Bill > SF733

This bill establishes comprehensive regulations for pipeline abandonment in Minnesota, creating detailed requirements for pipeline owners when they cease operations. The bill defines "pipeline abandonment" as permanently ceasing service along a portion or entire pipeline route and requires pipeline owners to provide at least 60 days' notice to landowners before stopping operations. When abandoning a pipeline, owners must remove all abandoned property and infrastructure from landowner's property, bear financial responsibility for removal and environmental cleanup, and restore the land to its previous condition. Landowners can request pipeline removal or choose to have the pipeline left in place, but if they opt for the latter, they assume future liabilities. The bill mandates that pipeline owners develop a detailed abandonment plan approved by the commissioner of public safety, which must include comprehensive information about the pipeline's history, location, facilities, environmental impacts, removal procedures, and post-abandonment monitoring. The plan requires consultation with stakeholders, including landowners, Tribal governments, and environmental organizations, and must include at least one public hearing. The goal is to ensure responsible and transparent pipeline decommissioning that protects landowners' interests and minimizes environmental risks.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0733&ssn=0&y=2025