1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to environment; improving efficiency of Wetland Conservation Act 
1.3 	determinations; modifying permitting efficiency reporting requirements; improving 
1.4 	the efficiency of the environmental and resource management permit application 
1.5 	process; requiring the Pollution Control Agency to issue separate permits for the 
1.6 	construction and operation of certain facilities; modifying the expedited permitting 
1.7 	process of the Pollution Control Agency; requiring petitioners for environmental 
1.8 	assessment worksheets to reside in the affected or adjoining counties; eliminating 
1.9 	scoping environmental assessment worksheet requirements for projects requiring 
1.10 	an environmental impact statement; requiring modification of the state 
1.11 	implementation plan; providing for coordinated plans to complete environmental 
1.12 	review and other state agency actions; requiring reports; requiring rulemaking; 
1.13 	appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 15.99, 
1.14 	subdivision 3; 116.03, subdivision 2b; 116.07, subdivision 4d; 116D.04, subdivision 
1.15 	2a; 116J.035, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, 
1.16 	section 116.07, subdivision 4a; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.17 	chapters 84; 116.
1.18 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.19 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 15.99, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.20 		Subd. 3.Application; extensions. (a) The time limit in subdivision 2 begins upon the 
1.21 	agency's receipt of a written request containing all information required by law or by a 
1.22 	previously adopted rule, ordinance, or policy of the agency, including the applicable 
1.23 	application fee. If an agency receives a written request that does not contain all required 
1.24 	information, the 60-day limit starts over only if the agency sends written notice within 15 
1.25 	business days of receipt of the request telling the requester what information is missing.
1.26 	(b) If a request relating to zoning, septic systems, watershed district review, soil and 
1.27 	water conservation district review, or expansion of the metropolitan urban service area 
1.28 	requires the approval of more than one state agency in the executive branch, the 60-day 
2.1 	period in subdivision 2 begins to run for all executive branch agencies on the day a request 
2.2 	containing all required information is received by one state agency. The agency receiving 
2.3 	the request must forward copies to other state agencies whose approval is required.
2.4 	(c) An agency response, including an approval with conditions, meets the 60-day time 
2.5 	limit if the agency can document that the response was sent within 60 days of receipt of the 
2.6 	written request. Failure to satisfy the conditions, if any, may be a basis to revoke or rescind 
2.7 	the approval by the agency and will not give rise to a claim that the 60-day limit was not 
2.8 	met.
2.9 	(d) The time limit in subdivision 2 is extended if a state statute, federal law, or court 
2.10 	order requires a process to occur before the agency acts on the request, and the time periods 
2.11 	prescribed in the state statute, federal law, or court order make it impossible to act on the 
2.12 	request within 60 days. In cases described in this paragraph, the deadline is extended to 60 
2.13 	days after completion of the last process required in the applicable statute, law, or order. 
2.14 	Final approval of an agency receiving a request is not considered a process for purposes of 
2.15 	this paragraph.
2.16 	(e) The time limit in subdivision 2 is extended if: (1) a request submitted to a state agency 
2.17 	requires prior approval of a federal agency; or (2) an application submitted to a city, county, 
2.18 	town, school district, metropolitan or regional entity, or other political subdivision requires 
2.19 	prior approval of a state or federal agency. In cases described in this paragraph, the deadline 
2.20 	for agency action is extended to 60 days after the required prior approval is granted.
2.21 	(f) An agency may extend the time limit in subdivision 2 before the end of the initial 
2.22 	60-day period by providing written notice of the extension to the applicant. The notification 
2.23 	must state the reasons for the extension and its anticipated length, which may not exceed 
2.24 	60 days unless approved by the applicant. There may be no more than one extension under 
2.25 	this paragraph of any determination under sections 103G.221 to 103G.2375.
2.26 	(g) An applicant may by written notice to the agency request an extension of the time 
2.27 	limit under this section.

2.28 	Sec. 2. [84.0265] ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING; 
2.29 	COORDINATED PROJECT PLANS.
2.30 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. In this section, the following terms have the meanings given:
2.31 	(1) "commissioner" means the commissioner of natural resources;
3.1 	(2) "coordinated project plan" or "plan" means a plan to ensure that any required 
3.2 	environmental review and other required state agency actions are completed efficiently by 
3.3 	coordinating and establishing deadlines for all necessary state agency actions;
3.4 	(3) "eligible project" means:
3.5 	(i) a project that requires an environmental assessment worksheet or an environmental 
3.6 	impact statement under chapter 116D; or
3.7 	(ii) a license, permit, certificate, certification, approval, compliance schedule, or other 
3.8 	authorization for which approval includes considerations to protect land, air, or water 
3.9 	resources and that:
3.10 	(A) must be obtained from the commissioner before constructing or operating a facility 
3.11 	in the state; or
3.12 	(B) will have a significant impact on regulatory requirements for constructing or operating 
3.13 	a facility; and
3.14 	(4) "state agency" means an office, board, commission, authority, department, or other 
3.15 	agency of the executive branch of state government.
3.16 		Subd. 2.State policy. It is the goal of the state to maximize the coordination, 
3.17 	effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of environmental review, environmental 
3.18 	permitting, and other critical regulatory actions for facilities in Minnesota.
3.19 		Subd. 3.Early communication; identifying issues. (a) To the extent practicable, the 
3.20 	commissioner must establish and provide an expeditious process for a person requesting or 
3.21 	planning to request a coordinated project plan to confer with the commissioner, other state 
3.22 	agencies, and federal, Tribal, and local agencies and to obtain from those agencies 
3.23 	information about:
3.24 	(1) the availability of any information and tools, including preapplication toolkits, to 
3.25 	facilitate early planning efforts;
3.26 	(2) key issues of concern to each agency and to the public; and
3.27 	(3) issues that must be addressed before an environmental review, permit action, or other 
3.28 	required action by a state agency can be completed.
3.29 	(b) The commissioner and other state agencies must identify, as early as practicable, 
3.30 	any issues of concern regarding the potential environmental impacts related to an eligible 
3.31 	project, including any issues that could substantially delay or prevent a state agency from 
3.32 	completing agency decisions.
4.1 		Subd. 4.Plan preparation; participating agencies. (a) A person who submits an 
4.2 	application for an eligible project to the commissioner may request that the commissioner 
4.3 	prepare a coordinated project plan to complete any required environmental review and other 
4.4 	agency actions for the eligible project. A plan may be incorporated into a memorandum of 
4.5 	understanding with other state and federal agencies and Tribes.
