1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; appropriating money to negotiate agreements for 
1.3 	assumption of section 404 permit program.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 404 ASSUMPTION; 
1.6 	APPROPRIATION.
 1.7 	(a) $200,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from 
1.8 	the general fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to negotiate draft agreements 
1.9 	with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Environmental 
1.10 	Protection Agency to assume administration of the section 404 permit program of the federal 
1.11 	Clean Water Act. This is a onetime appropriation.
1.12 	(b) The draft agreements must:
1.13 	(1) optimize the use of local government units in implementing section 404 permit 
1.14 	program assumption;
1.15 	(2) minimize the increase in state agency staffing to implement section 404 permit 
1.16 	program assumption; and
1.17 	(3) optimize the jurisdiction of assumed waters to correspond with wetlands regulated 
1.18 	through Minnesota's Wetland Conservation Act and public-waters work permit program.
1.19 	(c) The Board of Water and Soil Resources must conduct quarterly stakeholder meetings 
1.20 	to inform and gather input on the status of the negotiations.
2.1 	(d) By January 1, 2019, the Board of Water and Soil Resources must submit the draft 
2.2 	agreements along with recommendations for required changes to Minnesota Statutes to 
2.3 	secure assumption of the section 404 permit program to the chairs and ranking minority 
2.4 	members of the house of representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction 
2.5 	over the environment and natural resources.