1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the environment; authorizing spending to 
  1.3             acquire and to better public land and buildings and 
  1.4             other public improvements of a capital nature with 
  1.5             certain conditions; authorizing state bonds; 
  1.6             appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1997 
  1.7             Supplement, sections 84.027, subdivision 15; and 
  1.8             85.0505, by adding a subdivision. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10  Section 1.  [ENVIRONMENT; APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  1.11     The sums in the column under "APPROPRIATIONS" are 
  1.12  appropriated from the bond proceeds fund, or another named fund, 
  1.13  to the state agencies or officials indicated, to be spent to 
  1.14  acquire and to better public land and buildings and other public 
  1.15  improvements of a capital nature, as specified in this act.  
  1.16  Unless otherwise specified, general fund appropriations in this 
  1.17  act are available until June 30, 2002. 
  1.18                          SUMMARY BY FUND 
  1.19  Bond Proceeds Fund 
  1.20  (General Fund Debt Service)                         175,688,000
  1.21  General Fund                                         26,836,000 
  1.22                                                   APPROPRIATIONS
  1.23                                                   $             
  1.24  Sec. 2.  NATURAL RESOURCES 
  1.25  Subdivision 1.  To the 
  1.26  commissioner of natural resources 
  1.27  for the purposes specified
  1.28  in this section                                     140,314,000
  1.29  Subd. 2.  Statewide Asset
  2.1   Preservation                                          2,282,000
  2.2   For repair and renovation of the 
  2.3   department of natural resources land, 
  2.4   buildings, or other improvements of a 
  2.5   capital nature throughout the state.  
  2.6   The commissioner shall determine 
  2.7   project priorities as appropriate based 
  2.8   upon need. 
  2.9   Subd. 3.  Office Facility
  2.10  Consolidation                                        11,991,000
  2.11  To acquire land, design, construct, 
  2.12  furnish, and equip offices and service 
  2.13  facilities at consolidated office sites 
  2.14  in Windom, Tower, and Fergus Falls. 
  2.15  Subd. 4.  State Park and Recreation
  2.16  Area Building Rehabilitation                          4,620,000
  2.17  To design, repair, rehabilitate, 
  2.18  construct, or add to state park 
  2.19  buildings throughout the state, 
  2.20  according to the management plan 
  2.21  required in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
  2.22  86A.  The commissioner shall determine 
  2.23  project priorities as appropriate based 
  2.24  upon need. 
  2.25  Subd. 5.  State Park and Recreation
  2.26  Area Building Development                             5,895,000
  2.27  To design, construct, furnish, and 
  2.28  equip new buildings and associated 
  2.29  utilities in the state park system, 
  2.30  according to the management plan 
  2.31  required in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
  2.32  86A.  $4,250,000 of this amount is for 
  2.33  the development of a visitor center at 
  2.34  Itasca State Park; $700,000 is for the 
  2.35  construction of a visitor center at 
  2.36  Mystery Cave in Forestville State Park; 
  2.37  and $360,000 of this appropriation is 
  2.38  from the general fund for the operation 
  2.39  of new facilities in state parks and is 
  2.40  available until June 30, 1999. 
  2.41  Subd. 6.  State Park and Recreation
  2.42  Area Betterment and Rehabilitation                    2,935,000
  2.43  To upgrade, repair, or rehabilitate 
  2.44  improvements of a capital nature at 
  2.45  state park and recreation area 
  2.46  facilities throughout the state, 
  2.47  including, but not limited to, resource 
  2.48  management projects, trail 
  2.49  rehabilitation, campground 
  2.50  rehabilitation, and road and bridge 
  2.51  repair.  The commissioner shall 
  2.52  determine project priorities as 
  2.53  appropriate based upon need. 
  2.54  Subd. 7.  Well Inventory and Sealing                    476,000 
  2.55  To seal inactive wells on state-owned 
  2.56  land.  This appropriation is from the 
  2.57  general fund.  The commissioner shall 
  2.58  determine project priorities as 
  2.59  appropriate based upon need. 
  3.1   Subd. 8.  Dam Improvements                            1,000,000 
  3.2   For the emergency repair, 
  3.3   reconstruction, or removal of publicly 
  3.4   owned dams throughout the state.  Up to 
  3.5   $300,000 of this appropriation is for a 
  3.6   grant to the city of Appleton for 
  3.7   removal of a dam located on the Pomme 
  3.8   de Terre River in Swift county.  The 
  3.9   commissioner shall determine remaining 
  3.10  project priorities as appropriate based 
  3.11  upon need as provided in Minnesota 
  3.12  Statutes, section 103G.511. 
  3.13  Subd. 9.  Flood Hazard
  3.14  Mitigation Grants                                    24,000,000
  3.15  For the flood hazard mitigation grant 
  3.16  program to local government units for 
  3.17  capital improvements to prevent or 
  3.18  alleviate flood damages under Minnesota 
  3.19  Statutes, section 103F.161.  The 
  3.20  commissioner shall determine project 
  3.21  priorities as appropriate based upon 
  3.22  need.  Grants under this subdivision 
  3.23  are exempt from the requirements of 
  3.24  Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.335. 
