Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to enhance efficiency in the permitting process for environmental and wastewater treatment facilities in Minnesota. It seeks to modify current statutes to expedite permit issuance, ensure timely public involvement, and clarify requirements for application completeness.

Main Provisions

• Draft Permit Review: Before a draft permit for publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities is publicly noticed, the Pollution Control Agency must provide it to applicants at least 30 days in advance, unless waived by the applicant.
• Public Comment Period: The default public comment period is 60 days for permit applications, which can be reduced to 30 days if there's a request from the applicant and approval from the commissioner based on public or Tribal interest.
• Timeliness of Permit Issuance: Tier 2 permits for publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities are targeted to be processed within 210 days from the application submission. The goal for other environmental permits is set at 90 days for tier 1 permits and 150 days for tier 2 permits.
• Annual Reporting: The commissioner must prepare an annual report on permitting efficiency, including reasons for any delays in meeting processing timelines, and this report is to be published and submitted to relevant governmental committees.
• Electronic Submissions: The bill mandates allowance for electronic submission of environmental reviews and permit documents, improving accessibility and processing speed.
• Permit Application Completeness: Within 30 business days of receiving a permit application, the commissioner must notify applicants whether their application is complete, detailing any deficiencies if incomplete.
• Permit Professional Involvement: Applicants can engage a permit professional with specific qualifications to help prepare their permit application and draft. The agency may require pre-application meetings to clarify requirements.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill modifies statutes to establish clear timelines for permit application reviews, public notice periods, and permit issuance in order to streamline the permitting process.
• It incorporates a structured process for feedback on application completeness and mandates transparency through annual reporting on timeframes.
• Introduces the ability to use a "permit professional" to assist in preparing applications, adding a new dynamic to the existing permit process.
• Updates statutory requirements on how facilities must assess environmental impact, particularly in adversely affected communities.

Relevant Terms

environmental permits, Pollution Control Agency, wastewater treatment facilities, permit application, public comment period, tier 1 permits, tier 2 permits, permitting efficiency, electronic submission, permit professional, air dispersion modeling, environmental pollution, public notice.