1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; requiring hearing and local approval prior to 
1.3 	clear-cutting certain state land;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapter 89.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [89.305] PUBLIC NOTICE AND APPROVAL REQUIRED WHEN 
1.7 	CLEAR-CUTTING; PUBLIC HEARINGS.
1.8 	(a) Prior to clear-cutting land administered by the commissioner located in the 
1.9 	seven-county metropolitan area or an adjacent county, the commissioner must:
1.10 	(1) notify the local unit of government where the land lies and the adjacent 
1.11 	landowners. The notice must be made within five business days of the date the decision to 
1.12 	clear-cut was made and may be done by mail or electronically. The notice must include a 
1.13 	description of the area to be clear-cut and the location, time, and date of the first public 
1.14 	meeting required under paragraph (b);
1.15 	(2) receive the approval of the local unit of government where the land lies; and
1.16 	(3) conduct a health impact assessment of the proposed clear-cutting.
1.17 	(b) The commissioner must hold two public meetings prior to the land being 
1.18 	clear-cut. The first meeting must be held at least 30 days following the notice required 
1.19 	under paragraph (a), and the second meeting must be held at least 60 days after the first 
1.20 	meeting. A meeting held under this paragraph must begin at 7:00 p.m. or later, Monday 
1.21 	through Friday, or noon or later on Saturday.
1.22 	(c) For the purposes of this section:
1.23 	(1) "clear-cutting" means cutting, felling, or harvesting more than five percent of the 
1.24 	standing trees on a site greater than five acres within a two-year period; and
2.1 	(2) "local unit of government" means the city or township or, when there is no city 
2.2 	or township or the site involves more than one local unit of government, the county or 
2.3 	counties.