  3.25  Subd. 10.  RIM Critical
  3.26  Habitat Match                                        11,500,000
  3.27  To acquire land for wildlife management 
  3.28  areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 
  3.29  97A.135; for the critical habitat 
  3.30  private sector matching account under 
  3.31  Minnesota Statutes, section 84.943; and 
  3.32  for acquisition and wetland restoration 
  3.33  under the North American Waterfowl 
  3.34  Management Plan.  The commissioner 
  3.35  shall determine project priorities as 
  3.36  appropriate based upon need.  $250,000 
  3.37  of this appropriation is from the 
  3.38  general fund for population and habitat 
  3.39  objectives of the nongame wildlife 
  3.40  management program. 
  3.41  Subd. 11.  Veterans Memorial
  3.42  State Park                                           14,000,000
  3.43  This appropriation is from the general 
  3.44  fund to acquire land within the 
  3.45  designated boundary established for the 
  3.46  Veterans Memorial State Park; for 
  3.47  construction of a berthing site for the 
  3.48  U.S.S. Des Moines; and ship preparation 
  3.49  and movement and the development of 
  3.50  parking and state park facilities.  
  3.51  $1,800,000 of this appropriation is for 
  3.52  the operational costs of the state park 
  3.53  and is available until June 30, 1999.  
  3.54  This appropriation is exempt from the 
  3.55  requirements of Minnesota Statutes, 
  3.56  section 16B.335. 
  3.57  Subd. 12.  White Pine Management                        300,000 
  3.58  This appropriation is from the general 
  3.59  fund to implement increased public 
  3.60  involvement in white pine management 
  3.61  planning and to accelerate white pine 
  3.62  management on state forest lands.  This 
  4.1   appropriation is available until June 
  4.2   30, 1999. 
  4.3   Subd. 13.  Forest Road and
  4.4   Bridge Projects                                       1,900,000
  4.5   For reconstruction, resurfacing, 
  4.6   replacement, or construction of 
  4.7   improvements of a capital nature to 
  4.8   state forest roads and bridges 
  4.9   throughout the state.  The commissioner 
  4.10  shall determine project priorities as 
  4.11  appropriate based upon need. 
  4.12  Subd. 14.  RIM Fish Hatchery
  4.13  Rehabilitation                                        1,300,000
  4.14  For improvements of a capital nature to 
  4.15  rehabilitate, improve, or develop fish 
  4.16  culture facilities. 
  4.17  Subd. 15.  Forestry Recreation
  4.18  Facilities                                            1,600,000
  4.19  For improvements of a capital nature to 
  4.20  rehabilitate, improve, or develop 
  4.21  forestry recreation facilities 
  4.22  throughout the state.  The commissioner 
  4.23  shall determine project priorities as 
  4.24  appropriate based upon need.  $600,000 
  4.25  of this appropriation is from the 
  4.26  general fund to improve camper safety 
  4.27  and security, and to make repairs to 
  4.28  selected state forest campgrounds and 
  4.29  is available until June 30, 1999. 
  4.30  Subd. 16.  RIM Wildlife,
  4.31  Habitat Improvements                                  4,500,000
  4.32  For improvements of a capital nature to 
  4.33  develop, protect, or improve wildlife 
  4.34  management areas and other state lands 
  4.35  throughout the state.  The commissioner 
  4.36  shall determine project priorities as 
  4.37  appropriate based upon need.  $500,000 
  4.38  of this appropriation is from the 
  4.39  general fund for operational costs 
  4.40  related to wildlife management at the 
  4.41  area level. 
  4.42  Subd. 17.  Scientific and Natural Area and
  4.43  Prairie Bank Acquisition and Improvement              2,000,000
  4.44  To acquire land related to scientific 
  4.45  and natural areas and prairie bank 
  4.46  easements; and for development, 
  4.47  protection, or improvements of a 
  4.48  capital nature to scientific and 
  4.49  natural areas throughout the state.  
  4.50  The commissioner shall determine 
  4.51  project priorities as appropriate based 
  4.52  upon need.  $500,000 of this 
  4.53  appropriation is from the general fund 
  4.54  for the interpretation, management, and 
  4.55  monitoring of scientific and natural 
  4.56  areas and is available until June 30, 
  4.57  1999. 
