The Clean Water Fund would like to propose a state appropriation that would fund conservation reserve enhancement programs, replacement of lead service lines, and monitoring for contaminants.
Sponsored Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, HF4377 would authorize $47.4million in fiscal 2023 to seven organizations for a total amount of 14 projects. The House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee voted 12-6 in favor of the amended bill. It was then referred to House Legacy Finance Committee.
The Clean Water FundIt is part the Legacy Amendment that was adopted in 2008. It is a constitutional amendment that voters approved to increase the state sales tax by 1% to generate money to benefit cultural and natural resources. The fund is 33% of the revenue and must only be used to protect, enhance and restore water quality to streams, lakes, and rivers as well as to protect groundwater from degradation.
Hansen stated that each component of this appropriation bill is consistent with the constitution. Hansen also said that these are urgent issues that require attention. We are looking at problem solving. Problem solving can be used to address specific pollutants, but also prevent future pollution. This is a way to better understand these contaminants and their impact.
The bill would allow the Board of Water and Soil Resources to receive $7.67million for conservation easements and $7.67 for the purchase and restoration of peatlands.
The Metropolitan Council would receive $7.67 Million for grants to cities, and other public water suppliers, to replace the private portion of residential lead drinking-water service lines.
The Pollution Control Agency would get:
- $5 million to develop protocols to test and sample water for micro and macro plastics
- $2 million to monitor tributaries and trout streams near Lake Superior for perfluoroalkyl- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
- $2 million to monitor private water wells in Washington County for potential PFAS;
- $2 million to monitor the Mississippi River’s metals, PFAS, and other contaminants;
- $2 million to collect lead-sinkers and other water quality activities under the Get the Lead Out Program; and
- $400,000 to monitor ground waters and surface waters of the Battle Creek Watershed in order to detect PFAS.
The bill would provide $2 million to help the Department of Agriculture monitor trout streams in southeastern Minnesota and detect neonicotinoids. It also allows for monitoring and testing for micro- and nano plastics.
The $402,000 would be paid to the Department of Natural Resources. $45,000 would go to the Pollution Control Agency and $31,000 would go to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to fund a report on state-owned peatlands. The DNR would also get $500,000 to grant the Conservation Corps Minnesota restoration and enhancement activities.
To optimize, the University of Minnesota would be awarded $437,000 detect environmental occurrences and assess the risk to Minnesota’s? 6PPDq is toxic to fish populations.
Rep. Josh Heintzeman, R-Nisswa, noted that the bill was not based on a recommendation from the Clean Water Council.
Heintzeman stated that this committee is capable of spending the $47million plus without any input from Clean Water Council. It appears that this is exactly what they were doing. They haven’t made any recommendation on how to disperse. This is what most people believe.
Hansen stated that the recommendation of the councils would not likely be made until the fall, putting off the appropriations for May 2023.
Hansen said that Hansen doesn’t think we have the time to wait one year for this process to take place. As legislators, we have the ability to make that decision and be held accountable to the voters. I am fully prepared to do it.
The bills companion SF4125Sen. Kari Dziedzic (DFL–Mpls) is sponsoring the bill and awaits action from the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee.
