Purpose

To repeal outdated provisions related to the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) and the environmental review requirements for silica sand projects, removing old rules about interagency coordination on lead regulations and the silica sand Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) process.

Main Provisions

• Repeal of statutes: The bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 sections 116C.04 subdivision 11 and 116C.991.
• Coordination with lead regulations: Previously, 116C.04 subdivision 11 required the Environmental Quality Board to coordinate interagency compliance with state and federal lead regulations and to report to the Legislature by January 31, 1992 on needed program changes.
• Silica sand project review: Previously, 116C.991 required environmental review for silica sand projects that met certain thresholds, including the preparation of an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) unless an environmental impact statement (EIS) was required. The thresholds included:
  • Excavating 20 or more acres of land to a mean depth of 10 feet or more over the project’s duration; or
  • Storing more than 7,500 tons of silica sand or having an annual throughput of more than 200,000 tons, and not needing a permit from the Pollution Control Agency (PCA).
  • An EAW had to include items such as a hydrogeologic investigation, assessment of groundwater/surface water effects, an assessment of available water resources, an air quality impact assessment, a traffic impact analysis, an assessment of compatibility with other uses, and mitigation measures.
• Rule reliance: The EAW requirements were tied to an ongoing process that referenced a rule-making timeline (including a provision tied to a final rule under Laws 2013, ch. 114, art. 4, sec. 105(d)).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Removes the formal obligation for EQB-led interagency coordination on lead regulation compliance and the mandated Legislature reporting requirement.
• Eliminates the silica sand project environmental review regime, including the thresholds that trigger an EAW and the detailed contents that an EAW must include. This means silica sand projects would not be subject to these specific EAW requirements anymore, removing the associated environmental review hurdles described in 116C.991.

Conclusion

The bill is a cleanup measure that repeals outdated environmental statutes without adding new regulatory duties.

Relevant Terms - Environmental Quality Board - interagency coordination - lead regulations - Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) - Environmental Review - silica sand projects - Minnesota Statutes 116C.04 - Minnesota Statutes 116C.991 - Pollution Control Agency (PCA) - hydrogeologic investigation - groundwater - surface water - air quality - traffic impact analysis - mitigation - thresholds (20 acres; 10 feet depth; 7,500 tons; 200,000 tons) - final rule (Laws 2013 ch 114 art 4 sec 105(d))