  4.58  Subd. 18.  Metro Greenways
  4.59  and Natural Areas                                     1,100,000
  5.1   To acquire natural areas and greenways 
  5.2   in the metro region through purchase of 
  5.3   conservation easements, land trusting, 
  5.4   or fee-acquisition.  The commissioner 
  5.5   shall determine project priorities as 
  5.6   appropriate based upon need.  $200,000 
  5.7   of this appropriation is from the 
  5.8   general fund for grants to assist local 
  5.9   government units and organizations and 
  5.10  is available until June 30, 1999. 
  5.11  Subd. 19.  Water Access
  5.12  Acquisition and Development                           1,000,000
  5.13  For public water access acquisition 
  5.14  development and rehabilitation on lakes 
  5.15  and rivers including boat access 
  5.16  through the provision of fishing piers 
  5.17  and shoreline access. 
  5.18  Subd. 20.  Trail Acquisition
  5.19  and Development                                      12,450,000
  5.20  For acquisition and development of a 
  5.21  capital nature on state trails as 
  5.22  specified in Minnesota Statutes, 
  5.23  section 85.015.  The commissioner shall 
  5.24  determine project priorities as 
  5.25  appropriate based upon need.  
  5.26  $2,000,000 of this appropriation is for 
  5.27  the state targeting accessible 
  5.28  recreation trails (START) project to 
  5.29  complete the trail survey, 
  5.30  prioritizing, and preengineering work 
  5.31  for all 100 major recreation areas and 
  5.32  to improve accessibility in up to 35 of 
  5.33  these areas.  $450,000 of this 
  5.34  appropriation is from the general fund 
  5.35  for state trail amenities. 
  5.36  Subd. 21.  Stream Protection
  5.37  and Restoration                                       1,800,000
  5.38  For the acquisition of easements and 
  5.39  aquatic management areas on streams for 
  5.40  fisheries management purposes; and 
  5.41  stream restoration on portions of the 
  5.42  Whitewater River and Sandy River. 
  5.43  $300,000 of this appropriation is from 
  5.44  the general fund to continue work to 
  5.45  develop protected water flow 
  5.46  recommendations on Minnesota streams; 
  5.47  and to support river restoration 
  5.48  expertise and its application to the 
  5.49  White Water River and Sandy River. 
  5.50  Subd. 22.  State Park and 
  5.51  Recreation Area Acquisition                           3,500,000
  5.52  For acquisition from willing sellers of 
  5.53  private lands within state park and 
  5.54  recreation area boundaries established 
  5.55  by law.  The commissioner shall 
  5.56  determine project priorities as 
  5.57  appropriate based upon need. 
  5.58  Subd. 23.  Forestry Land Acquisition                    800,000 
  5.59  To acquire private lands from willing 
  5.60  sellers within established boundaries 
  6.1   of state forests throughout the state.  
  6.2   The commissioner shall determine 
  6.3   project priorities as appropriate based 
  6.4   upon need. 
  6.5   Subd. 24.  Lake Superior
  6.6   Safe Harbors                                          5,300,000
  6.7   For acquisition, design, and 
  6.8   development of safe harbors and public 
  6.9   accesses on Lake Superior at Taconite 
  6.10  Harbor, Two Harbors, McQuade Road, and 
  6.11  Knife River.  This appropriation is 
  6.12  intended to maximize federal matching 
  6.13  funds from the United States Army Corps 
  6.14  of Engineers.  This appropriation is 
  6.15  exempt from the requirements of 
  6.16  Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.335. 
  6.17  Subd. 25.  Accelerated Wildlife
  6.18  Habitat Management and Inventory                      4,550,000
  6.19  For wildlife habitat improvement; 
  6.20  wildlife population surveys and 
  6.21  monitoring private lands cost-sharing 
  6.22  for wildlife habitat and forest 
  6.23  stewardship; and project grants to 
  6.24  local government and native plant 
  6.25  habitats.  Of this amount, $1,200,000 
  6.26  is for winter wildlife habitat 
  6.27  improvement for pheasants and other 
  6.28  grassland wildlife in key farmland 
  6.29  areas; $1,500,000 is for brush land and 
  6.30  forest habitat renewal for sharp-tailed 
  6.31  grouse and other species of birds 
  6.32  dependent on open brush lands in forest 
  6.33  areas by providing financial and 
  6.34  technical assistance to landowners as 
  6.35  well as brush land renewal on public 
  6.36  lands ($1,250,000 of this amount is 
  6.37  from the general fund); $750,000 is for 
  6.38  wildlife habitat improvements through 
  6.39  cost-sharing and technical assistance 
  6.40  to private landowners ($750,000 is from 
  6.41  the general fund); $400,000 is for 
  6.42  forest stewardship improvements through 
  6.43  cost-sharing and technical assistance 
  6.44  ($400,000 is from the general fund); 
  6.45  $500,000 is for wildlife population 
  6.46  surveys, monitoring, evaluation, and 
  6.47  constituent surveys ($500,000 is from 
  6.48  the general fund); and $200,000 is for 
  6.49  the conservation partners program to 
  6.50  enhance fish, wildlife, and native 
  6.51  plant habitats through project grants 
  6.52  to local government and private 
  6.53  organizations ($200,000 is from the 
  6.54  general fund). 
