HF1120

Purpose

Create a statewide Keep it Clean program aimed at preventing water pollution caused by garbage and human waste left on the ice of state waters during winter use activities. The program would be run by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in collaboration with the Board of Water and Soil Resources and the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency and Health.

Main Provisions

• Establishment and coordination

  • The program is established to prevent water pollution from garbage and human waste on ice during winter activities.
  • The commissioner, with input from the Board of Water and Soil Resources and the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency and Health, will develop and administer the program.
  • The program will coordinate outreach to local units of government and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), facilitate participation of other state agencies, coordinate media efforts, establish a statewide education campaign, and develop and administer a grant program.

• Grants program (Subdivision 2)

  • The commissioner must create a grant program to provide funding to local governments and NGOs to carry out local Keep it Clean efforts.
  • Eligible activities for grants include, but are not limited to:
  • Installing and maintaining public sanitary, winterized dumping stations at accessible locations near lake access points and major travel routes.
  • Providing dedicated seasonal facilities and containers to transport and dispose of human and pet bio-waste at preapproved locations.
  • Increasing enforcement of related state and local ordinances by funding more state and local patrols during winter months, and establishing volunteer county winter lake patrol programs.
  • Education and outreach to promote Keep it Clean activities.
  • Organizing spring cleanup efforts (excluding cleanups after major events like festivals, ice fishing contests, and ice races).
  • Local advertising and marketing to educate the public about Keep it Clean and to share laws and regulations.

Funding and Implementation

• Appropriation and administration
  • In fiscal year 2026, an appropriation from the general fund will go to the DNR to develop and administer the Keep it Clean program under Minnesota Statutes section 97C.364.
  • Of this amount, at least some portion will be available for grants to fund the local programs and activities described above.

How it would operate in practice

• Local communities and NGOs could apply for grants to build stations for waste disposal, provide disposal containers, and fund enforcement and educational efforts.
• The program would also support campaigns and events in spring to clean up ice areas while avoiding post-event cleanups after large gatherings.
• The effort would involve multiple agencies and public outreach to inform residents and visitors about Keep it Clean rules and best practices.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new statewide Keep it Clean program under Minnesota Statutes section 97C.364.
• Establishes a grant program to fund local keep-it-clean initiatives focused on preventing water pollution from waste left on ice during winter use activities.
• Authorizes targeted enforcement resources, local lake patrols, and public waste disposal infrastructure as grant-funded activities.

Implementation Partners

• Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
• Board of Water and Soil Resources
• Pollution Control Agency
• Department of Health
• Local units of government
• Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)

Relevant Terms - Keep it Clean program - water pollution - garbage and human waste left on the ice - state waters - winter use activities - grants - local units of government - nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) - public sanitary winterized dumping stations - lake access points - winter lake patrol - enforcement - spring cleanup - education and outreach - advertising and marketing - Minnesota Statutes section 97C.364 - Department of Natural Resources (DNR)