1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to wetlands; providing an exemption to the 
  1.3             replacement requirement for certain mining activities; 
  1.4             amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 103G.2241, 
  1.5             by adding a subdivision. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 103G.2241, is 
  1.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 9a.  [TACONITE MINING ACTIVITIES.] A replacement plan 
  1.10  for wetlands is not required for taconite mining activities 
  1.11  authorized under, and conducted in accordance with, an 
  1.12  applicable permit issued by the United States Army Corps of 
  1.13  Engineers under section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act, 
  1.14  United States Code, title 33, section 1344, provided the 
  1.15  commissioner determines that implementation of the conditions of 
  1.16  the permit results in no net loss in quantity, quality, and 
  1.17  biological diversity of wetlands.