Section 1 [Administrative penalty order authority] removes the ability for counties and watershed districts to use administrative penalty orders (APOs) under the buffer law.

Section 2 [Soil loss ordinance rules] clarifies that BWSR’s soil loss ordinance implementation rules apply to local governments that adopt a soil loss ordinance.

Section 3 [Definition of public waters] clarifies that “public waters” are those waters on the DNR’s public waters inventory.

Section 4 [Buffer requirements; shoreline classification] provides that public waters without a shoreline classification are required to have a 16.5 foot minimum width continuous buffer, and moves the buffer requirement for public waters an additional year to November 1, 2018.

Section 5 [Corrective actions; APO authority] removes all language relating to use of APO authority for buffer enforcement by counties and watershed districts. This section also:

(1) removes the date when BWSR must be notified of jurisdiction by a county or watershed district; and

(2) requires state or federal assistance for 100 percent of the cost of the buffer before corrective actions may be taken.

GK:dv