reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MN Stat § 114C.19 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114C — Environmental Regulatory Innovations|Section 114C.19 — Variances That Promote Pollution Reductions Or Reduce Unnecessary Administrative Burden.

114C.19 VARIANCES THAT PROMOTE POLLUTION REDUCTIONS OR REDUCE UNNECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN. In addition to the grounds for granting a variance set forth in section 116.07, subdivision 5, the Pollution Control Agency may grant variances from its rules in order to: (1) promote reduction in overall levels of pollution beyond what is required by applicable law, consistent with the purposes of this chapter; or (2) reduce the administrative burden on the agency or the permittee, provided that alternative monitoring, testing, notification, record-keeping, or reporting requirements will provide the information needed by the agency to ensure compliance. History:   1996 c 437 s 8
MN Stat § 114C.20 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114C — Environmental Regulatory Innovations|Section 114C.20 — Environmental Improvement Program.

114C.20 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. An environmental improvement program is established to promote voluntary compliance with environmental requirements. History:  1995 c 168 s 8; 1996 c 437 s 24; 1999 c 158 s 1; 2000 c 260 s 94
MN Stat § 114C.23 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114C — Environmental Regulatory Innovations|Section 114C.23 — Review Of Performance Schedules.

114C.23 REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES. (a) A reasonable performance schedule prepared under section 114C.22, subdivision 2, clause (4), must be approved by the commissioner. In reviewing the reasonableness of a performance schedule, the commissioner shall take into account information supplied by the regulated entity, any public comments, and information developed by agency staff. The decision about whether a performance schedule is reasonable must be based on the following factors: (1) the nature of the violations; (2) the environmental and public health consequences of the violations; (3) the economic circumstances of the facility; (4) the availability of equipment and material; and (5) the time needed to implement pollution prevention opportunities as an alternative to pollution control approaches to remedying the violations. Information submitted to the commissioner that is trade secret information, as that term is defined in section 13.37, is nonpublic data under chapter 13. (b) In the event of a dispute over approval of the performance schedule, the regulated entity may request a hearing under the procedures in Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8510 to 1400.8612. A performance schedule may be amended by written agreement between the commissioner and the regulated entity. History:  1995 c 168 s 12; 1996 c 437 s 24; 2000 c 260 s 94
MN Stat § 114C.25 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114C — Environmental Regulatory Innovations|Section 114C.25 — Green Star Award.

114C.25 GREEN STAR AWARD. (a) A regulated entity may display at a facility a "green star" award designed by the commissioner if: (1) the regulated entity qualifies for participation in the environmental improvement program under section 114C.22; (2) the scope of the regulated entity's audit examines the facility's compliance with applicable environmental requirements; (3) the regulated entity certifies that all violations that were identified in the audit of the facility were corrected within 90 days or within the time specified in an approved performance schedule or certifies that no violations were identified in the audit; and (4) at least two years have elapsed since the final resolution of an enforcement action involving the regulated entity. (b) After consulting with each other, however, the commissioner or the county may issue an award if the enforcement action resulted from minor violations. If the regulated entity is located in a metropolitan county, the commissioner and the county must also consult with the Metropolitan Council before issuing a green star award. (c) The award may be displayed for a period of two years from the time that the commissioner determines that the requirements of this section have been met. A facility submitting findings from its environmental management system is not eligible to receive an award unless the findings are part of an audit which examines the facility's compliance with applicable environmental requirements. History:  1995 c 168 s 14; 1996 c 437 s 24; 1999 c 158 s 11; 2000 c 260 s 94
MN Stat § 114C.26 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114C — Environmental Regulatory Innovations|Section 114C.26 — Access To Documents.

