Purpose

• The bill creates a one-time funding program in FY2027 from Minnesota’s general fund to the Pollution Control Agency (PCA).
• The goal is to grant funds to assess how effective a continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) would be at measuring lead emissions from a permitted facility, and to enable real-time monitoring to ensure the facility stays within its emission limits.

Main Provisions

• Funding and grant purpose
  • Provides a general fund appropriation in FY2027 to the PCA for a grant to assess the efficacy of installing a CEMS to measure lead in the air emissions of a permitted facility and to help the agency continuously monitor compliance with emission limits.
• Grant priority criteria
  • When awarding the grant, priority goes to facilities that have exceeded lead emission limits multiple times in the last five years and are located within one mile of significant residential populations exposed to the facility’s emissions.
• Coverage of costs
  • The grant can cover up to 100% of the purchase price and installation costs of a CEMS.
• Administrative and technical support
  • A portion of the appropriation may be used to reimburse the PCA for administrative costs and to provide technical assistance to the grant recipient (exact portion not specified in the text provided).
• Duration and availability
  • This is a one-time appropriation and is available until June 30, 2029.
• Definition
  • The bill defines a continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) as the total integrated equipment required to continuously sample, analyze, measure, and record real-time concentrations of pollutants from an emission source.

Significance and Potential Legal Changes

• Creates a new funding mechanism to support real-time monitoring of lead emissions, which could strengthen enforcement by providing continuous data on air quality from a permitted facility.
• Introduces explicit priority criteria based on historical exceedances and proximity to residential populations, potentially incentivizing facilities in higher-risk areas to pursue CEMS upgrades.
• Establishes a clear, time-limited appropriation (one-time) and a defined end date for availability, signaling this as a pilot or initial program rather than a standing funding stream.
• Expands the tools available to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for ensuring compliance with emission limits through enhanced measurement technology.

Implementation Notes

• The exact portion of the appropriation that may be used for administrative costs and technical assistance is not specified in the text provided.
• The bill relies on a permitted facility as the emission source and focuses specifically on lead emissions.

Relevant Terms - continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) - lead emissions - permitted facility - emission limits - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) - general fund - grant - administrative costs - technical assistance - real-time concentrations - air emissions - residential populations - one mile radius - exceedance of emission limits - fiscal year 2027 - one-time appropriation - June 30, 2029