4.6 	(b) Within 60 days of receiving a request under paragraph (a), the commissioner must 
4.7 	prepare a coordinated project plan in consultation with the requestor and other state agencies 
4.8 	identified under paragraph (c).
4.9 	(c) Any state agency that has environmental review, permitting, or other regulatory 
4.10 	authority over the eligible project or that intends to comment on environmental review or 
4.11 	an application for the eligible project must participate in developing a coordinated project 
4.12 	plan.
4.13 		Subd. 5.Plan contents; synchronization; updates. (a) A coordinated project plan must 
4.14 	include:
4.15 	(1) a list of all state agencies with environmental review, permitting, or other regulatory 
4.16 	authority over the eligible project and an explanation of each agency's specific role and 
4.17 	responsibilities for actions under the coordinated project plan;
4.18 	(2) plans and a schedule for any public and Tribal outreach and coordination; and
4.19 	(3) a comprehensive schedule of deadlines by which all environmental reviews, permits, 
4.20 	and other state agency actions, including those at the federal level to the extent practicable, 
4.21 	must be completed. The deadlines established under this clause must include intermediate 
4.22 	and final completion deadlines for actions by each state agency and must be consistent with 
4.23 	subdivision 6.
4.24 	(b) To the extent practicable under applicable law, the commissioner and participating 
4.25 	state agencies must synchronize state environmental review, permitting, and decision 
4.26 	processes listed in the coordinated project plan with any federal, local, or Tribal agency 
4.27 	responsible for conducting a review or authorization related to an eligible project to ensure 
4.28 	timely and efficient completion of environmental reviews and state agency decisions. To 
4.29 	the extent practicable, any synchronization plan must be included in a memorandum of 
4.30 	understanding with affected agencies.
4.31 	(c) The commissioner must update a coordinated project plan quarterly.
4.32 		Subd. 6.Required deadlines. (a) Deadlines established in a coordinated project plan 
4.33 	must comply with this subdivision.
5.1 	(b) When an environmental assessment worksheet is prepared for an eligible project for 
5.2 	which an environmental impact statement is not mandatory under Minnesota Rules, chapter 
5.3 	4410, the decision on the need for an environmental impact statement must be made as 
5.4 	expeditiously as possible but no later than 18 months after the environmental assessment 
5.5 	worksheet is submitted.
5.6 	(c) When an environmental impact statement is prepared for an eligible project, the 
5.7 	decision on the adequacy of the final environmental impact statement must be made as 
5.8 	expeditiously as possible but no later than three years after the data for the environmental 
5.9 	assessment worksheet is submitted.
5.10 	(d) If the commissioner includes plan deadlines that are inconsistent with paragraphs 
5.11 	(b) and (c), then within 30 days of finalizing the plan, the commissioner must report to the 
5.12 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with 
5.13 	jurisdiction over natural resources policy to explain how deadlines were established and 
5.14 	why the deadlines under paragraphs (b) and (c) are not attainable. The anticipated time 
5.15 	required to obtain a federal permit or decision may not serve as the sole basis for a decision 
5.16 	to deviate from the deadlines under paragraphs (b) and (c).
5.17 		Subd. 7.Deadline compliance; modification. (a) A state agency that participates in 
5.18 	developing a coordinated project plan must comply with deadlines established in the plan. 
5.19 	If a participating state agency fails to meet a deadline established in a coordinated project 
5.20 	plan or anticipates failing to meet a deadline, the state agency must immediately notify the 
5.21 	commissioner to explain the reason for the failure or anticipated failure and to propose a 
5.22 	date for a modified deadline.
5.23 	(b) The commissioner may modify a deadline established in a coordinated project plan 
5.24 	only if:
5.25 	(1) the commissioner or state agency provides the person that requested the plan with a 
5.26 	written justification for the modification; and
5.27 	(2) the commissioner and the state agency, after consultation with the person that 
5.28 	requested the plan, mutually agree on a different deadline.
5.29 	(c) If the combined modifications to one or more deadlines established in a coordinated 
5.30 	project plan extend the initially anticipated final decision date for an eligible project 
5.31 	application by more than 20 percent, then within 30 days of the last modification, the 
5.32 	commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative 
5.33 	committees and divisions with jurisdiction over natural resources policy to explain the 
5.34 	reason the modifications are necessary. For purposes of calculating the percentage of time 
6.1 	that modifications have extended the anticipated final decision date, modifications made 
6.2 	necessary by reasons wholly outside the control of state agencies must not be considered.
6.3 		Subd. 8.Annual report. The commissioner must annually submit to the chairs and 
6.4 	ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over 
6.5 	natural resources policy a report on progress toward required actions described in a 
6.6 	coordinated project plan until the required actions are completed or the requestor withdraws 
6.7 	the plan request.
6.8 		Subd. 9.Relation to other law. Nothing in this section is to be construed to require an 
6.9 	act that conflicts with applicable federal law. Nothing in this section affects the specific 
6.10 	statutory obligations of a state agency to comply with criteria or standards of environmental 
6.11 	quality.

6.12 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116.03, subdivision 2b, is amended to read:
6.13 		Subd. 2b.Permitting efficiency. (a) It is the goal of the state that environmental and 
6.14 	resource management permits be issued or denied within 90 days for tier 1 permits or 150 
6.15 	days for tier 2 permits following submission of a permit application. The commissioner of 
6.16 	the Pollution Control Agency shall must establish management systems designed to achieve 
6.17 	the goal. For the purposes of this section, "tier 1 permits" are permits that do not require 
6.18 	individualized actions or public comment periods, and "tier 2 permits" are permits that 
6.19 	require individualized actions or public comment periods.
6.20 	(b) The commissioner shall must prepare an annual semiannual permitting efficiency 
6.21 	report reports that includes include statistics on meeting the tier 2 goal in paragraph (a) and 
6.22 	the criteria for tier 2 by permit categories. The report is due reports must be submitted to 
6.23 	the governor and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives 
6.24 	and senate committees having jurisdiction over environment policy and finance by February 
6.25 	1 and August 1 each year and must be posted on the agency's website. Each report must 
6.26 	include:
6.27 	(1) for each permit applications application that have has not met the goal, the report 
6.28 	must state the reasons for not meeting the goal. In stating the reasons for not meeting the 
6.29 	goal, the commissioner shall separately identify delays an explanation of whether the delay 
6.30 	was caused by the responsiveness of the proposer, lack of staff, scientific or technical 
6.31 	disagreements, or the level of public engagement. The report must specify;
7.1 	(2) for each permit that has not met the goal, the number of days from initial submission 
7.2 	of the application to the day of determination that the application is complete. The report 
7.3 	must aggregate;
7.4 	(3) a summary of the data for the year reporting period and assess an assessment of
7.5 	whether program or system changes are necessary to achieve the tier 2 goal. The report 
7.6 	must be posted on the agency's website and submitted to the governor and the chairs and 
7.7 	ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees having 
7.8 	jurisdiction over environment policy and finance. in paragraph (a); and
7.9 	(4) a statement of the number of tier 2 permits completed within the reporting period 
7.10 	and, immediately following in parentheses, a statement of the percentage of total applications 
7.11 	received for that tier 2 permit category that the number represents, stated separately for 
7.12 	industrial and municipal permits.
