Chapter 116B — Minnesota Environmental Rights Act

116B.01 Purpose This section explains the purpose of the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act. It recognizes that every person has a right … 116B.02 Definitions This section defines key terms used in the Environmental Rights Act, including natural resources (such as air, water, … 116B.03 Civil Actions This section allows any person to bring a civil lawsuit to protect the environment. You can sue to stop pollution, … 116B.04 Burden of Proof This section explains the burden of proof in MERA cases. The plaintiff must show that the defendant's conduct has caused … 116B.05 Appointing Referee This section allows the court to appoint a referee to gather facts and make recommendations in complex environmental … 116B.06 Bond This section allows the court to require the plaintiff to post a bond to cover the defendant's costs if the plaintiff … 116B.07 Relief This section describes the types of relief a court can grant in MERA cases. The court can issue temporary or permanent … 116B.08 Remittitur This section allows the court to remit (send) the case to the appropriate government agency if the issues raised can be … 116B.09 Intervention; Judicial Review This section allows any person to intervene in any government proceeding where environmental issues are being decided. … 116B.10 Civil Action Against State This section allows environmental lawsuits to be brought against the state of Minnesota and its agencies. Government … 116B.11 Long-arm Statute; Actions Under This Chapter This section gives Minnesota courts personal jurisdiction over out-of-state defendants who cause environmental harm in … 116B.12 Rights and Remedies Nonexclusive This section states that the rights and remedies under MERA do not replace other environmental laws. MERA provides … 116B.13 Citation This section provides the official citation for the law: the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act, or MERA.