HF2624 Summary

• Appropriates $418,000 for fiscal year 2010 and $25,622,000 for fiscal year 2011 from the environment and natural resources trust fund for environment and natural resources projects.

• Funds multiple categories of projects including natural resource data collection, land and habitat acquisition, water resources research, invasive species management, renewable energy development, and environmental education programs.

• Requires recipients of appropriations to comply with specific requirements including use of native plant ecotypes in restorations, preparation of ecological management plans, establishment of perpetual conservation easements with stewardship funding, and public accountability reporting to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.

• Establishes that land acquired with appropriation funds must be sufficiently improved to meet minimum management standards and prohibits expenditures for indirect costs, overhead charges, or capital equipment unless expressly authorized in the work program.

• Requires written approval from the commissioner of natural resources prior to acquiring interests in real property that will be conveyed to the state, effective July 1, 2010 for fiscal year 2011 and thereafter.