Clean Water Legacy Act
- Policy Category: Drinking Water
- State: Minnesota
- Date Implemented: 6/1/2006
06/01/2006
Purpose of the Act is to “protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams and to protect groundwater from degradation, by providing authority, direction, and resources to achieve and maintain water quality stands for groundwater and surface waters.” Goals for implementation include identifying impaired waters, submitting TMDLs to EPA in alignment with federal requirements, to evaluate waters, to improve waters that are impaired, and to restore degraded groundwater. The Clean Water Council will apply recommended priorities for funding actions. The Pollution Control Agency provides administrative support for the council with support from other member agencies. The commissioners of natural resources, agriculture, health and the PCA, ED of the Board of Water and Soil Resources, the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, and the Metropolitan Council shall each appoint one person from their entity to serve as a nonvoting member of the council. Other members include house of representatives (2), senators (2). There are 17 voting members appointed by the governor. The Clean Water Council make recommendations to the governor and legislature regarding how the Clean Water Fund monies should be appropriated. The Clean Water Fund provides grants, loans, and technical assistance to public agencies and others testing waters, identifying impaired waters, developing total maximum daily loads, implementing restoration plans for impaired waters, and evaluating the effectiveness of restoration. The Fund may also provide support to prevent surface waters from becoming impaired, for wastewater and storm water treatment projects, and to prevent degradation of groundwater. 33 percent of the sales tax revenue from the Legacy amendment is allocated to the Clean Water Fund.
- Action Agency(ies): Pollution Control Agency, Clean Water Council
- Read the full policy language
