MN HF1874

Appropriates $28,970,000 from the environment and natural resources trust fund for fiscal year 2015 across eight major categories: water resources, invasive species, natural resource data, land/habitat protection, air quality/renewable energy, environmental education, and administration.

Water resources projects ($4,579,000) fund university research on contaminant destruction, wastewater treatment, antibiotics in lakes, and aquifer protection through agreements with University of Minnesota and other institutions.

Invasive species control ($2,298,000) addresses aquatic and terrestrial invasive species including bighead/silver carp, emerald ash borer, mountain pine beetle, and brown marmorated stink bug through research and monitoring.

Land acquisition and recreation ($6,923,000) supports scientific and natural areas, metropolitan regional parks, trail development (Mesabi Trail), and shoreland acquisition on the St. Croix River with matching fund requirements.

Modifies land acquisition approval requirements to give 10 business days notice to both the commissioner and Legislative-Citizen Commission before property acquisition, and exempts certain acquisitions from commissioner approval.