114C.26 ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS. Subdivision 1. Public access. (a) After receipt by the commissioner of a report that complies with section 114C.22, subdivision 2, the state may not request, inspect, or seize a final audit report, draft audit papers, the notes or papers prepared by the auditor or the person conducting the audit, or the internal documents of a regulated entity establishing, coordinating, or responding to the audit, other than the report required in section 114C.22, subdivision 2, provided that the regulated entity is in compliance with its commitments under sections 114C.22 and 114C.23. (b) This subdivision does not restrict the ability of the state to seek monitoring, testing, or sampling data, or information about the location or nature of spills, releases, or threatened releases related to a suspected violation even if the information is contained in an audit report, draft audit papers, or other document protected under this subdivision. Subd. 2. Third-party access. After receipt by the commissioner of a report that complies with section 114C.22, subdivision 2, the final audit report, draft audit reports, any notes or papers prepared by the auditor or by the person conducting the audit, and the internal documents of a regulated entity establishing, coordinating, or responding to the audit covered by the report are privileged as to all persons other than the state provided that the regulated entity is in compliance with its commitments under sections 114C.22 and 114C.23. Subd. 3. Nonwaiver of protections. Participation by a regulated entity in the environmental improvement program does not waive, minimize, reduce, or otherwise adversely affect the level of protection or confidentiality that exists, under current or developing common or statutory law, with respect to any other documents relating to an environmental audit. Subd. 4. Exceptions. Nothing in this section or any policy or rule adopted by the agency on environmental auditing shall limit the ability of: (1) the state to seek any information that the state deems necessary to investigate, prevent, or respond to a situation that presents an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health or the environment; (2) the state to seek any information the state deems necessary to respond to a continuing violation of any environmental requirement; (3) the state to seek information as part of a criminal investigation; or (4) the federal government to seek any information it is authorized to obtain under federal law. History:  1995 c 168 s 15; 1996 c 437 s 24; 1999 c 158 s 12; 2000 c 260 s 94
MN Stat § 114C.27 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114C — Environmental Regulatory Innovations|Section 114C.27 — No Effect On Other Rights.

114C.27 NO EFFECT ON OTHER RIGHTS. Sections 114C.20 to 114C.28 do not affect, impair, or alter: (1) rights of a regulated entity that chooses not to participate, or is not eligible to participate, in the environmental improvement program; or (2) rights of other persons relative to the matters addressed by the environmental improvement program. History:  1995 c 168 s 16; 1996 c 437 s 24; 1999 c 158 s 13; 2000 c 260 s 94
MN Stat § 114C.28 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114C — Environmental Regulatory Innovations|Section 114C.28 — Reporting Required By Law.

114C.28 REPORTING REQUIRED BY LAW. Nothing in sections 114C.20 to 114C.28 alters the obligation of any regulated entity to report releases, violations, or other matters that are required to be reported by state or federal law, rule, permit, or enforcement action. History:  1995 c 168 s 17; 1996 c 437 s 24; 1999 c 158 s 14; 2000 c 260 s 94
MN Stat § 114D.05 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114D — Clean Water Legacy Act|Section 114D.05 — Citation.

114D.05 CITATION. This chapter may be cited as the "Clean Water Legacy Act." History:   2006 c 251 s 2
MN Stat § 114D.10 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114D — Clean Water Legacy Act|Section 114D.10 — Legislative Purpose And Findings.

114D.10 LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE AND FINDINGS. Subdivision 1. Purpose. The purpose of the Clean Water Legacy Act is to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams and to protect groundwater from degradation, by providing authority, direction, and resources to achieve and maintain water quality standards for groundwater and surface waters, including the standards required by section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act, United States Code, title 33, section 1313(d), and other applicable state and federal regulations. Subd. 2. Findings. The legislature finds that: (1) there is a close link between protecting, enhancing, and restoring the quality of Minnesota's groundwater and surface waters and the ability to develop the state's economy, enhance its quality of life, and protect its human and natural resources; (2) achieving the state's water quality goals will require long-term commitment and cooperation by all state and local agencies, and other public and private organizations and individuals, with responsibility and authority for water management, planning, and protection; and (3) all persons and organizations whose activities affect the quality of waters, including point and nonpoint sources of pollution, have a responsibility to participate in and support efforts to achieve the state's water quality goals. History:  2006 c 251 s 3; 1Sp2011 c 6 art 2 s 13
MN Stat § 114D.35 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114D — Clean Water Legacy Act|Section 114D.35 — Public And Stakeholder Participation; Scientific Review; Education.

