as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 06/28/2023 02:52pm
A bill for an act
relating to environment; adding definitions related to plastics; appropriating money
to develop and implement microplastic and nanoplastic testing protocols; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 115.01, by adding subdivisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 115.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin
"Microplastics" means small pieces of plastic debris in the
environment that are less than five millimeters in length and that result from the disposal
and breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 115.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:
new text begin
"Nanoplastics" means particles with a size ranging from one
to 1,000 nanometers that are unintentionally produced from the manufacture or degradation
of plastic objects and that exhibit a colloidal behavior.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 115.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:
new text begin
"Plastic" means an organic or petroleum derivative synthetic or a
semisynthetic organic solid that is moldable and to which additives or other substances may
have been added. Plastic does not mean natural polymers that have not been chemically
modified.
new text end
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$2,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of the Pollution Control Agency to develop protocols to be used by agencies and departments
for sampling and testing groundwater, surface water, public drinking water, and private
wells for microplastics and nanoplastics and to begin implementation. The commissioner
of the Pollution Control Agency may transfer money appropriated under this section to the
commissioners of agriculture, natural resources, and health to implement the protocols
developed under this section. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30,
2025.
new text end