7.13 	(c) The commissioner shall must allow electronic submission of environmental review 
7.14 	and permit documents to the agency.
7.15 	(d) Within 30 business days of application for a permit subject to paragraph (a), the 
7.16 	commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency shall must notify the permit applicant, in 
7.17 	writing, whether the application is complete or incomplete. If an application is missing 
7.18 	information, the commissioner must attempt to complete the application where practicable 
7.19 	by applying reasonable assumptions to supply the missing information and must include 
7.20 	that information in the application. If the commissioner determines that an application is 
7.21 	incomplete, the notice to the applicant must enumerate all deficiencies, citing specific 
7.22 	provisions of the applicable rules and statutes, and advise the applicant on how the 
7.23 	deficiencies can be remedied. Submission by the applicant of additional information to 
7.24 	correct deficiencies does not restart the 30 business days allowed under this paragraph for 
7.25 	the agency to determine whether the application is complete or incomplete unless the 
7.26 	corrected application is more than 30 percent larger than the deficient application. If the 
7.27 	commissioner determines that the application is complete, the notice must confirm the 
7.28 	application's tier 1 or tier 2 permit status and must inform the applicant of any missing 
7.29 	information that was supplied by the commissioner under this paragraph. If the commissioner 
7.30 	believes that a complete application for a tier 2 construction permit cannot be issued within 
7.31 	the 150-day goal, the commissioner must provide notice to the applicant with the 
7.32 	commissioner's notice that the application is complete and, upon request of the applicant, 
7.33 	provide the permit applicant with a schedule estimating when the agency will begin drafting 
7.34 	the permit and issue the public notice of the draft permit. Failure to meet the goal in paragraph 
7.35 	(a) for issuing a type 2 permit constitutes a final decision of the agency for purposes of 
8.1 	section 115.05, subdivision 11. This paragraph does not apply to an application for a permit 
8.2 	that is subject to a grant or loan agreement under chapter 446A.
8.3 	(e) For purposes of this subdivision, "permit professional" means an individual not 
8.4 	employed by the Pollution Control Agency who:
8.5 	(1) has a professional license issued by the state of Minnesota in the subject area of the 
8.6 	permit;
8.7 	(2) has at least ten years of experience in the subject area of the permit; and
8.8 	(3) abides by the duty of candor applicable to employees of the Pollution Control Agency 
8.9 	under agency rules and complies with all applicable requirements under chapter 326.
8.10 	(f) Upon the agency's request, an applicant relying on a permit professional must 
8.11 	participate in a meeting with the agency before submitting an application:
8.12 	(1) at least two weeks prior to the preapplication meeting, the applicant must submit at 
8.13 	least the following:
8.14 	(i) project description, including, but not limited to, scope of work, primary emissions 
8.15 	points, discharge outfalls, and water intake points;
8.16 	(ii) location of the project, including county, municipality, and location on the site;
8.17 	(iii) business schedule for project completion; and
8.18 	(iv) other information requested by the agency at least four weeks prior to the scheduled 
8.19 	meeting; and
8.20 	(2) during the preapplication meeting, the agency shall must provide for the applicant 
8.21 	at least the following:
8.22 	(i) an overview of the permit review program;
8.23 	(ii) a determination of which specific application or applications will be necessary to 
8.24 	complete the project;
8.25 	(iii) a statement notifying the applicant if the specific permit being sought requires a 
8.26 	mandatory public hearing or comment period;
8.27 	(iv) a review of the timetable established in the permit review program for the specific 
8.28 	permit being sought; and
8.29 	(v) a determination of what information must be included in the application, including 
8.30 	a description of any required modeling or testing.
9.1 	(g) The applicant may select a permit professional to undertake the preparation of the 
9.2 	permit application and draft permit.
9.3 	(h) If a preapplication meeting was held, the agency shall must, within seven business 
9.4 	days of receipt of an application, notify the applicant and submitting permit professional 
9.5 	that the application is complete or is denied, specifying the deficiencies of the application.
9.6 	(i) Upon receipt of notice that the application is complete, the permit professional shall
9.7 	must submit to the agency a timetable for submitting a draft permit. The permit professional 
9.8 	shall must submit a draft permit on or before the date provided in the timetable. Within 60 
9.9 	days after the close of the public comment period, the commissioner shall must notify the 
9.10 	applicant whether the permit can be issued.
9.11 	(j) Nothing in this section shall be construed to modify:
9.12 	(1) any requirement of law that is necessary to retain federal delegation to or assumption 
9.13 	by the state; or
9.14 	(2) the authority to implement a federal law or program.
9.15 	(k) The permit application and draft permit shall must identify or include as an appendix 
9.16 	all studies and other sources of information used to substantiate the analysis contained in 
9.17 	the permit application and draft permit. The commissioner shall must request additional 
9.18 	studies, if needed, and the permit applicant shall must submit all additional studies and 
9.19 	information necessary for the commissioner to perform the commissioner's responsibility 
9.20 	to review, modify, and determine the completeness of the application and approve the draft 
9.21 	permit.

9.22 	Sec. 4. [116.035] ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING; 
9.23 	COORDINATED PROJECT PLANS.
9.24 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. In this section, the following terms have the meanings given:
9.25 	(1) "commissioner" means the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency;
9.26 	(2) "coordinated project plan" or "plan" means a plan to ensure that any required 
9.27 	environmental review and other required state agency actions are completed efficiently by 
9.28 	coordinating and establishing deadlines for all necessary state agency actions;
9.29 	(3) "eligible project" means:
9.30 	(i) a project that requires an environmental assessment worksheet or an environmental 
9.31 	impact statement under chapter 116D; or
10.1 	(ii) a license, permit, certificate, certification, approval, compliance schedule, or other 
10.2 	authorization for which approval includes considerations to protect land, air, or water 
10.3 	resources and that:
10.4 	(A) must be obtained from the commissioner before constructing or operating a facility 
10.5 	in the state; or
10.6 	(B) will have a significant impact on regulatory requirements for constructing or operating 
10.7 	a facility; and
10.8 	(4) "state agency" means an office, board, commission, authority, department, or other 
10.9 	agency of the executive branch of state government.
