1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the environment; authorizing the 
  1.3             delegation of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
  1.4             System permits; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
  1.5             sections 103D.335, subdivision 10; and 115.03, 
  1.6             subdivision 5. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 103D.335, 
  1.9   subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 10.  [WATER USE AND CONSERVATION.] The managers may 
  1.11  regulate, conserve, and control the use and disposal of water, 
  1.12  including the discharge of storm water, within the watershed 
  1.13  district. 
  1.14     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 115.03, 
  1.15  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  1.16     Subd. 5.  [AGENCY AUTHORITY; NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE 
  1.17  ELIMINATION SYSTEM.] Notwithstanding any other provisions 
  1.18  prescribed in or pursuant to this chapter and, with respect to 
  1.19  the pollution of waters of the state, in chapter 116, or 
  1.20  otherwise, the agency shall have the authority to perform any 
  1.21  and all acts minimally necessary including, but not limited to, 
  1.22  the establishment and application of standards, procedures, 
  1.23  rules, orders, variances, stipulation agreements, schedules of 
  1.24  compliance, and permit conditions, consistent with and, 
  1.25  therefore not less stringent than the provisions of the Federal 
  1.26  Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, applicable to the 
  2.1   participation by the state of Minnesota in the National 
  2.2   Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES); provided that 
  2.3   this provision shall not be construed as a limitation on any 
  2.4   powers or duties otherwise residing with the agency pursuant to 
  2.5   any provision of law.  The commissioner may issue a state 
  2.6   general permit to a watershed district allowing the watershed 
  2.7   district to execute and enforce the state's NPDES storm water 
  2.8   program.