8.0 ICESR 04-13-2010Czech, Rich
From: Dean Mulso [dean.mulso@ci.burnsville.mn.us]
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 12:57 PM
Subject: FW: HF 3512 Additional Information and Comments
FYI: Funding that was introduced yesterday (HF3759) $2,000,000 in Air Quality
Improvement Grants. See below.
H.F. No. 3759, as introduced - 86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) Posted on Apr 07, 2010
z. iA bill for an act
i.zrelating to capital investment; appropriating money for grants to make air
i. shandling system improvements to improve air quality in indoor ice arenas;
i.4authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.
~.SBE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NIlNNESOTA:
i. s Section 1. INDOOR ICE ARENAS• AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.
i. ~ Subdivision 1. Annropriation. $2 000 000 is ~propriated from the bond proceeds
i. afund to the Minnesota Amateur Sorts Commission for grants to local government units
i.9under Minnesota Statutes section 240A 09 paragraph (g, or Lto renovate or replace
i. ioair handl'n~ systems in existing indoor ice arenas whose ice resurfacing and ice ed~in~
i. iieauipment are not powered b~ electricity in order to improve indoor air auality by
i, izreducing concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. The new or renovated
i. isair handlin systems must include continuous electronic air monitoring devices to
~. i4automatically activate the ventilation systems when the concentration of carbon monoxide
i. isor nitrogen dioxide reaches a~redetermined level The priorities in Minnesota Statutes,
i. i6section 240A 09 paragraphs dal and (b) do not apply to grants under this subdivision.
i. i~ Subd. 2. Bond sale. To provide the money appropriated in this section from the
i. isbond proceeds fund the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue
i. i9bonds of the state in an amount up to $2 000 000 in the manner upon the terms. and with
i.zothe effect~rescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A 631 to 16A.675, and by the
i.2iMinnesota Constitution article XI, sections 4 to 7.
i.zzEFFECTIVE DATE This section is effective the day following final enactment.
From: Rick Hansen [mailto:rep.rick.hansen@house.mn]
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 9:02 AM
To: Michael Sheggeby
Cc: Bob Eleff
Subject: Re: HF 3512 Additional Information and Comments
Michael:
Here is the bill I introduced yesterday:
htt~s //www revisor mn.gov/revisor/pages/search status/status detail phg~b=House&f=HF3759&ssn=0&v=2010
More co-authors will be added today...
04/08/2010
Rick
Rick Hansen
State Representative
401 State Office Building
(651) 296-6828
Feel free to sign up for my weekly updates: htt~J/www house leg state mn us/members/join.asg?id=12282
Page 2 of 2
04/08/2010
Page 1 of 2
Enclosed Sports Arenas
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) regulates air quality in Minnesota's enclosed
sports arenas by requiring the responsible person to monitor for carbon monoxide and
nitrogen dioxide, which are by-products of combustion engines. By definition, an "enclosed
sports arena" means any building with a roof and a majority of the sides closed in which
sporting events and demonstrations occur. Ice arenas that use internal combustion engine-
powered vehicles for ice maintenance, indoor go-cart tracks and arenas used for racing,
competition or demonstrations of midget cars, motorcycles, and snowmobiles must comply
with the MDH Enclosed Sports Arena Rule.
Minnesota was the first state to pass rules to protect individuals from exposures to exhaust
emissions that can occur in ice arenas. Minnesota promulgated an ice arena rule in 1973
after carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide emitted from a resurfacing machine caused
illness in spectators and hockey players. In 1977, the rule was amended to regulate all
enclosed sports arenas when any type of internal combustion engine is in use.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas often formed in the process of incomplete
combustion of organic substances, including fuels. It is dangerous because it interferes with
normal oxygen uptake for humans and other living organisms needing oxygen to live.
Arenas are required to keep concentrations of carbon monoxide at or below 30 parts per
million (ppm) in the air.
Nitrogen dioxide is a highly reactive oxidant and corrosive gas. It is formed as a by-product
of combustion. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and
lower resistance to respiratory infections. People with existing respiratory illness such as
asthma are at increased risk for these health effects. Arenas are required to keep
concentrations of nitrogen dioxide at or below 0.5 ppm in the air.