10.10 		Subd. 2.State policy. It is the goal of the state to maximize the coordination, 
10.11 	effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of environmental review, environmental 
10.12 	permitting, and other critical regulatory actions for facilities in Minnesota.
10.13 		Subd. 3.Early communication; identifying issues. (a) To the extent practicable, the 
10.14 	commissioner must establish and provide an expeditious process for a person requesting or 
10.15 	planning to request a coordinated project plan to confer with the commissioner, other state 
10.16 	agencies, and federal, Tribal, and local agencies and to obtain from those agencies 
10.17 	information about:
10.18 	(1) the availability of any information and tools, including preapplication toolkits, to 
10.19 	facilitate early planning efforts;
10.20 	(2) key issues of concern to each agency and to the public; and
10.21 	(3) issues that must be addressed before an environmental review, permit action, or other 
10.22 	required action by a state agency can be completed.
10.23 	(b) The commissioner and other state agencies must identify, as early as practicable, 
10.24 	any issues of concern regarding the potential environmental impacts related to an eligible 
10.25 	project, including any issues that could substantially delay or prevent a state agency from 
10.26 	completing agency decisions.
10.27 		Subd. 4.Plan preparation; participating agencies. (a) A person who submits an 
10.28 	application for an eligible project to the commissioner may request that the commissioner 
10.29 	prepare a coordinated project plan to complete any required environmental review and other 
10.30 	agency actions for the eligible project. A plan may be incorporated into a memorandum of 
10.31 	understanding with other state and federal agencies and Tribes.
11.1 	(b) Within 60 days of receiving a request under paragraph (a), the commissioner must 
11.2 	prepare a coordinated project plan in consultation with the requestor and other state agencies 
11.3 	identified under paragraph (c).
11.4 	(c) Any state agency that has environmental review, permitting, or other regulatory 
11.5 	authority over the eligible project or that intends to comment on environmental review or 
11.6 	an application for the eligible project must participate in developing a coordinated project 
11.7 	plan.
11.8 		Subd. 5.Plan contents; synchronization; updates. (a) A coordinated project plan must 
11.9 	include:
11.10 	(1) a list of all state agencies with environmental review, permitting, or other regulatory 
11.11 	authority over the eligible project and an explanation of each agency's specific role and 
11.12 	responsibilities for actions under the coordinated project plan;
11.13 	(2) plans and a schedule for any public and Tribal outreach and coordination; and
11.14 	(3) a comprehensive schedule of deadlines by which all environmental reviews, permits, 
11.15 	and other state agency actions, including those at the federal level to the extent practicable, 
11.16 	must be completed. The deadlines established under this clause must include intermediate 
11.17 	and final completion deadlines for actions by each state agency and must be consistent with 
11.18 	subdivision 6.
11.19 	(b) To the extent practicable under applicable law, the commissioner and participating 
11.20 	state agencies must synchronize state environmental review, permitting, and decision 
11.21 	processes listed in the coordinated project plan with any federal, local, or Tribal agency 
11.22 	responsible for conducting a review or authorization related to an eligible project to ensure 
11.23 	timely and efficient completion of environmental reviews and state agency decisions. To 
11.24 	the extent practicable, any synchronization plan must be included in a memorandum of 
11.25 	understanding with affected agencies.
11.26 	(c) The commissioner must update a coordinated project plan quarterly.
11.27 		Subd. 6.Required deadlines. (a) Deadlines established in a coordinated project plan 
11.28 	must comply with this subdivision.
11.29 	(b) When an environmental assessment worksheet is prepared for an eligible project for 
11.30 	which an environmental impact statement is not mandatory under Minnesota Rules, chapter 
11.31 	4410, the decision on the need for an environmental impact statement must be made as 
11.32 	expeditiously as possible but no later than 18 months after the environmental assessment 
11.33 	worksheet is submitted.
12.1 	(c) When an environmental impact statement is prepared for an eligible project, the 
12.2 	decision on the adequacy of the final environmental impact statement must be made as 
12.3 	expeditiously as possible but no later than three years after the data for the environmental 
12.4 	assessment worksheet is submitted.
12.5 	(d) If the commissioner includes plan deadlines that are inconsistent with paragraphs 
12.6 	(b) and (c), then within 30 days of finalizing the plan, the commissioner must report to the 
12.7 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with 
12.8 	jurisdiction over natural resources policy to explain how deadlines were established and 
12.9 	why the deadlines under paragraphs (b) and (c) are not attainable. The anticipated time 
12.10 	required to obtain a federal permit or decision may not serve as the sole basis for a decision 
12.11 	to deviate from the deadlines under paragraphs (b) and (c).
12.12 		Subd. 7.Deadline compliance; modification. (a) A state agency that participates in 
12.13 	developing a coordinated project plan must comply with deadlines established in the plan. 
12.14 	If a participating state agency fails to meet a deadline established in a coordinated project 
12.15 	plan or anticipates failing to meet a deadline, the state agency must immediately notify the 
12.16 	commissioner to explain the reason for the failure or anticipated failure and to propose a 
12.17 	date for a modified deadline.
12.18 	(b) The commissioner may modify a deadline established in a coordinated project plan 
12.19 	only if:
12.20 	(1) the commissioner or state agency provides the person that requested the plan with a 
12.21 	written justification for the modification; and
12.22 	(2) the commissioner and the state agency, after consultation with the person that 
12.23 	requested the plan, mutually agree on a different deadline.
12.24 	(c) If the combined modifications to one or more deadlines established in a coordinated 
12.25 	project plan extend the initially anticipated final decision date for an eligible project 
12.26 	application by more than 20 percent, then within 30 days of the last modification, the 
12.27 	commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative 
12.28 	committees and divisions with jurisdiction over natural resources policy to explain the 
12.29 	reason the modifications are necessary. For purposes of calculating the percentage of time 
12.30 	that modifications have extended the anticipated final decision date, modifications made 
12.31 	necessary by reasons wholly outside the control of state agencies must not be considered.
