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HF3466 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Mandatory environmental assessment worksheet requirements for drainage projects established, and rulemaking required.

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

To require environmental review for certain public drainage projects by mandating an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and updating the rulemaking to implement this requirement.

Main Provisions

  • The Environmental Quality Board must amend Minnesota Rules part 4410.4300 to require an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) for drainage projects that meet at least one of these criteria:
    • A drainage project with a drainage area of five square miles or more within the Minnesota River Basin hydrologic unit code (HUC) 6 watershed, including Minnesota major watersheds 22 through 33, as defined by the Department of Natural Resources.
    • A drainage project that alters the course, current, or cross section of:
    • a public water designated under Minnesota Statutes 97A.101 subdivision 2,
    • an outstanding resource value water (ORVW) listed in Minnesota Rules part 7050.0335, or
    • a lake or stream designated by the Department of Natural Resources as a trout lake or trout stream under Minnesota Statutes 97C.005.
  • The board may use the good cause exemption to adopt these rules; the standard rulemaking provisions in Minnesota Statutes section 14.386 do not apply, except as provided under the good cause exemption in section 14.388.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Introduces a mandatory environmental review (EAW) for specific public drainage projects that meet size or impact criteria, expanding the scope of projects subject to formal environmental assessment.
  • Adds a rulemaking pathway that allows the Environmental Quality Board to adopt these rules using a good cause exemption, bypassing typical (non-exempt) rulemaking procedures under 14.386 (with exceptions per 14.388).

Terminology and Key Concepts

  • Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW)
  • Environmental Quality Board
  • Minnesota Rules part 4410.4300
  • Public drainage project
  • Drainage area (square miles)
  • Minnesota River Basin
  • Hydrologic unit code (HUC) 6
  • Minnesota major watersheds 22-33
  • ORVW (outstanding resource value water)
  • Trout lake / trout stream
  • Minnesota Statutes 97A.101(2), 97C.005
  • Minnesota Rules part 7050.0335
  • Good cause exemption (Minnesota Statutes 14.388)
  • Rulemaking exemption (Minnesota Statutes 14.386)

Relevant Terms Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW); Environmental Quality Board; Minnesota Rules part 4410.4300; drainage project; drainage area; five square miles; Minnesota River Basin; hydrologic unit code 6; ORVW (outstanding resource value water); trout lake; trout stream; public water; Minnesota Statutes sections 97A.101(2), 97C.005; Minnesota Rules part 7050.0335; good cause exemption; Minnesota Statutes 14.388; rulemaking exemption; Minnesota Statutes 14.386.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 19, 2026HouseActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toEnvironment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill uses the definition of drainage project from Minnesota Statutes 103E.005 subdivision 11 to determine which projects require an environmental assessment worksheet.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "103E.005",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 11"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references Minnesota Statutes section 97A.101 subdivision 2 to identify a public water; used in determining drainage project impact.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "97A.101",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references Minnesota Statutes section 97C.005 relating to designation of trout lakes/streams for a water body in the drainage project criteria.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "97C.005",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill authorizes the board to use the good cause exemption under Minnesota Statutes section 14.388 subdivision 1 clause 3 to adopt rules under this section.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "14.388",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1 clause 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill states that Minnesota Statutes section 14.386 does not apply except as provided under Minnesota Statutes section 14.388.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "14.386",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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