Environment finance omnibus bill

The House Finance Committee approved the omnibus environment finance bill April 14 after adding bills regarding boat drain plugs, incinerator permits and fees paid by utilities.

Sponsored by Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Mpls), HF3702 includes provisions in the Department of Natural Resources policy (HF3094) and forestry (HF2954) bills. For example, the price of ski trail passes would increase; more veterans would qualify for free day passes to state parks and the Blue Earth River would be added to the list of state water trails. Indian tribal governments would be exempted from registering or licensing watercraft, off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles. Subsurface sewage treatment system rules would be delayed to allow local governments to draft ordinances. In addition, ground and surface water monitoring equipment would be installed to measure and evaluate water quality, levels and where it flows.

Rep. Kate Knuth (DFL-New Brighton) successfully offered two amendments. One would place a moratorium on permits for hazardous waste incineration facilities until March 1, 2011. The moratorium is directed toward a Cottage Grove incineration facility. The other would adjust fees that utilities pay to cross over natural resources land. The fees were changed last year. Knuth called the $4,500 supplemental application fee for a land crossing too high, and proposes lowering it to $2,000. However, the supplemental application fee for a water crossing would increase from $1,500 to $2,000. The fees are intended to cover the cost of reviewing the applications and preparing the licenses.

Rep. Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar) successfully amended the bill to require boaters to drain bait containers and other boating-related equipment that hold water before transporting watercraft on land. Marine toilets are excluded. The purpose is to prevent the spread of zebra mussels, an invasive species.

A section of the bill that would require horse passes for people riding on state land was considered to have unintended consequences by Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia). Wagenius agreed to work on drafting additional or alternative language before the bill is heard at its next stop, the House Ways and Means Committee.

A companion, SF3275, sponsored by Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul), awaits action by the full Senate.