12.32 		Subd. 8.Annual report. The commissioner must annually submit to the chairs and 
12.33 	ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over 
12.34 	natural resources policy a report on progress toward required actions described in a 
13.1 	coordinated project plan until the required actions are completed or the requestor withdraws 
13.2 	the plan request.
13.3 		Subd. 9.Relation to other law. Nothing in this section is to be construed to require an 
13.4 	act that conflicts with applicable federal law. Nothing in this section affects the specific 
13.5 	statutory obligations of a state agency to comply with criteria or standards of environmental 
13.6 	quality.

13.7 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 116.07, subdivision 4a, is amended 
13.8 	to read:
13.9 		Subd. 4a.Permits. (a) The Pollution Control Agency may issue, continue in effect or 
13.10 	deny permits, under such conditions as it may prescribe for the prevention of pollution, for 
13.11 	the emission of air contaminants, or for the installation or operation of any emission facility, 
13.12 	air contaminant treatment facility, treatment facility, potential air contaminant storage 
13.13 	facility, or storage facility, or any part thereof, or for the sources or emissions of noise 
13.14 	pollution. The Pollution Control Agency must issue separate permits for constructing a 
13.15 	facility described in this paragraph and for its operation. The Pollution Control Agency 
13.16 	must issue these permits in a manner that minimizes the time required to construct and begin 
13.17 	operation of the permitted facility.
13.18 	(b) The Pollution Control Agency may also issue, continue in effect or deny permits, 
13.19 	under such conditions as it may prescribe for the prevention of pollution, for the storage, 
13.20 	collection, transportation, processing, or disposal of waste, or for the installation or operation 
13.21 	of any system or facility, or any part thereof, related to the storage, collection, transportation, 
13.22 	processing, or disposal of waste.
13.23 	(c) The agency may not issue a permit to a facility without analyzing and considering 
13.24 	the cumulative levels and effects of past and current environmental pollution from all sources 
13.25 	on the environment and residents of the geographic area within which the facility's emissions 
13.26 	are likely to be deposited, provided that the facility is located in a community in a city of 
13.27 	the first class in Hennepin County that meets all of the following conditions:
13.28 	(1) is within a half mile of a site designated by the federal government as an EPA 
13.29 	superfund site due to residential arsenic contamination;
13.30 	(2) a majority of the population are low-income persons of color and American Indians;
13.31 	(3) a disproportionate percent of the children have childhood lead poisoning, asthma, 
13.32 	or other environmentally related health problems;
14.1 	(4) is located in a city that has experienced numerous air quality alert days of dangerous 
14.2 	air quality for sensitive populations between February 2007 and February 2008; and
14.3 	(5) is located near the junctions of several heavily trafficked state and county highways 
14.4 	and two one-way streets which carry both truck and auto traffic.
14.5 	(d) The Pollution Control Agency may revoke or modify any permit issued under this 
14.6 	subdivision and section 116.081 whenever it is necessary, in the opinion of the agency, to 
14.7 	prevent or abate pollution.
14.8 	(e) The Pollution Control Agency has the authority for approval over the siting, expansion, 
14.9 	or operation of a solid waste facility with regard to environmental issues. However, the 
14.10 	agency's issuance of a permit does not release the permittee from any liability, penalty, or 
14.11 	duty imposed by any applicable county ordinances. Nothing in this chapter precludes, or 
14.12 	shall be construed to preclude, a county from enforcing land use controls, regulations, and 
14.13 	ordinances existing at the time of the permit application and adopted pursuant to Minnesota 
14.14 	Statutes 2020, sections 366.10 to 366.181, or sections 394.21 to 394.37, or 462.351 to 
14.15 	462.365, with regard to the siting, expansion, or operation of a solid waste facility.
14.16 	(f) Except as prohibited by federal law, a person may commence construction, 
14.17 	reconstruction, replacement, or modification of any facility prior to the issuance of a 
14.18 	construction permit by the agency.

14.19 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116.07, subdivision 4d, is amended to read:
14.20 		Subd. 4d.Permit fees. (a) The agency may collect permit fees in amounts not greater 
14.21 	than those necessary to cover the reasonable costs of developing, reviewing, and acting 
14.22 	upon applications for agency permits and implementing and enforcing the conditions of the 
14.23 	permits pursuant to agency rules. Permit fees shall not include the costs of litigation. The 
14.24 	fee schedule must reflect reasonable and routine direct and indirect costs associated with 
14.25 	permitting, implementation, and enforcement. The agency may impose an additional 
14.26 	enforcement fee to be collected for a period of up to two years to cover the reasonable costs 
14.27 	of implementing and enforcing the conditions of a permit under the rules of the agency. 
14.28 	Any money collected under this paragraph shall be deposited in the environmental fund.
14.29 	(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the agency shall collect an annual fee from the owner 
14.30 	or operator of all stationary sources, emission facilities, emissions units, air contaminant 
14.31 	treatment facilities, treatment facilities, potential air contaminant storage facilities, or storage 
14.32 	facilities subject to a notification, permit, or license requirement under this chapter, 
14.33 	subchapters I and V of the federal Clean Air Act, United States Code, title 42, section 7401 
15.1 	et seq., or rules adopted thereunder. The annual fee shall be used to pay for all direct and 
15.2 	indirect reasonable costs, including legal costs, required to develop and administer the 
15.3 	notification, permit, or license program requirements of this chapter, subchapters I and V 
15.4 	of the federal Clean Air Act, United States Code, title 42, section 7401 et seq., or rules 
15.5 	adopted thereunder. Those costs include the reasonable costs of reviewing and acting upon 
15.6 	an application for a permit; implementing and enforcing statutes, rules, and the terms and 
15.7 	conditions of a permit; emissions, ambient, and deposition monitoring; preparing generally 
15.8 	applicable regulations; responding to federal guidance; modeling, analyses, and 
15.9 	demonstrations; preparing inventories and tracking emissions; and providing information 
15.10 	to the public about these activities.
15.11 	(c) The agency shall set fees that:
15.12 	(1) will result in the collection, in the aggregate, from the sources listed in paragraph 
15.13 	(b), of an amount not less than $25 per ton of each volatile organic compound; pollutant 
15.14 	regulated under United States Code, title 42, section 7411 or 7412 (section 111 or 112 of 
15.15 	the federal Clean Air Act); and each pollutant, except carbon monoxide, for which a national 
15.16 	primary ambient air quality standard has been promulgated;
15.17 	(2) may result in the collection, in the aggregate, from the sources listed in paragraph 
15.18 	(b), of an amount not less than $25 per ton of each pollutant not listed in clause (1) that is 
15.19 	regulated under this chapter or air quality rules adopted under this chapter; and
15.20 	(3) shall collect, in the aggregate, from the sources listed in paragraph (b), the amount 
15.21 	needed to match grant funds received by the state under United States Code, title 42, section 
15.22 	7405 (section 105 of the federal Clean Air Act).
