Bill > HF1208

This bill modifies several provisions related to environmental permitting efficiency in Minnesota, focusing on wastewater treatment facilities and pollution control permit processes. The bill introduces changes to streamline and clarify permit application procedures, including allowing the reduction of public comment periods from 60 to 30 days if the permit applicant requests it and the commissioner approves. It establishes a goal of issuing tier 2 permits for publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities within 210 days of application submission. The bill also modifies the permitting process by adding provisions that pause the permit processing timeline when additional information is needed from an applicant, giving applicants 30 business days to provide requested information. Additionally, the bill allows permit applicants to work with a "permit professional" - a licensed professional with at least ten years of experience - to help prepare permit applications and draft permits. The changes aim to increase transparency, efficiency, and predictability in the environmental permitting process while maintaining environmental protection standards. The bill also grants the Pollution Control Agency additional authority to require air dispersion modeling for certain facilities and ensures that permit applications include comprehensive documentation of studies and information used in the permit analysis.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF1208&ssn=0&y=2025