114D.35 PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION; SCIENTIFIC REVIEW; EDUCATION. Subdivision 1. Public and stakeholder participation. (a) Public agencies and private entities involved in implementing this chapter must encourage participation by the public and stakeholders, including local citizens, landowners, land managers, and public and private organizations. (b) In particular, the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency must make reasonable efforts to provide timely information to the public and to stakeholders about impaired waters that have been identified by the agency and to inform and consult with the public and stakeholders in developing a WRAPS or TMDL. (c) Public agencies and private entities using public funds that are involved in implementing restoration and protection identified in a comprehensive watershed management plan or comprehensive local water management plan must make efforts to inform, consult, and involve the public and stakeholders. (d) The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency and the Board of Water and Soil Resources must coordinate public and stakeholder participation in consultation with local government units. To the extent practicable, implementation of this chapter must be accomplished in cooperation with local, state, federal, and tribal governments and private-sector organizations. Subd. 2. Expert scientific advice. The Clean Water Council and public agencies and private entities shall make use of available public and private expertise from educational, research, and technical organizations, including the University of Minnesota and other higher education institutions, to provide appropriate independent expert advice on models, methods, and approaches used in identifying degraded groundwater and impaired waters, developing TMDLs, and implementing prevention and restoration. Subd. 3. Education. The Clean Water Council must develop strategies for informing, educating, and encouraging the participation of citizens, stakeholders, and others regarding this chapter. Public agencies are responsible for implementing the strategies. History:  2006 c 251 s 8; 1Sp2011 c 6 art 2 s 20; 1Sp2019 c 4 art 5 s 18,19
MN Stat § 114D.47 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114D — Clean Water Legacy Act|Section 114D.47 — Nonpoint Funding Alternative.

114D.47 NONPOINT FUNDING ALTERNATIVE. Notwithstanding section 114D.50, subdivision 3a, the Board of Water and Soil Resources may, by board order, establish alternative timelines or content for the priority funding plan for nonpoint sources under section 114D.50, subdivision 3a, and may use information from comprehensive watershed management plans or comprehensive local water management plans to estimate or summarize costs. History:   1Sp2019 c 4 art 5 s 20
MN Stat § 114E.01 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114E — Uniform Environmental Covenants Act|Section 114E.01 — Short Title.

114E.01 SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the "Uniform Environmental Covenants Act." History:   2007 c 131 art 1 s 59
MN Stat § 114E.05 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114E — Uniform Environmental Covenants Act|Section 114E.05 — Definitions.

114E.05 DEFINITIONS. Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of this chapter, the definitions in this subdivision have the meanings given. Subd. 2. Activity and use limitations. "Activity and use limitations" means restrictions or obligations with respect to real property that are associated with an environmental response project. Subd. 3. Common interest community. "Common interest community" means a common interest community as defined in chapter 515B. Subd. 4. Environmental agency. "Environmental agency" means the Pollution Control Agency, Agriculture Department, or another state or federal agency that determines or approves the environmental response project pursuant to which the environmental covenant is created. Subd. 5. Environmental covenant. "Environmental covenant" means a servitude created under this chapter that imposes activity and use limitations. Subd. 6. Environmental response project. "Environmental response project" means a plan or work performed to clean up, eliminate, investigate, minimize, mitigate, or prevent the release or threatened release of contaminants affecting real property in order to protect public health or welfare or the environment, including: (1) response or corrective actions under federal or state law, including chapters 115B, 115C, 115E, and 116, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, United States Code, title 44, section 9601, et seq.; (2) corrective actions or response to agricultural chemical incidents under chapters 18B, 18C, 18D, and 18E; and (3) closure, contingency, or corrective actions required under rules or regulations applicable to waste treatment, storage, or disposal facilities or to above or below ground tanks. Subd. 7. Holder. "Holder" means any person identified as a holder of an environmental covenant as specified in section 114E.10, paragraph (a). Subd. 8. Person. "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, political subdivision or special purpose unit of government, agency, or instrumentality of the state or federal government, or any other legal or commercial entity. Subd. 9. Record. "Record," used as a noun, means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. Subd. 10. Recorded. "Recorded" means recorded with the county recorder or registrar of title, as applicable, in each county where the real property is located. Subd. 11. State. "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. History:   2007 c 131 art 1 s 60
MN Stat § 114E.15 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114E — Uniform Environmental Covenants Act|Section 114E.15 — Contents Of Environmental Covenant.

