House votes to increase its oversight of water quality fees

Less than a year after the Pollution Control Agency floated plans to raise water quality fee revenues for the first time since 1992, the House passed a bill to prohibit the agency from doing so without legislative approval.

Sponsored by Rep. Matt Bliss (R-Pennington), HF2940 would require the PCA to submit a report to the Legislature on water quality permit fee revenues prior to seeking approval to raise water permitting fees.

“[The bill] seeks to clarify in law that the PCA must seek legislative approval prior to raise and or establish fees, just as other agencies do,” Bliss said.

Following Tuesday’s 77-40 vote, the bill now heads to the Senate, where Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria) is the sponsor.

The agency opposes the bill, claiming the Legislature already has sufficient opportunities for oversight and that a 2015 decision by an administrative law judge grants the agency authority to raise the fees.

Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) said the bill provisions are not feasible.

“The Legislature would need to be in session more than the time period we are in if we are going to be reviewing rules, if we’re going to be providing authority for fees,” Hansen said.

Permit fees do not cover the full costs of PCA’s seven storm water, wastewater and feedlot water quality programs. The remaining costs are covered by a number of state funds, including the Environmental Fund, Clean Water Revolving Fund and the General Fund.