Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to address and manage the use of pesticides from treated seeds in Minnesota. It focuses on preventing and monitoring pesticide contamination in water and air and seeks to regulate the use and labeling of systemic pesticide-treated seeds to protect human health and the environment.

Main Provisions

• Pesticide Management Plan: The bill mandates the development of a comprehensive pesticide management plan. This plan will now include pesticides from treated seeds and their breakdown products, focusing on preventing contamination of groundwater and surface water.

• Coordination and Monitoring: Requires coordination with local governments, state agencies, and public health organizations to enhance monitoring and response strategies for pesticide occurrence. The commissioner is tasked with sampling water and air to detect pesticide presence.

• Enhanced Regulation: Introduces the requirement for pesticides to prevent contamination of air quality, in addition to water, due to various means such as evaporation and wind erosion.

• Penalties for Misuse: Establishes enhanced penalties for any pesticide application or planting of treated seeds that damages adjacent state lands used for outdoor recreation.

• Systemic Pesticide-Treated Seed Program: By January 2027, the commissioner must regulate systemic pesticide-treated seeds. This includes documenting the use and ensuring compliance with environmental protection standards, requiring formal verification of need, and developing educational materials.

• Research Fund: Establishes a new fund for researching non-chemical alternatives to systemic pesticide-treated seeds, which will be available for competitive research grants.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring: Expands requirements to include pesticides from treated seeds and their breakdown products in existing monitoring and management plans.

• Labeling Requirements: Updates labeling requirements for treated seeds, especially for seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides, which must include cautionary statements about pollinator health.

• New Designations and Definitions: Introduces the definition of “systemic pesticide,” listing several chemicals and providing authority to designate new chemicals as systemic pesticides.

Relevant Terms

pesticide management plan, treated seeds, systemic pesticide, groundwater contamination, surface water contamination, air quality contamination, neonicotinoid, non-chemical pest prevention, environmental protection, public health agencies.