15.23 	The agency must not include in the calculation of the aggregate amount to be collected 
15.24 	under clauses (1) and (2) any amount in excess of 4,000 tons per year of each air pollutant 
15.25 	from a source. The increase in air permit fees to match federal grant funds shall be a surcharge 
15.26 	on existing fees. The commissioner may not collect the surcharge after the grant funds 
15.27 	become unavailable. In addition, the commissioner shall use nonfee funds to the extent 
15.28 	practical to match the grant funds so that the fee surcharge is minimized.
15.29 	(d) To cover the reasonable costs described in paragraph (b), the agency shall provide 
15.30 	in the rules promulgated under paragraph (c) for an increase in the fee collected in each 
15.31 	year by the percentage, if any, by which the Consumer Price Index for the most recent 
15.32 	calendar year ending before the beginning of the year the fee is collected exceeds the 
15.33 	Consumer Price Index for the calendar year 1989. For purposes of this paragraph the 
15.34 	Consumer Price Index for any calendar year is the average of the Consumer Price Index for 
16.1 	all-urban consumers published by the United States Department of Labor, as of the close 
16.2 	of the 12-month period ending on August 31 of each calendar year. The revision of the 
16.3 	Consumer Price Index that is most consistent with the Consumer Price Index for calendar 
16.4 	year 1989 shall be used.
16.5 	(e) Any money collected under paragraphs (b) to (d) must be deposited in the 
16.6 	environmental fund and must be used solely for the activities listed in paragraph (b).
16.7 	(f) Permit applicants who wish to construct, reconstruct, or modify a project may offer
16.8 	request expedited permitting under this paragraph. An applicant requesting expedited 
16.9 	permitting under this paragraph must agree to reimburse the agency for the costs of staff 
16.10 	time or consultant services needed to expedite the preapplication process and permit 
16.11 	development process through the final decision on the permit, including the analysis of 
16.12 	environmental review documents. The reimbursement shall be is in addition to permit 
16.13 	application fees imposed by law. When the agency determines that it needs additional 
16.14 	resources to develop the permit application in an expedited manner, and that expediting the 
16.15 	development is consistent with permitting program priorities, the agency may accept the 
16.16 	reimbursement. The commissioner must give the applicant an estimate of the timeline and 
16.17 	costs to be incurred by the commissioner. The estimate must include a brief description of 
16.18 	the tasks to be performed, a schedule for completing the tasks, and the estimated cost for 
16.19 	each task. If the applicant agrees to the estimated timeline and costs negotiated with the 
16.20 	commissioner, the applicant and the commissioner must enter into a written agreement 
16.21 	detailing the estimated costs for the expedited permit decision-making process to be incurred 
16.22 	by the agency to proceed accordingly. The agreement must also identify staff anticipated 
16.23 	to be assigned to the project. The agreement may provide that, if permitting is completed 
16.24 	ahead of the schedule set forth in the written agreement, the commissioner may retain any 
16.25 	fees that would have been due if the permitting had taken the time contemplated in the 
16.26 	written agreement. Fees retained by the commissioner under this paragraph are appropriated 
16.27 	to the commissioner to pay for administering the commissioner's permitting duties. The 
16.28 	commissioner must not issue a permit until the applicant has paid all fees in full. The 
16.29 	commissioner must refund any unobligated balance of fees paid. Reimbursements accepted 
16.30 	by the agency are appropriated to the agency for the purpose of developing the permit or 
16.31 	analyzing environmental review documents. Reimbursement by a permit applicant shall 
16.32 	precede and not be contingent upon issuance of a permit; shall not affect the agency's decision 
16.33 	on whether to issue or deny a permit, what conditions are included in a permit, or the 
16.34 	application of state and federal statutes and rules governing permit determinations; and shall 
16.35 	not affect final decisions regarding environmental review.
17.1 	(g) The fees under this subdivision are exempt from section 16A.1285.

17.2 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116D.04, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
17.3 		Subd. 2a.When prepared. (a) Where there is potential for significant environmental 
17.4 	effects resulting from any major governmental action, the action must be preceded by a 
17.5 	detailed environmental impact statement prepared by the responsible governmental unit. 
17.6 	The environmental impact statement must be an analytical rather than an encyclopedic 
17.7 	document that describes the proposed action in detail, analyzes its significant environmental 
17.8 	impacts, discusses appropriate alternatives to the proposed action and their impacts, and 
17.9 	explores methods by which adverse environmental impacts of an action could be mitigated. 
17.10 	The environmental impact statement must also analyze those economic, employment, and 
17.11 	sociological effects that cannot be avoided should the action be implemented. To ensure its 
17.12 	use in the decision-making process, the environmental impact statement must be prepared 
17.13 	as early as practical in the formulation of an action.
17.14 	(b) The board shall must by rule establish categories of actions for which environmental 
17.15 	impact statements and for which environmental assessment worksheets must be prepared 
17.16 	as well as categories of actions for which no environmental review is required under this 
17.17 	section. A mandatory environmental assessment worksheet is not required for the expansion 
17.18 	of an ethanol plant, as defined in section 41A.09, subdivision 2a, paragraph (b), or the 
17.19 	conversion of an ethanol plant to a biobutanol facility or the expansion of a biobutanol 
17.20 	facility as defined in section 41A.15, subdivision 2d, based on the capacity of the expanded 
17.21 	or converted facility to produce alcohol fuel, but must be required if the ethanol plant or 
17.22 	biobutanol facility meets or exceeds thresholds of other categories of actions for which 
17.23 	environmental assessment worksheets must be prepared. The responsible governmental unit 
17.24 	for an ethanol plant or biobutanol facility project for which an environmental assessment 
17.25 	worksheet is prepared is the state agency with the greatest responsibility for supervising or 
17.26 	approving the project as a whole.
