HF898 Summary

• Establishes legislative findings that improved land use planning and development practices reducing vehicle trips are necessary to achieve Minnesota's greenhouse gas reduction goals under section 216H.02, subdivision 1.

• Requires environmental review documents beginning January 1, 2010, for land use and transportation-related development projects to consider greenhouse gas emissions; board must develop guidance document and assessment worksheet by November 1, 2009.

• Adds carbon sequestration as a wetland function for determining public values, and requires Board of Water and Soil Resources to establish scientific methodologies and criteria for evaluating wetland functions by August 1, 2009.

• Establishes goal for Commissioner of Transportation to achieve 15 percent reduction in per capita vehicle miles driven by 2025 from 2005 levels through land use and transportation policies, and requires Metropolitan Council to adopt policy statement by July 1, 2010, setting goal of 17 percent regional reduction by 2025.

• Transfers $500,000 by July 1, 2011, and $250,000 by July 1, 2011, plus $500,000 by July 1, 2013, from metropolitan livable communities fund to University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies for developing planning resources and providing training and technical assistance; applies in seven specified counties.