Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 08/21/2023

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DEPARTMENT OF 2023 Shade Tree Program NATURAL RESOURCES Bonding Grants Applications are private or nonpublic until opened.Once the applications are opened,the name and address of the applicant and the amount requested is public.All other data in an application is private or nonpublic data until all agreements are fully executed.After DNR has completed the evaluation process, all remaining data in the applications is public with the exception of trade secret data as defined and classified in Minn.Stat.§ 13.37.A statement by a grantee that the application is copyrighted or otherwise protected does not prevent public access to the application(Minn.Stat.§13.599,subd.3). Liability and Project Implementation DNR will not be held liable for any costs incurred by any firm for work performed in the preparation and production of a proposal,nor for any work performed prior to the execution of the contract. Project work and expenses that are eligible for reimbursement with grant funds CANNOT be started or incurred until the grant contract is fully executed.Grant agreements are expected to be finalized by February 2, 2024. Related grant project work can begin after all signatures are obtained. Interim reports and final reports will be required for all grant-funded projects. Minnesota Department of Agriculture considers May 1—September 30 to be the flight season for EAB. This means that EAB adult beetles are emerging from infested wood or trees and flying in search of new hosts during this time.The best management practice is to not remove ash trees when EAB are actively flying(May-September),to avoid the risk of EAB emerging from this material in transit or at a processing location. Emerald ash borer(EAB)infestations are difficult to identify in the early stages of the infestation. Emerald ash borer infestation areas grow via human-assisted movement and through natural dispersion. For these reasons,when new emerald ash borer infestations are discovered,quarantines are enacted on a large scale(county)with the assumption that the infestation is spread beyond what is observed. However,while the quarantine necessarily covers a large area where emerald ash borer may be present,the distribution of emerald ash borer is likely not uniform throughout the quarantine and may be in areas outside these boundaries. These guidelines ideally should be followed 100 percent of the time when working with ash trees throughout the state of Minnesota. However,once a community is heavily infested with EAB(the point at which EAB-infested ash are so numerous that year-round removal of hazardous trees is necessary to mitigate risk to public),conducting ash tree removals during the emerald ash borer flight season may be necessary to avoid risk to public safety and property.Following these guidelines will provide the lowest degree of risk for movement of emerald ash borer. Reimbursement All funds will be awarded on a reimbursement basis. Up to 90%is reimbursed each reimbursement period,with the final 10%retained until the project is completed.The Reimbursement Request Form and required reports must be received by:July 1,2024;January 1,2025;July 1, 2025;January 1,2026;July 1,2026;January 1,2027;June 30,2027. Projects must be completed by December 311 2027 and final grant reports must be submitted,by January 15,2028. Tracking Bond Financed Property This grant requires a declaration be recorded against real estate that is purchased or improved with state bond proceeds.The recorded declaration proclaims a property as"Restricted Property,"which states that the property is subject to the grant agreement and prevents the property from being sold, mortgaged,encumbered,or otherwise disposed of without the approval of the Commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget for 125%of the useful life ofthe Restricted Property. • When trees are planted in parks or public-owned properties,a General Obligation Bond Financed Property Declaration or General Fund Bond Financed Property Declaration must be Page 6 of 8 July 2023