Minnesota Legislature
Bill offering cities certainty in wastewater regulation going to governor
Communities nervous about replacing obsolete wastewater systems and new discharge regulations might find both concerns addressed after the House passed HF3409/SF3272* by a vote of 105-23 Monday. The bill now goes to the governor.
Sponsored by Rep. Dan Fabian (R-Roseau) and Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville), the bill would give cities upgrading wastewater treatment facilities to meet new water quality standards assurance that – if the upgrades include a biological nutrient removal technology for nitrogen – the nitrogen standard they must meet would not change during the life of the new facility, or up to 20 years.
“This is a bill that is going to give some regulatory certainty to business and cities when it comes to wastewater treatment facilities,” Fabian said.
The Environmental Protection Agency set a new water quality standard for phosphorus last year. That will force a number of cities to upgrade their wastewater facilities in order to qualify the next time they apply for a wastewater permit.
At the same time, research is underway to update wastewater standards for nitrogen, and new regulations for that chemical will likely be coming to Minnesota in the next five to seven years.
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