S.F. No. 4041 - Natural Resources Bill Summary

• Appropriates $2,879,000 total for fiscal year 2019 ($2,560,000 from general fund, $319,000 from natural resources fund) for environmental research, forest inventory, wildlife disease surveillance, and escaped animal response.

• Authorizes St. Louis County and the commissioner of natural resources to enter 30-year leases of state and tax-forfeited lands for wind energy projects.

• Authorizes the commissioner of natural resources to enter 30-year leases of state lands for recreational trails and facilities.

• Authorizes private sales of surplus state land in Chisago and Mahnomen counties, public sale of surplus land bordering Cedar Lake in Rice County, and private sale at no cost to a political subdivision in St. Louis County.

• Grants easements to townships in Sherburne and Otter Tail counties for existing roads across state lands at no cost, and allows Breitung Township to transfer lands to the state at no cost.