Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Service Provider Permits
Date: Nov. 16, 2012
Q. What is a Lake Service Provider (LSP)?
A. Lake Service Providers are individuals or businesses hired to install or remove water-related equipment or structures from waters of the state for hire. They are considered service providers if they meet the both of these criteria — 1) they install or remove water-related equipment or structures from waters of the state; and 2) they do it for hire.
Q. When are LSP permits needed?
A. All Lake Service Providers need to be trained and permitted before they begin work in state waters in spring, 2012. Any businesses that do work without a permit will be required to take training and could face penalties if they don’t.
Q. What will the LSP receive as a permit and where do they display the permit?
A. Paper permits will be mailed to the permittees along with LSP vehicle stickers that will also be provided for each of the LSP’s vehicles. A copy of the permit should be kept in the vehicle and the LSP vehicle sticker should be attached to the lower left side of the windshield of the vehicle used when doing LSP work.
Q. I've received my paper permit, but haven't received vehicle stickers. When will I receive vehicle stickers?
A. The vehicle stickers are mailed with the paper permit. If you did not receive stickers with your paper permit, please call 651-259-5100. In your message, leave the name of the person who applied for the permit, the business name, and how many stickers you need.
Q. How much is the training and permit fee?
A. Permits are $50 dollars for the LSP permit holder (business). There is no fee for the employees of the permit holder.
Q. How long are the LSP permits valid?
A. Permits are issued for a three calendar-year period. Permits issued in 2012 will be valid for 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Q. How do you apply and obtain a LSP permit?
A. There are a few steps to the process. Service providers must:
• attend an in-person LSP training;
• pass a required test;
• register for an account and apply for a permit online through the DNR Website; and
• pay the $50 application and training fee.
Q. How do I pay?
A. When you apply for your permit online, you will be directed to pay for your permit with a credit card.
Q. When and where are the LSP training sessions?
A. More than 40 LSP training sessions will be held in 2012. Many locations and dates have been set around Minnesota. Scheduled training sessions are found here:
Additional dates and locations will be posted as scheduled. These trainings will provide all the information needed to understand and pass the test, as well as integrate AIS prevention strategies into your service provider business. Although not required, you can notify trainers of your interest in attending a specific training by contacting the DNR’s regional invasive species specialist in your area.
Q. What if there are multiple owners of a LSP business?
A. When there are multiple owners of a LSP business, there are a couple options for taking training and obtaining a permit. Only one permit is required per business. If all the owners of a business are active in providing LSP services, at least one must attend a training session and pass the test. Other active owners must either attend an in-person training session or take the employee online training.
If more than one owner attends an in-person training session, both names can be added to the LSP permit. When registering for an account and applying for a permit, put both owners names in the account. One person creates the account and applies for the permit. When they are applying they are given the option to "add an additional applicant". Add the additional names. If there are two owners listed on the permit application, then both of those owners must have attended an in-person training course and each passed the test. The name (or names) on the permit must match up with the person(s) who attended the in-person training and passed the test.
Additional owners who did not attend an in-person training session can take the employee online training and obtain the LSP employee certificate to keep with them when conducting LSP work.
Q. What if there are multiple business locations for the same LSP business?
A. If there are separate locations and location managers for a large LSP business, it is suggested that the manager of each location attend training, pay the $50 fee, and obtain a permit for their location. This will ensure that each location is aware of the laws, that decontamination locations can be specified in the permit for that specific location, and the location will be in the LSP database which will be used to provide updated information regarding AIS, infested waters, and information related to the location's employees.
Q. What does a person who works for a permitted service provider need to do?
Persons who work for a permitted service provider do not have to take the DNR training in person or pay a fee, but must take a free online training before working in waters of the state. The employee online training will cover the same information as the training for permitted service providers. Upon completion a certificate will be generated with the person’s information and it will need to be printed and kept available when working in waters of the state.
Q. If my name is on the permit, do I need to do the employee online training to get a certificate?
No. If your name is on the permit, you are all set. Your name on the permit shows that you have attended the in-person training and passed the test. There is no need for you to do the online training and test to get a certificate. Permits should always be available to show to a conservation officer. A permit with your name on it shows that you have received training.
Q. Do I need to wait until I've attended an in-person class or received my permit before I have my staff take the employee online training?
A. No. The employee online training is available now and employees may take it at any time.
Q. Will LSPs need to obtain a prohibited invasive species permit if they need to transport water-related equipment to a cleaning and storage location?
A. The LSP permit includes such authorization for LSPs who work in zebra mussel infested waters if requested during online registration. This will avoid the need for issuing two permits to those LSPs.
Q. Are Lake Service Provider permits required for commercial installers (and removers) of home irrigation equipment that pumps water out of lakes or streams?
A. Yes, they place water related equipment into state waters for hire.
Q. What is the penalty for a Lake Service Provider operating without a permit?
A. It is a misdemeanor and the penalty can be up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail.
Q. After I've taken the in-person training, how long do I have to apply for a permit?
A. If you took the in-person training in 2012, you have until Dec. 31, 2013 to apply for a permit. However, if you are providing lake services in 2013, the law requires you to have your permit before you provide lake services. Since the training was new in 2012 and people are still learning which businesses require permits, people who attended training in 2012 are granted extra time to apply for their permit. Going forward, businesses will need to apply for their permit in the calendar year they took the training. If you take the training in 2013, the latest you can apply for a permit is Dec. 31, 2013. Applying for a permit in 2014 would require attendance at a 2014 in-person training. This ensures that the time between trainings for a business is not greater than 3 years. Laws, regulations, and invasive species information change over time and we want to be sure businesses have up to date information. Once you've taken an in-person training and obtained your permit, the permit is good for 3 calendar years and additional in-person training is not required until the permit expires after those 3 years.
Q. Who can I contact for more information about LSP permits?
A. For further information contact the DNR’s regional invasive species specialist in your area.