July 26, 2007

 

Patricia Munkel-Olson

Construction Codes and Licensing Attorney

Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry

443 Lafayette Road North

St. Paul, MN 55155

 

RE:      Request for review and approval of a reduction of the time period before publication for good cause pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 14.101, subd. 4, for rules governing radon control

            OAH Docket No. 70-1900-19104-1

 

Dear Ms. Munkel-Olson:

 

            I have reviewed the Department of Labor and Industry Construction Code and Licensing Division’s request, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 14.101, subd. 4, to reduce the time period between publication of the Request for Comments and the Dual Notice from 60 to 30 days for good cause. 

 

The Division indicates that, effective August 1, 2007, it is required under Laws of Minnesota 2007, chapter 40, section 1 to adopt rules for radon control as part of the State Building Code for new residential buildings.  Currently, the Division is involved in rulemaking regarding the Residential Energy Code, of which radon control methods is a part.   To date, the Division has published two Requests for Comments regarding the Residential Energy Code.  The Division intends to propose the Residential Energy Code and the radon control methods as one rulemaking and argues that bifurcating the two rules would be unduly cumbersome, expensive, and inexpedient.  Accordingly, the Division is asking for a reduction in the time between publication of the Request for Comments and the Dual Notice from 60 days to 30 days to accommodate the deadline set forth by the legislature and because this Request for Comments amounts to a third solicitation of comments regarding the same set of rules.

 

            Based upon these arguments, the Division has shown good cause and is authorized to shorten the time period between publication of the Request for Comments and the Dual Notice from 60 to 30 days.    If you have any questions, please contact Maria Lindstrom at (612) 349-2527.

 

                                                                        Sincerely,

 

                                                                        s/Raymond R. Krause

 

                                                                        RAYMOND R. KRAUSE

                                                                        Chief Administrative Law Judge