  6.55  Subd. 26.  Customer Service
  6.56  and Data Access                                       1,190,000
  6.57  To enhance customer service and data 
  6.58  access through the collaborative use of 
  6.59  technology, improve communication with 
  6.60  citizens and stakeholders, and provide 
  6.61  technical assistance and data delivery 
  6.62  to citizens and local government.  
  6.63  $465,000 of this appropriation is for 
  6.64  the Minnesota Environmental/Natural 
  6.65  Resource Electronic Library (MENREL) to 
  7.1   accelerate the development of 
  7.2   integrated and indexed environmental 
  7.3   and geographic data catalogs, 
  7.4   cross-agency search and retrieval, and 
  7.5   content-rich libraries of environmental 
  7.6   data and information.  $725,000 of this 
  7.7   appropriation is for improving citizen 
  7.8   access through the Internet to 
  7.9   environmental and geographic data 
  7.10  including the capability of producing 
  7.11  customized maps and reports.  The 
  7.12  appropriation for this subdivision is 
  7.13  from the general fund. 
  7.14  Subd. 27.  Enhance and Promote
  7.15  Outdoor Skills                                          150,000
  7.16  $50,000 of this appropriation is for 
  7.17  expansion of the "Becoming an Outdoors 
  7.18  Woman Program," and $100,000 is for a 
  7.19  position to coordinate shooting range 
  7.20  development on a statewide basis.  Of 
  7.21  this amount, $35,000 is available as 
  7.22  matching funds for shooting range 
  7.23  partnership agreements.  The 
  7.24  appropriation in this subdivision is 
  7.25  from the general fund and is available 
  7.26  until June 30, 1999. 
  7.27  Subd. 28.  Local Initiative Grants                    8,350,000 
  7.28  For matching grants to be provided to 
  7.29  local units of government for 
  7.30  acquisition, development, or renovation 
  7.31  of a capital nature of local parks, 
  7.32  trails, and natural and scenic areas.  
  7.33  Recipients must provide a match of at 
  7.34  least one-half of total eligible 
  7.35  project costs.  The commissioner shall 
  7.36  make payment to local units of 
  7.37  government upon receiving documentation 
  7.38  of reimbursable expenditures.  The 
  7.39  commissioner shall determine project 
  7.40  priorities as appropriate based upon 
  7.41  need. 
  7.42  $2,000,000 of this appropriation is for 
  7.43  grants to units of government to 
  7.44  acquire and develop outdoor recreation 
  7.45  areas. 
  7.46  $2,000,000 of this appropriation is for 
  7.47  cooperative trail grants of up to 
  7.48  $50,000 per project for trail linkages 
  7.49  between communities, trails, and parks. 
  7.50  $4,000,000 of this appropriation is for 
  7.51  regional trail grants of up to $240,000 
  7.52  for locally funded trails of regional 
  7.53  significance. 
  7.54  $100,000 of this appropriation is for 
  7.55  grants to units of government to 
  7.56  acquire and better natural and scenic 
  7.57  areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 
  7.58  85.019, subdivision 4a. 
  7.59  $250,000 of this appropriation is from 
  7.60  the general fund for program grant 
  7.61  administration. 
  8.1   Grants under this subdivision are 
  8.2   exempt from the requirements of 
  8.3   Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.335. 
  8.4   Subd. 29.  Metro Regional Park
  8.5   Acquisition and Betterment                            9,825,000
  8.6   For a grant to the metropolitan council 
  8.7   to pay the cost of acquisition, 
  8.8   development, and improvement of 
  8.9   recreation land and facilities.  The 
  8.10  commissioner shall pay the amount on a 
  8.11  reimbursement basis to the metropolitan 
  8.12  council upon receipt of a certified 
  8.13  copy of a council resolution requesting 
  8.14  payment.  This appropriation must not 
  8.15  be used for research, planning, 
  8.16  administration, or tax equivalency 
  8.17  payments. 
