Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to reinstate citizen membership for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The citizens board, which was eliminated in 2015, plays a crucial role in monitoring and sometimes overturning decisions made by the agency's staff.

Main Provisions

• Citizens Board Reinstatement: The bill reinstates the citizens board to provide public oversight and ensure the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's decisions reflect community input.
• Agency Composition: The agency will include the commissioner and eight members appointed by the governor. The membership must be diverse in race, gender, and geography and include specific representatives:
  • At least one member from a Tribal Nation.
  • Three members from environmental justice communities.
  • A livestock or crop farmer with limited acreage or livestock.
  • A member belonging to a labor union.
• Conflict of Interest: Members cannot have financial interests in projects reviewed by the agency within two years before or during their term.
• Decisions and Authority: The agency is responsible for major decisions, including:
  • Environmental assessments and impact statements.
  • Permits and rule amendments.
  • Approving or denying variances from rules.
  • Deciding if decisions should be reconsidered or reversed.
• Public Participation and Transparency: The commissioner must inform the public of their right to request agency decision-making on specific matters and regularly update the agency on significant activities or public interest issues.

Significant Changes

• Reinforces the need for the agency to reflect state diversity and include representatives from various communities and interest groups.
• Ensures greater transparency and public involvement in the decision-making processes of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
• Restores a mechanism for citizen oversight that was previously eliminated, thereby aiming to enhance community trust and engagement in environmental governance.

Relevant Terms

citizens board, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, commissioner, diversity, environmental justice communities, Tribal Nation, livestock farmer, labor union, environmental impact statement, public participation, transparency, governance, oversight.