Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to address blight conditions and remediate environmental contamination on properties that have come under county ownership or are held in trust by the state. This is achieved by creating a grant program for counties to fund cleanup efforts on tax-forfeited or tax-foreclosed properties.

Main Provisions

1. State-Foreclosed Properties Cleanup Grant Program:

   • The Commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency will establish a grant program for counties.
   • Grants are focused on properties that have been tax-forfeited or tax-foreclosed.

2. Eligible Expenditures:

   • Remediation of environmental contamination on affected properties.
   • Testing and monitoring related to contamination.
   • Correction of blighted conditions on these properties.

3. Application Process:

   • Counties must submit an application detailing:
     • Description and ownership documentation of the property.
     • Test results or reasons to suspect hazardous substances.
     • Evidence of blight or unsafe structures.
     • Proposed remediation plan and cost estimates.
     • Other funds expended or available for the project.
     • Any additional information required by the commissioner.

4. Awarding Grants:

   • Grants may be awarded with possible modifications to the proposed plans.
   • The ability of the county to fund the cleanup without the grant is considered.
   • Previous spending on maintenance or emergency issues will be considered.
   • The program aims to benefit counties across all regions of Minnesota.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill proposes a new law in Minnesota Statutes, creating a structured grant program specifically for addressing environmental and blight issues on state-held properties. It outlines funding mechanisms and criteria for awarding and utilizing these grants.

Relevant Terms

• Environmental remediation
• Tax-forfeited properties
• Tax-foreclosed properties
• Blight conditions
• Contamination testing and monitoring
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Grant program