Minn. Stat. § 115.42: POLICY; LONG-RANGE PLAN; PURPOSE.

It is the policy of the state to provide for the prevention, control, and abatement of pollution of all waters of the state, so far as feasible and practical, in furtherance of conservation of such waters and protection of the public health and in furtherance of the development of the economic welfare of the state. The agency shall prepare a long-range plan and program for the effectuation of said policy. It is the purpose of sections 115.41 to 115.53 to safeguard the waters of the state from pollution by: (a) preventing any new pollution; and (b) abating pollution existing when sections 115.41 to 115.53 become effective, under a program consistent with the declaration of policy above stated.