17.27 	(c) A mandatory environmental impact statement is not required for a facility or plant 
17.28 	located outside the seven-county metropolitan area that produces less than 125,000,000 
17.29 	gallons of ethanol, biobutanol, or cellulosic biofuel annually, or produces less than 400,000 
17.30 	tons of chemicals annually, if the facility or plant is: an ethanol plant, as defined in section 
17.31 	41A.09, subdivision 2a, paragraph (b); a biobutanol facility, as defined in section 41A.15, 
17.32 	subdivision 2d; or a cellulosic biofuel facility. A facility or plant that only uses a cellulosic 
17.33 	feedstock to produce chemical products for use by another facility as a feedstock is not 
17.34 	considered a fuel conversion facility as used in rules adopted under this chapter.
18.1 	(d) The responsible governmental unit shall must promptly publish notice of the 
18.2 	completion of an environmental assessment worksheet by publishing the notice in at least 
18.3 	one newspaper of general circulation in the geographic area where the project is proposed, 
18.4 	by posting the notice on a website that has been designated as the official publication site 
18.5 	for publication of proceedings, public notices, and summaries of a political subdivision in 
18.6 	which the project is proposed, or in any other manner determined by the board and shall
18.7 	must provide copies of the environmental assessment worksheet to the board and its member 
18.8 	agencies. Comments on the need for an environmental impact statement may be submitted 
18.9 	to the responsible governmental unit during a 30-day period following publication of the 
18.10 	notice that an environmental assessment worksheet has been completed. The responsible 
18.11 	governmental unit may extend the 30-day comment period for an additional 30 days one 
18.12 	time. Further extensions of the comment period may not be made unless approved by the 
18.13 	project's proposer. The responsible governmental unit's decision on the need for an 
18.14 	environmental impact statement must be based on the environmental assessment worksheet 
18.15 	and the comments received during the comment period, and must be made within 15 days 
18.16 	after the close of the comment period. The board's chair may extend the 15-day period by 
18.17 	not more than 15 additional days upon the request of the responsible governmental unit.
18.18 	(e) An environmental assessment worksheet must also be prepared for a proposed action 
18.19 	whenever material evidence accompanying a petition by not less than 100 individuals who 
18.20 	reside or own property in the state a county where the proposed action will be undertaken 
18.21 	or in one or more adjoining counties, submitted before the proposed project has received 
18.22 	final approval by the appropriate governmental units, demonstrates that, because of the 
18.23 	nature or location of a proposed action, there may be potential for significant environmental 
18.24 	effects. Petitions requesting the preparation of an environmental assessment worksheet must 
18.25 	be submitted to the board. The chair of the board shall must determine the appropriate 
18.26 	responsible governmental unit and forward the petition to it. A decision on the need for an 
18.27 	environmental assessment worksheet must be made by the responsible governmental unit 
18.28 	within 15 days after the petition is received by the responsible governmental unit. The 
18.29 	board's chair may extend the 15-day period by not more than 15 additional days upon request 
18.30 	of the responsible governmental unit.
18.31 	(f) Except in an environmentally sensitive location where Minnesota Rules, part 
18.32 	4410.4300, subpart 29, item B, applies, the proposed action is exempt from environmental 
18.33 	review under this chapter and rules of the board, if:
18.34 	(1) the proposed action is:
18.35 	(i) an animal feedlot facility with a capacity of less than 1,000 animal units; or
19.1 	(ii) an expansion of an existing animal feedlot facility with a total cumulative capacity 
19.2 	of less than 1,000 animal units;
19.3 	(2) the application for the animal feedlot facility includes a written commitment by the 
19.4 	proposer to design, construct, and operate the facility in full compliance with Pollution 
19.5 	Control Agency feedlot rules; and
19.6 	(3) the county board holds a public meeting for citizen input at least ten business days 
19.7 	before the Pollution Control Agency or county issuing a feedlot permit for the animal feedlot 
19.8 	facility unless another public meeting for citizen input has been held with regard to the 
19.9 	feedlot facility to be permitted. The exemption in this paragraph is in addition to other 
19.10 	exemptions provided under other law and rules of the board.
19.11 	(g) The board may, before final approval of a proposed project, require preparation of 
19.12 	an environmental assessment worksheet by a responsible governmental unit selected by the 
19.13 	board for any action where environmental review under this section has not been specifically 
19.14 	provided for by rule or otherwise initiated.
19.15 	(h) An early and open process must be used to limit the scope of the environmental 
19.16 	impact statement to a discussion of those impacts that, because of the nature or location of 
19.17 	the project, have the potential for significant environmental effects. The same process must 
19.18 	be used to determine the form, content, and level of detail of the statement as well as the 
19.19 	alternatives that are appropriate for consideration in the statement. In addition, the permits 
19.20 	that will be required for the proposed action must be identified during the scoping process. 
19.21 	Further, the process must identify those permits for which information will be developed 
19.22 	concurrently with the environmental impact statement. The board shall must provide in its 
19.23 	rules for the expeditious completion of the scoping process. The determinations reached in 
19.24 	the process must be incorporated into the order requiring the preparation of an environmental 
19.25 	impact statement.
19.26 	(i) The responsible governmental unit shall must, to the extent practicable, avoid 
19.27 	duplication and ensure coordination between state and federal environmental review and 
19.28 	between environmental review and environmental permitting. Whenever practical, 
19.29 	information needed by a governmental unit for making final decisions on permits or other 
19.30 	actions required for a proposed project must be developed in conjunction with the preparation 
19.31 	of an environmental impact statement. When an environmental impact statement is prepared 
19.32 	for a project requiring multiple permits for which two or more agencies' decision processes 
19.33 	include either mandatory or discretionary hearings before a hearing officer before the 
19.34 	agencies' decision on the permit, the agencies may, notwithstanding any law or rule to the 
20.1 	contrary, conduct the hearings in a single consolidated hearing process if requested by the 
20.2 	proposer. All agencies having jurisdiction over a permit that is included in the consolidated 
20.3 	hearing shall must participate. The responsible governmental unit shall must establish 
20.4 	appropriate procedures for the consolidated hearing process, including procedures to ensure 
20.5 	that the consolidated hearing process is consistent with the applicable requirements for each 
20.6 	permit regarding the rights and duties of parties to the hearing, and shall must use the earliest 
20.7 	applicable hearing procedure to initiate the hearing. All agencies having jurisdiction over 
20.8 	a permit identified in the draft environmental assessment worksheet scoping document must 
20.9 	begin reviewing any permit application upon publication of the notice of preparation of the 
20.10 	environmental impact statement.
