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Chapter 298

Section 298.2961

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298.2961 PRODUCER GRANTS.
    Subdivision 1. Appropriation. (a) $10,000,000 is appropriated from the Douglas J. Johnson
economic protection trust fund to a special account in the taconite area environmental protection
fund for grants to producers on a project-by-project basis as provided in this section.
(b) The proceeds of the tax designated under section 298.28, subdivision 9b, are appropriated
for grants to producers on a project-by-project basis as provided in this section.
    Subd. 2. Projects; approval. (a) Projects funded must be for:
(1) environmentally unique reclamation projects;
(2) pit or plant repairs, expansions, or modernizations other than for a value added iron
products plant; or
(3) haulage trucks and equipment and mining shovels.
(b) To be proposed by the board, a project must be approved by at least eight Iron Range
Resources and Rehabilitation Board members. The money for a project may be spent only
upon approval of the project by the governor. The board may submit supplemental projects for
approval at any time.
(c) The board may require that it receive an equity percentage in any project to which it
contributes under this section.
    Subd. 3. Redistribution. (a) If a taconite production facility is sold after operations at the
facility had ceased, any money remaining in the taconite environmental fund for the former
producer may be released to the purchaser of the facility on the terms otherwise applicable to the
former producer under this section.
(b) Any portion of the taconite environmental fund that is not released by the commissioner
within three years of its deposit in the taconite environmental fund shall be divided between the
taconite environmental protection fund created in section 298.223 and the Douglas J. Johnson
economic protection trust fund created in section 298.292 for placement in their respective special
accounts. Two-thirds of the unreleased funds must be distributed to the taconite environmental
protection fund and one-third to the Douglas J. Johnson economic protection trust fund.
    Subd. 4. Grant and loan fund. (a) A fund is established to receive distributions under
section 298.28, subdivision 9b, and to make grants or loans as provided in this subdivision. Any
grant or loan made under this subdivision must be approved by a majority of the members of the
Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, established under section 298.22.
(b) Distributions received in calendar year 2005 are allocated to the city of Virginia for
improvements and repairs to the city's steam heating system.
(c) Distributions received in calendar year 2006 are allocated to a project of the public
utilities commissions of the cities of Hibbing and Virginia to convert their electrical generating
plants to the use of biomass products, such as wood.
(d) Distributions received in calendar year 2007 must be paid to the city of Tower to be used
for the East Two Rivers project in or near the city of Tower.
(e) For distributions received in 2008, the first $2,000,000 of the 2008 distribution must be
paid to St. Louis County for deposit in its county road and bridge fund to be used for relocation of
St. Louis County Road 715, commonly referred to as Pike River Road. The remainder of the 2008
distribution and the full amount of the distributions in 2009 and subsequent years is allocated for
projects under section 298.223, subdivision 1.
    Subd. 5. Public works and local economic development fund. For distributions in 2007
only, a special fund is established to receive 38.4 cents per ton that otherwise would be allocated
under section 298.28, subdivision 6. The following amounts are allocated to St. Louis County
acting as the fiscal agent for the recipients for the specific purposes:
(1) 13.4 cents per ton for the Central Iron Range Sanitary Sewer District for construction
of a combined wastewater facility;
(2) six cents per ton to the city of Eveleth to redesign and design and construct improvements
to renovate its water treatment facility;
(3) one cent per ton for the East Range Joint Powers Board to acquire land for and to design
a central wastewater collection and treatment system;
(4) 0.5 cents per ton to the city of Hoyt Lakes to repair Leeds Road;
(5) 0.7 cents per ton to the city of Virginia to extend Eighth Street South;
(6) 0.7 cents per ton to the city of Mountain Iron to repair Hoover Road;
(7) 0.9 cents per ton to the city of Gilbert for alley repairs between Michigan and Indiana
Avenues and for repayment of a loan to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development;
(8) 0.4 cents per ton to the city of Keewatin for a new city well;
(9) 0.3 cents per ton to the city of Grand Rapids for planning for a fire and hazardous
materials center;
(10) 0.9 cents per ton to Aitkin County Growth for an economic development project for
peat harvesting;
(11) 0.4 cents per ton to the city of Nashwauk to develop a comprehensive city plan;
(12) 0.4 cents per ton to the city of Taconite for development of a city comprehensive plan;
(13) 0.3 cents per ton to the city of Marble for water and sewer infrastructure;
(14) 0.8 cents per ton to Aitkin County for improvements to the Long Lake Environmental
Learning Center;
(15) 0.3 cents per ton to the city of Coleraine for the Coleraine Technology Center;
(16) 0.5 cents per ton to the Economic Development Authority of the city of Grand Rapids
for planning for the North Central Research and Technology Laboratory;
(17) 0.6 cents per ton to the city of Bovey for sewer and water extension;
(18) 0.3 cents per ton to the city of Calumet for infrastructure improvements; and
(19) ten cents per ton to an economic development authority in a city through which State
Highway 1 passes, or a city in Independent School District No. 2142 that has an active mine, for an
economic development project approved by the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board.
History: 1996 c 471 art 12 s 8; 1997 c 231 art 8 s 11; 1Sp2001 c 5 art 6 s 33; 2003 c 127 art
11 s 11,12; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 4 s 91; 2006 c 259 art 12 s 12,13

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Revisor of Statutes