SF 4074

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 05/14/2024 09:07am

A bill for an act
relating to health; making changes to permits for groundwater thermal exchange
devices; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 103I.621, subdivisions 1, 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 103I.621, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Permit.

(a) Notwithstanding any department or agency rule to the contrary,
the commissioner shall issue, on request by the owner of the property and payment of the
permit fee, permits for the reinjection of water by a properly constructed well into the same
aquifer from which the water was drawn for the operation of a groundwater thermal exchange
device.

(b) As a condition of the permit, an applicant must agree to allow inspection by the
commissioner during regular working hours for department inspectors.

(c) Not more than 200 permits may be issued for small systems having maximum
capacities of 20 gallons per minute or less and that are compliant with the natural resource
water-use requirements under subdivision 2. The small systems are subject to inspection
twice a year.

(d) Not more than ten 100 permits may be issued for larger systems having maximum
capacities from over 20 to 50 gallons per minute and are compliant with the natural resource
water-use requirements under subdivision 2. The larger systems are subject to inspection
four times a year.

(e) A person issued a permit must comply with this section and any permit conditions
deemed necessary to protect public health and safety of groundwater for the permit to be
valid.

(f) The property owner or the property owner's agent must submit to the commissioner
a permit application on a form provided by the commissioner, or in a format approved by
the commissioner, that provides any information necessary to protect public health and
safety of groundwater.

(g) A permit granted under this section is not valid if a water-use permit is required for
the project and is not approved by the commissioner of natural resources.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 103I.621, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Water-use requirements apply.

Water-use permit requirements and penalties
under chapter 103F 103G and related rules adopted and enforced by the commissioner of
natural resources apply to groundwater thermal exchange permit recipients. A person who
violates a provision of this section is subject to enforcement or penalties for the noncomplying
activity that are available to the commissioner and the Pollution Control Agency.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.