Minnesota Statutes 298.223 – Taconite Area Environmental Protection Fund
Subdivision 1.Creation; purposes.
A fund called the taconite environmental protection fund is created for the purpose of reclaiming, restoring and enhancing those areas of northeast Minnesota located within the taconite assistance area defined in section 273.1341, that are adversely affected by the environmentally damaging operations involved in mining taconite and iron ore and producing iron ore concentrate and for the purpose of promoting the economic development of northeast Minnesota. The taconite environmental protection fund shall be used for the following purposes:
Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 298.223
- Advisory board: means the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, as established under section 298. See Minnesota Statutes 298.001
- Commissioner: means the commissioner of revenue of the state of Minnesota, except that when used in sections 298. See Minnesota Statutes 298.001
- state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
- Taconite: means ferruginous chert or ferruginous slate in the form of compact, siliceous rock, in which the iron oxide is so finely disseminated that substantially all of the iron-bearing particles of merchantable grade are smaller than 20 mesh and which is not merchantable as iron ore in its natural state, and which cannot be made merchantable by simple methods of beneficiation involving only crushing, screening, washing, jigging, drying, or any combination thereof. See Minnesota Statutes 298.001
(1) to initiate investigations into matters the commissioner of Iron Range resources and rehabilitation determines are in need of study and which will determine the environmental problems requiring remedial action;
(2) reclamation, restoration, or reforestation of mine lands not otherwise provided for by state law;
(3) local economic development projects and public works, including construction of sewer and water systems located within the taconite assistance area defined in section 273.1341;
(4) monitoring of mineral industry related health problems among mining employees; and
(5) local public works projects under section 298.227, paragraph (c).
Subd. 2.Administration.
The taconite area environmental protection fund shall be administered by the commissioner, who must consult with the advisory board before expending any funds.
Subd. 3.Appropriation.
There is annually appropriated to the commissioner of Iron Range resources and rehabilitation taconite area environmental protection funds necessary to carry out approved projects and programs and the funds necessary for administration of this section. Annual administrative costs, not including detailed engineering expenses for the projects, shall not exceed five percent of the amount annually expended from the fund.
Funds for the purposes of this section are provided by section 298.28, subdivision 11, relating to the taconite area environmental protection fund.