20.11 	(j) An environmental impact statement must be prepared and its adequacy determined 
20.12 	within 280 days after notice of its preparation unless the time is extended by consent of the 
20.13 	parties or by the governor for good cause. The responsible governmental unit shall must
20.14 	determine the adequacy of an environmental impact statement, unless within 60 days after 
20.15 	notice is published that an environmental impact statement will be prepared, the board 
20.16 	chooses to determine the adequacy of an environmental impact statement. If an environmental 
20.17 	impact statement is found to be inadequate, the responsible governmental unit has 60 days 
20.18 	to prepare an adequate environmental impact statement.
20.19 	(k) The proposer of a specific action may include in the information submitted to the 
20.20 	responsible governmental unit a preliminary draft environmental impact statement under 
20.21 	this section on that action for review, modification, and determination of completeness and 
20.22 	adequacy by the responsible governmental unit. A preliminary draft environmental impact 
20.23 	statement prepared by the project proposer and submitted to the responsible governmental 
20.24 	unit must identify or include as an appendix all studies and other sources of information 
20.25 	used to substantiate the analysis contained in the preliminary draft environmental impact 
20.26 	statement. The responsible governmental unit shall must require additional studies, if needed, 
20.27 	and obtain from the project proposer all additional studies and information necessary for 
20.28 	the responsible governmental unit to perform its responsibility to review, modify, and 
20.29 	determine the completeness and adequacy of the environmental impact statement.
20.30 	(l) If an environmental or resource management permit is not issued or denied within 
20.31 	the applicable period described in paragraph (a), the commissioner must immediately begin 
20.32 	review of the application and must take all steps necessary to issue the final permit, deny 
20.33 	the permit, or issue the public notice for the draft permit within 150 days of the expiration 
20.34 	of the applicable period described in paragraph (a). The commissioner may extend the period 
20.35 	for up to 60 days by issuing a written notice to the applicant stating the length of and reason 
21.1 	for the extension. Except as prohibited by federal law, after the applicable period expires, 
21.2 	any person may seek an order of the district court requiring the commissioner to immediately 
21.3 	take action on the permit application. A time limit under this paragraph may be extended 
21.4 	through written agreement between the commissioner and the applicant.

21.5 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116J.035, is amended by adding a subdivision 
21.6 	to read:
21.7 		Subd. 9.Ombudsman for business permitting. (a) The commissioner of employment 
21.8 	and economic development must appoint an ombudsman for business permitting to assist 
21.9 	businesses of all sizes with obtaining permits necessary to operate in the state. The 
21.10 	ombudsman's duties include but are not limited to:
21.11 	(1) conducting independent evaluations of all aspects of permitting processes that affect 
21.12 	businesses in the state;
21.13 	(2) monitoring, reviewing, and providing comments and recommendations to federal, 
21.14 	state, and local authorities on laws and regulations that impact businesses in the state;
21.15 	(3) facilitating and promoting participation of businesses in developing laws and 
21.16 	regulations that affect businesses;
21.17 	(4) providing reports to federal, state, and local authorities and the public on the 
21.18 	requirements of permitting laws and the laws' impact on businesses;
21.19 	(5) disseminating information about proposed regulations and other information to 
21.20 	businesses and other interested parties;
21.21 	(6) participating in and sponsoring meetings and conferences about business permitting 
21.22 	with state and local regulatory officials, industry groups, and business representatives;
21.23 	(7) investigating and assisting in resolving complaints and disputes from businesses 
21.24 	against state or local authorities;
21.25 	(8) operating a toll-free telephone line to provide free confidential help on 
21.26 	permitting-related problems and grievances;
21.27 	(9) establishing cooperative programs with trade associations and small businesses to 
21.28 	promote and achieve voluntary compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
21.29 	(10) establishing cooperative programs with federal, state, and local governmental entities 
21.30 	and the private sector to assist businesses in securing sources of funding to comply with 
21.31 	federal, state, and local permitting laws and regulations;
22.1 	(11) conducting studies to evaluate the impacts of federal and state permitting laws and 
22.2 	regulations on the state's economy, local economies, and businesses; and
22.3 	(12) coordinating with Minnesota Business First Stop, the ombudsman for small business 
22.4 	air-quality compliance assistance, and other relevant state officials.
22.5 	(b) In carrying out the duties imposed by this subdivision, the ombudsman may act 
22.6 	independently of any agency in providing testimony to the legislature, contacting and making 
22.7 	periodic reports to federal and state officials as necessary to carry out the duties imposed 
22.8 	by this subdivision, and addressing problems or concerns related to business permitting.
22.9 	(c) The ombudsman must be knowledgeable about federal and state business permitting 
22.10 	laws and regulations and federal and state legislative and regulatory processes. The 
22.11 	ombudsman must be experienced in dealing with both private enterprise and governmental 
22.12 	entities, arbitration and negotiation, interpretation of laws and regulations, investigation, 
22.13 	record keeping, report writing, public speaking, and management.
22.14 	(d) The commissioner of employment and economic development must provide the 
22.15 	ombudsman with the necessary office space, supplies, equipment, and clerical support to 
22.16 	effectively perform the duties imposed by this subdivision.

22.17 	Sec. 9. SCOPING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET NOT 
22.18 	REQUIRED FOR PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE A MANDATORY 
22.19 	ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
 22.20 	(a) The Environmental Quality Board must amend Minnesota Rules, part 4410.2100, as 
22.21 	follows:
22.22 	(1) to provide that neither an environmental assessment worksheet nor any other scoping 
22.23 	document needs to be prepared for a project that falls within a mandatory environmental 
22.24 	impact statement category under Minnesota Rules, part 4410.4400, or other applicable law; 
22.25 	and
22.26 	(2) to provide that a scoping process undertaken under Minnesota Rules, part 4410.2100, 
22.27 	must be completed no later than 280 days after the process begins.
22.28 	(b) The board may use the good-cause exemption under Minnesota Statutes, section 
22.29 	14.388, subdivision 1, clause (3), to adopt rules under this section, and Minnesota Statutes, 
22.30 	section 14.386, does not apply except as provided under Minnesota Statutes, section 14.388.

23.1 	Sec. 10. STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN REVISIONS.
 23.2 	(a) The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency must seek approval from the 
23.3 	federal Environmental Protection Agency for revisions to the state's federal Clean Air Act 
23.4 	state implementation plan to reflect the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 116.07, 
23.5 	subdivision 4a, as amended by this act.
23.6 	(b) The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency must report quarterly to the chairs 
23.7 	and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and 
23.8 	divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources policy on the status of 
23.9 	efforts to implement paragraph (a) until the revisions required by paragraph (a) have been 
23.10 	either approved or denied.