6.1.A. ERMUSR 04-12-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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fl►074 ,oeed zeta", - ► NMI Vol. 15, No. 4 April 1, 2016 Railroad Crossing Fees Bill Advances On Wednesday, the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Committee heard HF 963, which would establish a standard $750 fee for utility lines crossing railroad right-of-way. MREA and the Minnesota Telecom Alliance explained the excessive crossing fees that railroads have been imposing on their members. Negotiating these fees down has led to additional legal expenses and project delays. The Minnesota Regional Railroad Association and Union Pacific expressed their opposition to the legislation, stating there is already an appeals process in place and utility crossings diminish the value of railroad property. Chair Garofalo and several GOP committee members expressed their hope that a non- legislative solution could be reached. The bill was passed and re-referred to the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee. The Senate companion bill is awaiting its final hearing in the Finance Committee. Small Wireless Pole Attachments Bill is Overhauled Cities, towns and counties should be required to provide easier access to their streetlights, traffic signals, road signs and utility poles for the attachment of intermediate cell phone antennae, according to Verizon Wireless at a hearing of HF 3554 before the House Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee Wednesday. No they shouldn't, testified the League of Minnesota Cities. And MMUA testified that the legislation lacks input from municipal utilities with expertise in utility pole attachments and streetlights. At a hearing the next day, the committee passed instead a bill to set up a task force with local government and industry representatives to identify and address issues brought forward by the testifiers. The bill goes next to the House Commerce Committee. Non-Flushable Wipes Bill Advances Legislation to require the labeling of non-flushable personal wipes cleared its final Senate committee on Thursday. While considering SF 2525, the Senate Judiciary Committee modified the penalties for violations of the labeling requirements to be more consistent with existing statutes on plastic bag and container labeling. The modifying amendment provides that violations will subject the manufacturer to a civil penalty of$100 for each pre-packaged saleable unit, up to $5,000, and allows for injunction by the Attorney General. Bill supporters, including the MPCA, League of Minnesota Cities, and MMUA, were pleased with these efforts to strengthen the bill. 225