  8.18  Sec. 3.  OFFICE OF 
  8.19  ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE                              5,000,000
  8.20  To the office of environmental 
  8.21  assistance for the solid waste capital 
  8.22  assistance grants program under 
  8.23  Minnesota Statutes, section 115A.54.  
  8.24  Grants under this section are exempt 
  8.25  from the requirements of Minnesota 
  8.26  Statutes, section 16B.335. 
  8.27  Sec. 4.  PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY 
  8.28  Subdivision 1.  To the public
  8.29  facilities authority for the purposes
  8.30  specified in this section                            27,180,000
  8.31  Subd. 2.  Matching Money
  8.32  for Federal Grants                                   18,000,000
  8.33  For state matching money for federal 
  8.34  grants to capitalize the water 
  8.35  pollution control fund and the drinking 
  8.36  water revolving fund under Minnesota 
  8.37  Statutes, sections 446A.07 and 446A.081.
  8.38  The expenditure and allocation of state 
  8.39  matching funds between funds shall be 
  8.40  based on the amount of federal funds 
  8.41  appropriated to the funds.  This 
  8.42  appropriation must be used for 
  8.43  qualified capital projects. 
  8.44  Subd. 3.  Wastewater
  8.45  Infrastructure Program                                9,180,000
  8.46  For supplemental assistance to 
  8.47  municipalities under Minnesota 
  8.48  Statutes, section 446A.072.  
  8.49  Of this amount, $180,000 is from the 
  8.50  general fund for transfer to the 
  8.51  pollution control agency for the cost 
  8.52  of administering the program.  
  8.53  The authority shall also set aside up 
  8.54  to $500,000 to provide 50 percent grant 
  8.55  funding for the cost of equipment and 
  8.56  installation into an existing municipal 
  8.57  wastewater treatment.  The project must 
  8.58  demonstrate the application of existing 
  9.1   technology that currently is not being 
  9.2   used in the treatment of wastewater, 
  9.3   but has the potential to improve the 
  9.4   treatment of wastewater or make the 
  9.5   treatment process more cost-effective.  
  9.6   The authority should work with the 
  9.7   pollution control agency to solicit 
  9.8   proposals from municipalities willing 
  9.9   to share the risks and cost of removing 
  9.10  the equipment if it does not perform.  
  9.11  The remaining funds shall be used to 
  9.12  match grant funds on a 50 percent basis 
  9.13  with USDA rural development projects.  
  9.14  At least $4,000,000 is reserved for 
  9.15  fiscal year 2000. 
  9.16  Sec. 5.  BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES 
  9.17  Subdivision 1.  To the board
  9.18  of water and soil resources for the
  9.19  purposes specified in this section                   26,830,000
  9.20  Subd. 2.  RIM and PWP
  9.21  Conservation Easements                               20,000,000
  9.22  This appropriation is for the following 
  9.23  purposes: 
  9.24  (a) to acquire conservation easements 
  9.25  from landowners on marginal lands to 
  9.26  protect soil and water quality and to 
  9.27  support fish and wildlife habitat as 
  9.28  provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 
  9.29  103F.515; and 
  9.30  (b) to acquire perpetual conservation 
  9.31  easements on existing type 1, 2, 3, and 
  9.32  6 wetlands, adjacent lands, and for the 
  9.33  establishment of permanent cover on 
  9.34  adjacent lands, in accordance with 
  9.35  Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.516. 
  9.36  (c) Up to $1,500,000 may be used for 
  9.37  the acquisition of limited conservation 
  9.38  easements that allow cropping or 
  9.39  grazing at reduced payment rates on 
  9.40  land that is currently or within the 
  9.41  last two years has been enrolled in the 
  9.42  federal Conservation Reserve Program 
  9.43  (CRP), under United States Code, title 
  9.44  16, section 3831.  The board, in 
  9.45  conjunction with the commissioner of 
  9.46  agriculture, must select counties for 
  9.47  participation in the program based on:  
  9.48  (1) the number of CRP acres; (2) the 
  9.49  number of whole farm CRP acres; (3) the 
  9.50  number of highly erodible CRP acres; 
  9.51  (4) local soil conservation initiatives 
  9.52  in place; (5) the potential for 
  9.53  negative water quality impacts from CRP 
  9.54  acres converted to agricultural crop 
  9.55  production; and (6) the potential to 
  9.56  complement public wildlife lands and 
  9.57  other conservation lands, including 
  9.58  protected grassland prairies.  A 
  9.59  conservation easement must be for 20 
  9.60  years and require that the activities 
  9.61  on the enrolled lands comply with a 
  9.62  conservation plan that will limit soil 
  9.63  erosion within the soil loss tolerance, 
  9.64  as defined in rules adopted under 
 10.1   Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.411.  