Owners and operators of enclosed sports arenas must follow Minnesota Rule, parts
4620.3900 to 4620.4900. The rule requires that facilities be certified by the Minnesota
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/arenas/index.html 04/06/2010
Indoor Arenas -Minnesota Dept. of Health
Indoor Arenas -Minnesota Dept. of Health
Page 2 of 2
Department of Health and that air quality is maintained in these arenas as demonstrated by
weekly air monitoring.
Air quality continues to be a concern in enclosed sports arenas. With continued focus on
keeping the air safe in arenas, we can ensure that people using these facilities will be able
to enjoy sports in a safe, indoor environment.
For questions about this page or indoor air quality, please contact the Indoor Air Unit at
health.indoorairCa)state.mn.us, 651-201-4601 or 800-798-9050.
Updated Thursday, 03-Dec-2009 10:22:43 CST
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/arenas/index.html 04/06/2010
Silent danger at the rinks ~ StarTribune.com
StarTribune.cam
Silent danger at the rinks
Blake Whitecotton was one of 12 children on a
Maple Grove peewee hockey team who were
hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning in
2009. About 20 of the state's 194 indoor ice rinks
now use electric-powered groomers.
Close calls with carbon monoxide prompt
Minnesota officials to push for lower
emissions from ice grooming machines.
By JESSICA VAN BERKEL, Star Tribune
Last update: March 31, 2010 - 6:58 AM
Community Center in Morris last year, Jeff
Whitecotton faced a scare he never expected.
His son was one of 12 children on the Maple
Grove peewee hockey team, ages 11 and 12, who
went to the hospital for carbon monoxide
poisoning. Five spectators also got sick.
Turns out ice grooming equipment, like the
Zamboni stored near the players' locker room,
leaves behind more than a smooth skating
surface. It also creates a potentially hazardous
trail of carbon monoxide and nitrous dioxide that
lingers in indoor arenas. Medical emergencies
from bad air quality also have occurred in
Woodbury and Osseo, prompting state officials
to consider changing air-quality rules for skating
rinks for the first time in more than 30 years.
State lawmakers have advanced legislation that
would make Minnesota the first state in the
nation to lower the emissions standard in
skating rinks to a level that medical experts say
is needed to protect hockey players and others
from the dangerous fumes.
Under the bill proposed by Rep. Rick Hansen,
DFL-South St. Paul, arena managers would be
required to put pollution controls on ice
grooming equipment, post warning signs about
emissions and monitor the air more closely. The
bill passed the House Finance Committee last
week and the Senate is set to review a similar
proposal next week.
D[~~Bi~~E FAY~U'~S'
ALL REGULAR GANIFS FAY $~~0.'
fvllDf~IQ~-fT S~ESSPQrV Q!V SA~t~RQAY, ~;t'RtL 'IQ ~~~~1 ~, L~1 KE
,FACf{AG€S CAST° Jl1S~' ~~~ ~ns~MO • +~or~~
.- ..
_ owe,manoc~~enre,~sn~e~ex~.~~„~sa..~wrmuar, mysticlake.COr4 .
Whenever an adolescent player is slammed into
the boards, hockey parents wince at the
reminder of how dangerous the sport can be. But
at a regional hockey tournament at the Lee
~_~
Print Powered By i`i~ € Format:Dynamics'" J
http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/89567652.html?elr=KArksWUoDEy3LGDi07aiU 04/06/2010
Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune
Silent danger at the rinks ~ StarTribune.com
StarTrihune.corll
The bill would put Minnesota ahead of the rest
of the nation on regulating ice arena air quality.
The only other states with laws that address the
issue are Rhode Island and Massachusetts, but
their standards have not been lowered to deal
with the carbon monoxide threat. Florida is
working on legislation after a carbon monoxide
incident at a rink near Tampa Bay last year.
The problem has also prompted action in
hockey-crazed Canada, where the provinces
began tightening emission standards in the late
1990s. In Manitoba, which updated its guidelines
in 2009, the carbon monoxide limit is the same
level that Minnesota legislators are proposing.
