This bill establishes mandatory environmental assessment worksheet requirements for public drainage projects in Minnesota. It mandates that the Environmental Quality Board amend existing rules to require an environmental assessment worksheet for drainage projects that either have a drainage area of five square miles or more within the Minnesota River Basin or alter the course, current, or cross-section of designated public waters, outstanding resource value waters, or specific trout lakes and streams.

Additionally, the bill allows the board to utilize a good cause exemption to adopt these rules, indicating that certain procedural requirements may be bypassed to expedite the rulemaking process. This legislative change aims to enhance environmental oversight and protection for significant drainage projects that could impact Minnesota's water resources.