 10.2   Payments for conservation easements and 
 10.3   practices under this program are as 
 10.4   follows: 
 10.5   (1) to establish permanent conservation 
 10.6   practices required by the conservation 
 10.7   plan, for the installation of permanent 
 10.8   livestock watering systems, or for the 
 10.9   installation of permanent fencing for 
 10.10  grazing systems, up to 75 percent of 
 10.11  the total eligible costs, not to exceed 
 10.12  an average of $75 per acre; and 
 10.13  (2) ten annual payments each equal to 
 10.14  five percent of the payment rate for 
 10.15  20-year easements acquired under 
 10.16  Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515 
 10.17  for land restricted to grazing and 
 10.18  haying under the conservation plan; or 
 10.19  (3) ten annual payments each equal to 
 10.20  two and one-half percent of the payment 
 10.21  rate for 20-year easements acquired 
 10.22  under Minnesota Statutes, section 
 10.23  103F.515 for land where cropping is 
 10.24  allowed under the conservation plan. 
 10.25  The board may only acquire an easement 
 10.26  under this paragraph after it 
 10.27  determines that there is adequate 
 10.28  funding appropriated to make the annual 
 10.29  payments required for the duration of 
 10.30  the easement and the landowner agrees 
 10.31  to convey at least ten percent of the 
 10.32  landowner's CRP land in a permanent 
 10.33  easement under Minnesota Statutes, 
 10.34  section 103F.515.  Priority must be 
 10.35  given for land being conveyed or leased 
 10.36  to beginning farmers, as defined under 
 10.37  Minnesota Statutes, section 41C.02, 
 10.38  subdivision 6.  Up to 20 percent of the 
 10.39  appropriation may be used for 
 10.40  professional and technical services 
 10.41  related to acquisition of the easements.
 10.42  Of this amount, $3,200,000 is from the 
 10.43  general fund for professional and 
 10.44  technical services necessary to 
 10.45  administer the program. 
 10.46  Subd. 3.  Local Government
 10.47  Road Replacement                                      5,830,000
 10.48  To acquire land for wetlands or restore 
 10.49  wetlands to be used to replace wetlands 
 10.50  drained or filled as a result of the 
 10.51  repair, maintenance, or rehabilitation 
 10.52  of existing roads, as provided in 
 10.53  Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.222, 
 10.54  subdivision 1, paragraph (m). 
 10.55  Of this amount, $830,000 is from the 
 10.56  general fund for professional and 
 10.57  technical services to administer the 
 10.58  program. 
 10.59  Subd. 4.  Area II Minnesota
 10.60  River Basin Grant-in-Aid Program                      1,000,000
 10.61  For grants to assist local governments 
 11.1   in acquiring and constructing 
 11.2   floodwater retention systems in area II 
 11.3   of the Minnesota river basin.  Projects 
 11.4   may include flood control reservoirs, 
 11.5   road retention structures, and other 
 11.6   floodwater mitigation improvements.  
 11.7   This appropriation must be matched by 
 11.8   at least $333,000 from nonstate 
 11.9   sources.  Grants under this subdivision 
 11.10  are exempt from the requirements of 
 11.11  Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.335. 
 11.12  Sec. 6.  MINNESOTA ZOOLOGICAL
 11.13  GARDENS                                               3,200,000
 11.14  To the Minnesota zoological gardens for 
 11.15  design, repair, and reconstruction of 
 11.16  roadways, pathways, parking lots, 
 11.17  outdoor lighting, and public plaza 
 11.18  areas.  This appropriation is exempt 
 11.19  from the requirements of Minnesota 
 11.20  Statutes, section 16B.335. 
 11.21     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 11.22  84.027, subdivision 15, is amended to read: 
 11.23     Subd. 15.  [ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS.] (a) The commissioner 
 11.24  may receive an application for, sell, and issue any license, 
 11.25  stamp, permit, registration, or transfer under the jurisdiction 
 11.26  of the commissioner by electronic means, including by 
 11.27  telephone.  The commissioner may: 
 11.28     (1) provide for the electronic transfer of funds generated 
 11.29  by electronic transactions, including by telephone; 
 11.30     (2) assign a license identification number to an applicant 
 11.31  who purchases a hunting or fishing license by electronic means, 
 11.32  to serve as temporary authorization to engage in the licensed 
 11.33  activity until the license is received or expires; 
 11.34     (3) charge and permit agents to charge a fee of individuals 
 11.35  who make electronic transactions, and transactions by telephone, 
 11.36  including a transaction fee under section 97A.485, subdivision 
 11.37  6, and a credit card fee not to exceed $3.50 for electronic 
 11.38  transactions; 
 11.39     (4) select up to four volunteer counties, not more than two 
 11.40  in the metropolitan area, to participate in this pilot project 
 11.41  and the counties shall select the participating agents; ~~and~~ 
 11.42     (5) upon successful completion of a pilot project, 
 11.43  implement a statewide system, and select the participating 
 11.44  agents; and 
 12.1      (6) adopt rules to administer the provisions of this 
 12.2   subdivision. 
