1996-04-25_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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Water Bi1lBoard next five years to repair or upgrade these facilities. To protect and preserve the state's enormous investment in wastewater infra- structure, the MPCA and the Department of Trade and Economic Development's (DYED) Public Facilities Authority will propose a capital bonding initiative for both the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund (which is part of the State Revolving Fund, or SRF, Program) and the Wastewater Infrastructure Fund (WIF). The agencies have proposed a capital bonding initiative for 1) the SRF to provide state match to federal capitalization grants, and 2) for the WIF to provide loan buy-downs for projects in disadvantaged communities. 2. Blew sources of revenue for priivate individual sewage treatment (ISTS) sys- tems. The current need to upgrade ISTSs on private property stands at about $1.7 billion. Yet sources of affordable assistance for private-property owners are limited. The MPCA will advance legislation to allow mu- nicipalities (defined as county, city, township, or any subdivision of government with au- thority over ISTSs) to create loan programs to install, repair or replace nonconforming private septic systems. The funds could be recouped either through direct repayment or assessment on the property taxes. 3. Continuation of the pilot statewide Nonpoint-Source SRF Loan Program. In 1994, the Legislature authorized an innova- tive two-year pilot program to use the SRF loan fund for projects beyond the traditional point-source wastewater treatment plants, such as nonpoint-source pollution-abatement projects. The MPCA, Department of Agricul- ture, and DYED are asking for authorization to continue this successful pilot program and to double the statutory cap on the amount of federal funds that can be used for these purposes. For more information about these wastewater infrastructure 1996 legislative priorities contact Patricia Burke, division manager, MPCA Water Quality Division, 612-296-7202 or toll-free 800-657-3864; or Terry Kuhlman, DYED Public Facilities Authority, 612-296- 4704 or toll-free 800-657-3858. Waste anagement Act amendments Each year, changes are proposed to the state's Waste Management Act governing solid waste. In comparison to past years, the bill is expected to be include relatively few provisions and will not be offered by the Legislative Commission on Waste Manage- ment {LCWM), which is scheduled to sunset on July 1, 1996. Although the bill is not yet in its final form, the major provisions are expected to be: •adopting the nationally-developed amendments to the Toxics in Packag- ing law; •providing an exemption process for the mandated statewide volume- based-fee system for garbage, which will be administered by the Office of Environmental Assistance {OEA); •assigning responsibility for develop- ment and implementation of an envi- ronmental education program for the state to OEA; and •deleting the requirement for the annual waste tire report. For additional information, contact Bill Dunn, MPCA, at 612-282-2663; or Tom Osdoba, OEA, at 612-215-0263. 7