In the past year, U.S. arenas dealt with at least a
dozen medical emergencies related to air
quality, said Jeff Theiler, chief operating officer
of Serving the American Rinks, a national
organization for rink workers.
Whitecotton, who manages his son's team, said
he visits five rinks a week during hockey season
and never worried about the exhaust fumes
puffing out of the heavily used ice grooming
machines. Many parents figured the rinks had
warning devices that would alert them to any
carbon monoxide problems, just as they have at
home.
What's the right threshold?
There's some disagreement over what the
threshold should be for carbon monoxide.
Under a 1977 law, carbon monoxide levels were
supposed to fall below 30 parts per million and
rink managers were required to check air quality
once a week. The new law would lower that
threshold to 12.5 parts per million and require
constant monitoring over eight hours. By
comparison, the Minnesota Health Department is
recommending a threshold of 25 parts per
million and would require one hour of
monitoring.
Dr. Leon Prockop, a neurology professor at the
~~
University of South Florida, said that any level of
carbon monoxide in the ambient air of enclosed
ice arenas above 10.0 ppm puts athletes at risk
for neurological and/or cardiac damage,"
according to his written testimony to the House
Health and Human Services Committee.
Under the stricter level proposed by legislators,
there would have been 750 violations at
Minnesota rinks in the past three years, said
Dale Dorschner, who oversees air quality
compliance at rinks and other indoor facilities
for the state Health Department.
Ron Staples, the facility manager at Lee
Community Center, said any rink with an old ice
resurfacer would never be able to meet the
proposed threshold of 12.5 parts per million.
Carbon monoxide is no longer a major issue at
about 20 of Minnesota's 194 indoor ice rinks
because they now use electric equipment, said
_ __...... v _. .~,..___.- - ~ - _~~.~_,.W.
- -:.~.~
..: _.....~r~.u--
~~` _ = -
~.
FR1~AY; J[lAfE 4
ON SAiLiE IItE]W rrcK~rr~as~r`~.canrr ~I~S~a~ ~~~E
!ClySlt~O • ~dYE4
._~ ~~::.ow,mann0.'d'~udbra,esn,Kpcewae..umn,so,aiccmmu+Jry mysticlatte.C~RI
Print Powered By ~ i=c `!~`~a~Dynamic~ s'~
http://www. startribune. com/sports/preps/895 67652.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3 LGDi07aiU
Page 2 of 3
04/06/2010
Silent c'anger at the rinks ~ StarTribune.com
StarTrihune.COm
Brad Tullberg, a member of the Minnesota Ice
Arena Managers Association and skating center s
upervisor at the John Rose Oval in Roseville.
The House bill would require all rinks to switch
to electric ice grooming equipment by 2015. As a
short-term measure, rinks would have to add
catalytic converters to all gas- and propane-
powered ice resurfacers and edgers by 2011.
Hansen's bill proposes grants to help ease the
cost of the transition, providing money for new
equipment, monitoring and ventilation projects.
While rink users would wind up paying for part of
the upgrades, Whitecotton said he doesn't care.
After his son rang up $525 in medical expenses f
or his treatment in 2009, Whitecotton said he'd
be happy to chip in a little extra for better air.
"It is better to be safe than sorry," Whitecotton
said.
Jessica Van Berkel is a University of Minnesota
student reporter on assignment for the Star
Tribune.
!'Vi~4~'C~1/~1! rPAC~14G~
SUNDAY -THURSDAY, $79 J FRfDAY,
INCLUDED fN YDUA FACKAGE~
$iD DL'~~aM1ru C1=R"rPFrC.4TE TJ? AM1lS! NIYSFJC 1.tV~ F0~}' D+JTLE'r
nra~r pro car ~r~ ceur?Dr~r
1=FEF':'+LE~ P,a~1hIIVCi'
F~~E DNhr3T,;'F{! 5.°DRF ArrrJ FP~rrg55 PASS
::.Q.w~o7 a'W 0~9e71[A by Olc SAltipt4l/pe.:~lyllm Sdtt fplMfuMf
_ .~
$89
CASINO ! liA~EL
_. ~ ~, ---
Print Powered By j i~ a rormatDynarrrics ~ I
http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/89567652.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3 LGDi07aiU
Page 3 of 3
04/06/2010