 12.3      (b) A county shall not collect a commission for the sale of 
 12.4   licenses or permits made by agents selected by the participating 
 12.5   counties under this subdivision. 
 12.6      Sec. 8.  [VETERANS MEMORIAL STATE PARK.] 
 12.7      Subdivision 1.  [LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.] The legislature 
 12.8   finds that there is no state park dedicated to the efforts and 
 12.9   sacrifices of men and women of the armed forces and citizens 
 12.10  during World War II; over 360,000 Minnesotans served in the 
 12.11  military services during World War II; Minnesota's iron mining, 
 12.12  ship building, forestry, and agricultural industries contributed 
 12.13  significantly to the allied peacekeeping effort; and knowledge 
 12.14  of the history of the era is vital to peace in the future. 
 12.15     Subd. 2.  [85.012] [Subd. 58a.] [VETERANS MEMORIAL STATE 
 12.16  PARK.] Veterans Memorial state park is established in Saint 
 12.17  Louis county. 
 12.18     Subd. 3.  [ACQUISITION.] The commissioner of natural 
 12.19  resources may acquire by gift or purchase the lands for Veterans 
 12.20  Memorial state park.  The commissioner shall give emphasis to 
 12.21  the interpretation of the role played by Minnesota's military 
 12.22  and civilian citizens and Minnesota industry during World War II.
 12.23     Subd. 4.  [CAPITAL FACILITIES.] The commissioner of natural 
 12.24  resources may build or acquire by gift, purchase, or otherwise 
 12.25  the capital facilities necessary for the interpretation of 
 12.26  military and civilian efforts during World War II.  Capital 
 12.27  facilities include land, air, and sea vehicles and related 
 12.28  artifacts with a projected useful display and interpretation 
 12.29  life in excess of 20 years.  
 12.30     Subd. 5.  [ADVISORY COMMITTEE.] (a) A local area advisory 
 12.31  committee is established to provide direction on the 
 12.32  establishment, planning, development, and operation of Veterans 
 12.33  Memorial state park. 
 12.34     (b) Membership on the advisory committee shall include but 
 12.35  is not limited to:  
 12.36     (1) two members of the Duluth city council; 
 13.1      (2) two members of the Duluth economic development 
 13.2   authority; 
 13.3      (3) a member of the St. Louis county board; 
 13.4      (4) a member of a Duluth area American Legion post; 
 13.5      (5) a member of a Duluth area Veterans of Foreign Wars 
 13.6   post; 
 13.7      (6) a member of the Duluth convention and visitors bureau; 
 13.8   and 
 13.9      (7) a representative of the regional parks division of the 
 13.10  department of natural resources. 
 13.11     (c) The advisory committee shall elect its own chair and 
 13.12  meetings shall be at the call of the chair. 
 13.13     (d) The advisory committee members shall serve as 
 13.14  volunteers and accept no per diem. 
 13.15     Subd. 6.  [ADMINISTRATION.] (a) The commissioner of natural 
 13.16  resources is authorized to establish and charge a fee for 
 13.17  entrance to Veterans Memorial state park, or any part thereof.  
 13.18  The fee is in addition to any other state park fees, passes, or 
 13.19  stickers.  The commissioner is exempt from rulemaking in setting 
 13.20  a fee under this subdivision.  The commissioner shall publish 
 13.21  the proposed fee in the State Register.  Interested parties have 
 13.22  30 days to comment on the proposed fee.  After the commissioner 
 13.23  has considered all comments, the commissioner shall publish the 
 13.24  final fee in the State Register 30 days before the fee is to 
 13.25  take effect. 
 13.26     (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all lands 
 13.27  acquired for Veterans Memorial state park shall be administered 
 13.28  in the same manner as provided for other state parks and shall 
 13.29  be perpetually dedicated for that use. 
