be submitted to the Metropolitan Council, the state review agencies, and the Board of Water and Soil Resources for final review. new text end The board shall review the plan for conformance with the requirements of sections 103B.205 to 103B.255, and chapter 103D. The board shall not prescribe a plan, but may disapprove all or parts of a plan which it determines is not in conformance with the requirements of sections 103B.205 to 103B.255, and chapter 103D. If the capital improvement program is the subject of a dispute between counties, the Board of Water and Soil Resources shall make a final decision on the issue. The decision shall be binding on the organization and the counties involved. The board shall complete its review under this section within 90 days.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 103B.231, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11.

Amendments.

To the extent and in the manner required by the adopted plan, all amendments to the adopted plan shall be submitted to the towns, cities, county, the Metropolitan Council, the state review agencies, and the Board of Water and Soil Resources for review in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions 7 deleted text begin , 8, deleted text end and 9. Amendments necessary to revise the plan to be consistent with the county groundwater plan, as required by subdivision 4, must be submitted for review in accordance with subdivisions 7 deleted text begin , 8, deleted text end and 9. Minor amendments to a plan shall be reviewed in accordance with standards prescribed in the watershed management plan.

Sec. 4.

new text begin REPEALER. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 103B.231, subdivision 8, new text end new text begin is repealed. new text end

Presented to the governor April 6, 2010

Signed by the governor April 6, 2010, 4:18 p.m.