1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the environment; creating a task force to 
  1.3             select an entity to study a cost-benefit model for 
  1.4             water quality standards. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [TASK FORCE.] 
  1.7      The commissioner of the pollution control agency shall 
  1.8   convene a task force comprising no more than three 
  1.9   representatives each from industry, municipalities, watershed 
  1.10  management groups, agriculture, labor, and environmental groups 
  1.11  within 30 days of the effective date of this section.  The task 
  1.12  force shall select an entity to conduct a scoping study for a 
  1.13  cost-benefit model to analyze water quality standards.  The 
  1.14  scoping study shall include:  a watershed-based approach that 
  1.15  evaluates both point and nonpoint pollution sources, the extent 
  1.16  of the costs and benefits to be evaluated, the necessary 
  1.17  elements of the model, a model that is transferable to other 
  1.18  watersheds and standards, and the characteristics of the 
  1.19  watersheds and standards to be evaluated.  By January 2, 1999, 
  1.20  the task force shall review the completed scoping study and make 
  1.21  recommendations on the scope, cost, and time frame for 
  1.22  development of the model to the commissioner of the pollution 
  1.23  control agency and to the chairs of the house and senate 
  1.24  environmental policy and budget committees. 
  1.25     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.1      Section 1 is effective on the day following final enactment.