 13.30     Subd. 7.  [BOUNDARIES.] The following described lands are 
 13.31  located within the boundaries of Veterans Memorial state park: 
 13.32     (1) Lots 5 through 16 inclusive, Block 10, all in BAY FRONT 
 13.33  DIVISION OF DULUTH, according to the recorded plat thereof, on 
 13.34  file and of record in the office of the county recorder in and 
 13.35  for St. Louis county, Minnesota; 
 13.36     (2) Lots 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 
 14.1   28, 30, 32, and 34, Block 11, all in BAY FRONT DIVISION OF 
 14.2   DULUTH, according to the recorded plat thereof, on file and of 
 14.3   record in the office of the county recorder in and for St. Louis 
 14.4   county, Minnesota; 
 14.5      (3) Lots 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 
 14.6   29, 31, and 33, Block 12, all in BAY FRONT DIVISION OF DULUTH, 
 14.7   FIRST REARRANGEMENT, according to the recorded plat thereof, on 
 14.8   file and of record in the office of the county recorder in and 
 14.9   for St. Louis county, Minnesota; 
 14.10     (4) Lots 1 through 13 inclusive, Block 13, all in BAY FRONT 
 14.11  DIVISION OF DULUTH, FIRST REARRANGEMENT, according to the 
 14.12  recorded plat thereof, on file and of record in the office of 
 14.13  the county recorder in and for St. Louis county, Minnesota; 
 14.14     (5) those parts of Lot 14, Block 13, and Lots 2, 4, 6, 8, 
 14.15  10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30, Block 14, lying 
 14.16  northeasterly of the following described line:  Beginning at a 
 14.17  point on the northwesterly line of said Lot 14, Block 13, said 
 14.18  point being 0.7 feet southwesterly of the northerly corner of 
 14.19  said Lot 14, Block 13, thence southeasterly a distance of 861.78 
 14.20  feet to a point on the southeasterly line of said Lot 2, Block 
 14.21  14, said point being 70.01 feet southwesterly from the easterly 
 14.22  corner of said Lot 2, Block 14, all in BAY FRONT DIVISION OF 
 14.23  DULUTH, FIRST REARRANGEMENT, according to the recorded plat 
 14.24  thereof, on file and of record in the office of the county 
 14.25  recorder in and for St. Louis county, Minnesota; 
 14.26     (6) that part of Blocks 12 and 13 lying southeasterly of 
 14.27  the southeasterly line of Railroad Street, southerly of Lots 1, 
 14.28  2 and 3, Block 13, southwesterly of the southwesterly line of 
 14.29  vacated Ninth Avenue West, and northerly of Lots 31 and 33, 
 14.30  Block 12, and of Lots 4 and 5, Block 13, all in BAY FRONT 
 14.31  DIVISION OF DULUTH, FIRST REARRANGEMENT, according to the 
 14.32  recorded plat thereof, on file and of record in the office of 
 14.33  the county recorder in and for St. Louis county, Minnesota; 
 14.34     (7) that part of Slip Number 4 lying northwesterly of a 
 14.35  line drawn from the most easterly corner of said Lot 2, Block 
 14.36  14, to the most southwesterly corner of said Lot 3, Block 12, 
 15.1   all in BAY FRONT DIVISION OF DULUTH, FIRST REARRANGEMENT, 
 15.2   according to the recorded plat thereof, on file and of record in 
 15.3   the office of the county recorder in and for St. Louis county, 
 15.4   Minnesota; and 
 15.5      (8) that part of vacated Ninth Avenue West lying 
 15.6   southeasterly of the southeasterly line of Railroad Street, all 
 15.7   in BAY FRONT DIVISION OF DULUTH, FIRST REARRANGEMENT, according 
 15.8   to the recorded plat thereof, on file and of record in the 
 15.9   office of the county recorder in and for St. Louis county, 
 15.10  Minnesota. 
 15.11     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 15.12  85.0505, is amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 15.13     Subd. 3.  [VETERANS MEMORIAL STATE PARK.] (a) Liquor, wine, 
 15.14  and beer may be sold and consumed by the drink at Veterans 
 15.15  Memorial state park, subject to other laws relating to the sale 
 15.16  of intoxicating liquor. 
 15.17     (b) The commissioner of natural resources may contract with 
 15.18  a private person, firm, or corporation to operate restaurant and 
 15.19  beverage services in Veterans Memorial state park. 
 15.20     Sec. 10.  [BOND SALE.] 
 15.21     To provide the money appropriated by this section from the 
 15.22  bond proceeds fund, the commissioner of finance, on request of 
 15.23  the governor, shall sell and issue bonds of the state in an 
 15.24  amount up to $175,690,000 in the manner, on the terms, and with 
 15.25  the effect prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 
 15.26  16A.675, and by the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 
 15.27  4 to 7. 
 15.28     Sec. 11.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 15.29     Sections 1 to 10 are effective the day after their final 
 15.30  enactment.