HF3761 Summary

• Creates new enforcement authority for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner to adopt orders, issue violation notices, require monitoring and reporting, and conduct investigations related to water appropriation violations.

• Establishes a "duty of candor" requiring persons to provide truthful statements and disclose material information necessary for informed regulatory decisions, with penalties for knowingly making false statements or failing to correct false information.

• Increases administrative penalty caps for water appropriation violations from $1,000-$20,000 to up to $40,000, with amounts based on severity of harm and deviation from compliance.

• Allows non-forgivable penalties for repeated or serious violations even after corrective action is taken, with interest accruing at the rate established in section 549.09 beginning 31 days after the order is received.

• Establishes civil penalties up to $10,000 per day of violation, enforceable through district court, plus damages for restoration, monitoring, and losses to natural resources, with limited defenses for acts of God, war, state negligence, or sabotage.