Subd. 1. Construction permit.

A person must obtain a permit from the commissioner on forms provided by the commissioner before the person constructs or substantially alters:

1. (1) safeguards; or
2. (2) an existing facility used for the distribution, handling, or bulk storage of fertilizers, soil amendments, or plant amendments. The commissioner may not grant a permit for a site without safeguards that are adequate to prevent the escape or movement of the fertilizers from the site.

Subd. 2. Permit fees.

1. (a) An application for a new facility must be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee of $100 for each location where fertilizer is stored.
2. (b) An application to substantially alter a facility must be accompanied by a nonrefundable $50 fee.
3. (c) An additional fee of $250 must be paid by a person who begins construction of, or substantially alters a bulk agricultural chemical storage facility before a permit is issued by the commissioner, except that the $250 additional fee may not be assessed if the person submits a permit application with the required fee to the commissioner before completing the construction or substantial alteration.
4. (d) An application for a facility that includes both fertilizers, as regulated under this chapter, and pesticides as regulated under chapter 18B shall pay only one application fee of $100.

Subd. 3. Exemption.

A permit and safeguard is not required for agricultural commodity producers who store, on their own property, for their own use, no more than 6,000 gallons of liquid commercial fertilizer.