This bill proposes changes to Minnesota water quality standards related to sulfate levels in bodies of water that support wild rice. It aims to facilitate site-specific modifications to these standards while broader rulemaking is still in progress.

Key Provisions:

1. Definitions:

   • Defines key terms such as “affected permittees” (businesses or entities with water discharge permits) and “covered waters” (those identified in a 2017 document as wild rice waters).
   • Establishes what constitutes a "site-specific sulfate standard."

2. Application Process:

   • Provides criteria for a complete application when requesting a site-specific sulfate standard.
   • Requires data submission, including water quality measurements, wild rice abundance, and historical presence of wild rice.
   • Allows applicants to propose sulfate standards based on previously suggested scientific methods.

3. Treatment of Permit Holders:

   • Prevents the Pollution Control Agency from denying applications until broader rulemaking is complete.
   • Prohibits requiring businesses to spend money on sulfate treatment technologies until a new standard is finalized.
   • Allows for sulfate monitoring requirements without mandatory treatment system implementation.

4. Decision Timeline:

   • Requires the Pollution Control Agency to determine an application’s outcome within 150 days of receiving a complete application or publication of the final rule, whichever is later.

5. Rulemaking Deadline:

   • Obligates the Pollution Control Agency to complete updated rulemaking on sulfate water quality standards by January 15, 2027.
   • Prevents any additional bodies of water from being designated as wild rice waters under existing rules until the rulemaking is finalized.

Purpose & Impact:

• The bill is designed to provide flexibility for businesses and industries that discharge sulfate while awaiting finalized statewide rulemaking.
• Ensures that temporary site-specific standards can be applied, which may reduce regulatory burdens for mining or other industrial activities.
• Protects wild rice waters by maintaining monitoring but delays implementation of strict sulfate treatment requirements.

Overall, this legislation appears to balance industrial interests with environmental concerns, allowing for temporary regulatory flexibility while broader sulfate pollution standards are being developed.