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Environment updates: $6M for MPCA capital assistance, drinking‑water program; SCORE expansion not funded
Summary
MICA environment staff said the bonding and legacy packages included $6 million for MPCA capital assistance (CAP) and $6 million for a statewide drinking‑water contamination mitigation program, but a proposed expansion of SCORE funding did not secure the recurring resources advocates sought.
Rachel Sosnowczyk, MICA environment lobbyist, briefed Crow Wing County commissioners on June 17 about environment and solid‑waste priorities from the session.
Sosnowczyk said the bonding bill provided $6 million for the MPCA capital assistance program (CAP). She said the CAP appropriation in 2025 takes a statewide approach rather than dedicating funds to specific local projects and that MPCA will make allocation decisions. She also said a new statewide drinking‑water contamination mitigation program received $6 million and that the Public Facilities Authority received $176 million for local water projects, including $18 million for an emerging‑contaminants drinking‑water program.
On municipal solid‑waste policy, Sosnowczyk told commissioners that SCORE (state county recycling assistance) did not receive the level of recurring funding advocates requested. MICA had sought a larger share of solid‑waste management tax revenues to counties; the tax committees offered limited one‑time money and the overall state tax targets constrained additional allocations. She said product‑stewardship conversations continue, noting the 2024 packaging and paper measure now being implemented and debate about whether to add electronics and batteries to stewardship schemes.
Why it matters: counties manage solid‑waste systems and have rising costs for recycling, e‑waste and hazardous materials such as PFAS in leachate. Local landfills and counties remain eligible for CAP and other funds, but allocations will be decided by state agencies; counties should prepare project lists.
Details and next steps: Sosnowczyk said the closed landfill investment fund (CLIF) appropriation was extended through FY2029 and increased from the prior annual draw to $6.5 million. She advised counties to continue advocacy on SCORE and product stewardship and to coordinate with MPCA and the Public Facilities Authority on applying for CAP and drinking‑water mitigation funds.
