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HF3466

Mandatory environmental assessment worksheet requirements for drainage projects established, and rulemaking required.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)

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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