This bill, introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives, focuses on modifying water quality standards for sulfate during the ongoing rulemaking process. Specifically, it establishes a process for obtaining site-specific sulfate standards for waters identified as wild rice waters.

Key provisions of the bill include:

1. Definitions – It defines key terms such as "affected permittee" (entities holding or applying for pollution discharge permits), "covered water" (waters identified in a 2017 Pollution Control Agency report as wild rice waters), and "site-specific sulfate standard" (a modified sulfate standard based on scientific data).

2. Application Process – The bill outlines what must be included in an application for a site-specific sulfate standard, such as maps, monitoring data, and a proposed standard based on reliable local data. It also requires documentation that wild rice in the area has not been negatively impacted by sulfate at levels below the proposed new standard.

3. Permittee Protections – It ensures that permit holders applying for a site-specific sulfate standard will not be required to spend money on sulfate treatment technology unless a rulemaking process regarding wild rice waters is completed. However, permit holders may still be required to monitor sulfate levels and develop minimization plans if necessary.

4. Decision Timeline – The Commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency must make a final determination on a site-specific sulfate standard application within 150 days after receiving a complete application or within 150 days after adopting the final rules governing sulfate standards.

5. Rulemaking Deadline – The Commissioner is required to complete the rulemaking process related to wild rice water sulfate standards by January 15, 2027. Until then, no additional waters can be designated as wild rice waters under state water quality rules.

The bill aims to provide flexibility for permit holders while ensuring sulfate regulations are based on site-specific scientific data, rather than broad state-wide standards.