2002 Minnesota Statutes

     298.223 Taconite area environmental protection fund. 

    Subdivision 1.    Creation; purposes.  A fund called the 
 taconite environmental protection fund is created for the 
 purpose of reclaiming, restoring and enhancing those areas of 
 northeast Minnesota located within a tax relief area defined in 
 section 273.134, paragraph (b), that are adversely affected by 
 the environmentally damaging operations involved in mining 
 taconite and iron ore and producing iron ore concentrate and for 
 the purpose of promoting the economic development of northeast 
 Minnesota.  The taconite environmental protection fund shall be 
 used for the following purposes: 

    (a) to initiate investigations into matters the iron range 
 resources and rehabilitation board determines are in need of 
 study and which will determine the environmental problems 
 requiring remedial action; 

    (b) reclamation, restoration, or reforestation of minelands 
 not otherwise provided for by state law; 

    (c) local economic development projects including 
 construction of sewer and water systems, and other public works 
 located within a tax relief area defined in section 273.134, 
 paragraph (b); 

    (d) monitoring of mineral industry related health problems 
 among mining employees. 

    Subd. 2.    Administration.  The taconite environmental 
 protection fund shall be administered by the commissioner of the 
 iron range resources and rehabilitation board.  The commissioner 
 shall by September 1 of each year submit to the board a list of 
 projects to be funded from the taconite environmental protection 
 fund, with such supporting information including description of 
 the projects, plans, and cost estimates as may be necessary.  
 Upon approval by a majority of the members of the iron range 
 resources and rehabilitation board, this list shall be submitted 
 to the governor by November 1 of each year.  By December 1 of 
 each year, the governor shall approve or disapprove, or return 
 for further consideration, each project.  Funds for a project 
 may be expended only upon approval of the project by the board 
 and governor.  The commissioner may submit supplemental projects 
 to the board and governor for approval at any time.  

    Subd. 3.    Appropriation.  There is hereby annually 
 appropriated to the commissioner of iron range resources and 
 rehabilitation such funds as are necessary to carry out the 
 projects approved and such funds as are necessary for 
 administration of this section.  Annual administrative costs, 
 not including detailed engineering expenses for the projects, 
 shall not exceed five percent of the amount annually expended 
 from the fund. 

    Funds for the purposes of this section are provided by 
 section 298.28, subdivision 11, relating to the taconite 
 environmental protection fund. 

    HIST: 1977 c 423 art 10 s 20; 1980 c 607 art 7 s 4; 1Sp1981 c 
 4 art 2 s 31; 1Sp1985 c 14 art 10 s 13; 1988 c 719 art 19 s 18; 
 1993 c 369 s 110; 1995 c 224 s 93; 1999 c 223 art 2 s 45; 
 1Sp2001 c 5 art 6 s 19