114E.15 CONTENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL COVENANT. (a) An environmental covenant must: (1) state on its first page that the instrument is an environmental covenant executed pursuant to this chapter; (2) contain a legally sufficient description of the real property subject to the covenant; (3) describe the activity and use limitations on the real property; (4) identify every holder; (5) be signed and acknowledged by the environmental agency, every holder, and every owner of the fee simple title to the real property subject to the covenant; and (6) identify the name and location of any administrative record for the environmental response project reflected in the environmental covenant. (b) In addition to the information required by paragraph (a), an environmental covenant may contain other information, restrictions, and requirements agreed to by the persons who signed it, including any: (1) requirements for notice of any transfer of a specified interest in, or concerning proposed changes in use of, applications for building permits for, or proposals for any site work affecting the contamination or the environmental response project on, the real property subject to the covenant; (2) requirements for periodic reporting describing compliance with the covenant; (3) rights of access to the real property granted in connection with implementation or enforcement of the covenant; (4) a brief narrative description of the contamination and environmental response project, including the contaminants of concern, the pathways of exposure, limits on exposure, and the location and extent of the contamination; (5) limitation on amendment or termination of the covenant in addition to those contained in sections 114E.40 and 114E.45; (6) rights of the holder in addition to its right to enforce the covenant pursuant to section 114E.50; and (7) waiver of a party's right to consent to the amendment or termination of a covenant under section 114E.45, paragraph (a), clause (3). (c) The environmental agency may set reasonable conditions for its approval of an environmental covenant, including: (1) requiring that persons specified by the agency that have interests in the real property also sign the covenant; (2) requiring that a person who holds a prior interest in the real property subject to the covenant agree to subordinate that interest where applicable; and (3) requiring the inclusion within the text of the covenant information, restrictions, or requirements as described in paragraph (b). History:   2007 c 131 art 1 s 62
MN Stat § 114E.20 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114E — Uniform Environmental Covenants Act|Section 114E.20 — Validity; Effect On Other Instruments.

114E.20 VALIDITY; EFFECT ON OTHER INSTRUMENTS. (a) An environmental covenant created under this chapter runs with the land. (b) An environmental covenant that is otherwise effective is valid and enforceable even if: (1) it is not appurtenant to an interest in real property; (2) it can be or has been assigned to a person other than the original holder; (3) it is not of a character that has been recognized traditionally at common law; (4) it imposes a negative burden; (5) it imposes an affirmative obligation on a person having an interest in the real property or on the holder; (6) the benefit or burden does not touch or concern real property; (7) there is no privity of estate or contract; (8) the holder dies, ceases to exist, resigns, or is replaced; or (9) the owner of an interest in the real property subject to the environmental covenant and the holder are the same person. (c) Any instrument that imposes activity and use limitations, including any conservation easement, declaration, restrictive covenant, or similar instrument created before July 1, 2007, remains valid and enforceable as provided in the law under which it was created. This chapter does not apply in any other respect to such an instrument. (d) This chapter does not invalidate or render unenforceable any interest, whether designated as an environmental covenant or other interest, that is otherwise enforceable under the law of this state. History:   2007 c 131 art 1 s 63
MN Stat § 114E.25 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114E — Uniform Environmental Covenants Act|Section 114E.25 — Relationship To Other Land Use Law.

114E.25 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAND USE LAW. (a) This chapter does not authorize a use of real property that is otherwise prohibited by zoning, by law other than this chapter regulating use of real property, or by a recorded instrument that has priority over the environmental covenant. (b) An environmental covenant may prohibit or restrict uses of real property which are authorized by zoning or by law other than this chapter. (c) An environmental agency that exercises authority under law other than this chapter to require as part of an environmental response project the performance of a response or corrective action that would not otherwise be an authorized use of real property under zoning or other real property law or prior recorded instruments may include such requirement as an affirmative obligation in an environmental covenant. History:   2007 c 131 art 1 s 64
MN Stat § 114E.30 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114E — Uniform Environmental Covenants Act|Section 114E.30 — Notice.

114E.30 NOTICE. (a) A copy of an environmental covenant, and any amendments or notices of termination thereof, must be provided by the persons and in the manner required by the environmental agency to: (1) each person that signed the covenant or their successor or assign; (2) each person holding a recorded interest in the real property subject to the covenant; (3) each person in possession of the real property subject to the covenant; (4) each political subdivision in which real property subject to the covenant is located; and (5) any other person the environmental agency requires. (b) The validity of a covenant is not affected by failure to provide a copy of the covenant as required under this section. History:   2007 c 131 art 1 s 65
MN Stat § 114E.35 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection|Chapter 114E — Uniform Environmental Covenants Act|Section 114E.35 — Recording.

114E.35 RECORDING. (a) An environmental covenant and any amendment or termination of the covenant must be recorded with the county recorder or registrar of titles, as applicable, in every county in which any portion of the real property subject to the covenant is located. For purposes of indexing, a holder shall be treated as a grantee. (b) Except as otherwise provided in section 114E.40, paragraph (f), an environmental covenant is subject to the laws of this state governing recording and priority of interests in real property. History:   2007 c 131 art 1 s 66