Legislative Session number- 82

Bill Name: SF1795

Relating to agriculture; transferring the authority for the regulation of animal
feedlots from the pollution control agency to the department of agriculture;
authorizing the commissioner of agriculture to refuse to issue or authorize the
transfer of animal feedlot facility construction or operation permits for
applicants determined to be unable to conform to feedlot facility regulations,
specifying certain factors to be considered in making the determination;
regulating the processing of feedlot permit applications by county boards,
subjecting issuance, denial or modification to commissioner supervision and
review; providing an exception to permit and capital improvements requirements
for owners planning to close the feedlot within a certain number of years;
regulating feedlot discharges; requiring the commissioner to adopt rules
governing the issuance and denial of feedlot permits and to work with the
Minnesota extension service, the PCA, the board of water and soil resources
(BOWSR), producer groups, local government units and appropriate federal
agencies to notify and educate producers on the new rules, requiring submission
of new rules or rule amendments to the legislature before final adoption;
authorizing counties to adopt by ordinance more stringent standards; restricting
feedlot upgrade requirements; requiring permit applicant notice to neighboring
residents of the proposed feedlot, specifying certain notice requirements;
specifying certain duties of the commissioner relating to livestock odor;
removing feedlots from the definition of major facility under the environmental
audit pilot program; repealing certain provisions providing for PCA regulation
of animal feedlots (mk)