Register online

Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 8, to network with state policy makers and volunteers and staff of MEP’s member organizations, discuss our legislative priorities, and hear from our state legislative and agency leaders about their views on current environmental issues.

The reception begins at 6 p.m. at the Summit Brewery’s Ratskeller Community Room. Enjoy an appetizer buffet and Summit beer and root beer. Bring your staff, spouse and friends – all are welcome! A brief program featuring guest speakers Rep. Denny McNamara, Sen. David Senjem, Rep. Kate Knuth and DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr will begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $25. Register and pay online. Please contact Patience Caso at the MEP office, 651-290-0154, with questions.

But thanks to your help, we had a minor victory late last week!  A bill was heard to weaken township and community rights by limiting local citizen input in large scale developments in their community.  We were on alert. You contacted your legislators, community leaders testified, and legislators came to their senses.  The bill was set aside.

But urgent action is still needed!  There are over fifty bills that are on our watch list and some are moving quickly.  The policies that have been introduced do not support Minnesotans’ desire to protect our lakes, rivers and streams, our drinking water, our air quality and our Great Outdoors heritage.

Instead of maintaining the laws that protect our water and our health, the legislature wants to weaken or roll back these protections! Our elected leaders must not move our state backwards on policies that protect our water, invest in clean energy and protect our health.

Act now: Your input matters to your elected officials.

Give to the Max Countdown: 8 days to go!

We Minnesotans sure love to fish: Dropping a line in our favorite lake, river or stream is part of our way of life.

But a whopping 40% of our state’s lakes and rivers are seriously polluted – contaminating the fish, making them harmful to our health.

So let’s do something about it.

Your donation to MEP on Give to the Max Day (Nov. 16) will help us and our members clean up Minnesota’s water.

Let’s make mercury-free fish a reality!

Go to GiveMN.org/MEPartnership to learn more. Together, we’re stronger!

Minnesotans expect our leaders to do more to clean up and restore our lakes, rivers and streams – Minnesota voters passed the Legacy Amendment in 2008 to do just that! But is that money being used effectively?

Our state has a long way to go in cleaning up our water, and preventing future pollution.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reports that about 40% of Minnesota’s lakes and streams that they’ve tested are categorized as polluted. That means these waters don’t meet basic health standards for swimming or fishing – and definitely not drinking. What’s even more disturbing is that most of our lakes and rivers have yet to be tested! There is clearly more work that needs to be done to test these lakes to figure out where important clean-up work is most needed.

Minnesotans want money from the Legacy Amendment to be spent where it will be most effective.

In a poll conducted by a bipartisan polling team just last year, the majority of Minnesota voters said they wanted state funding to go where it would be most effective at reducing water pollution, as opposed to spreading it evenly throughout the state.

Unfortunately, the distribution of the money so far has been more driven by politics than need.

We are also learning more and more about the ties between agriculture runoff and water pollution.

Let’s be clear: There are Minnesota farmers who definitely want to protect the water. They do what they can to reduce pollutants, like following our current law that requires farmers to set up a natural filter of plants and grasses between their cultivated fields and river banks.

Unfortunately many Minnesota farmers are caught in a bad system that by its very design does not protect our lakes, rivers and streams: Large farm operators and people controlling this agricultural industry don’t want to change their system.

Even farmers acknowledge this. We talked with groups of farmers in rural Minnesota last year, and they definitely want to hold those large farm operators accountable for water pollution created by farms. Seventy-two percent of Minnesotans polled last year said they think farms should pay the cost of cleaning up their own water pollution, just like other businesses are required to do. This was supported by people from all walks of life, even by those who said their family is dependent on the farm economy.

So what can you or I do?

Learn more about the connections between agriculture and water pollution! One of Minnesota Environmental Partnership’s member organizations, Environment Minnesota, is hosting a breakfast forum on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at the Red Stag Supperclub in Minneapolis.

The event will feature discussions with experts and farmers who have personal experiences with the issues of pollution and sustainable farming.

Go to www.EnvironmentMinnesota.org to learn about the breakfast, which is part of Environment Minnesota’s Green Ideas & Ham event series.

Listen to their conversation by clicking play below.

You can listen to the whole show and download it as a podcast on AM950′s website.

Steve will be on Nancy’s show again Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 5:30 p.m. Tune in on your radio or listen online!

On September 23, House Republicans passed a destructive bill called the TRAIN Act (H.R. 2401).  This legislation institutes needless bureaucratic delays and stall tactics to permanently weaken EPA’s ability to uphold the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. The bill also orders EPA to indefinitely delay its rules to address cross-state air pollution and mercury emissions from power plants. 

I had the privilege of offering the final amendment on behalf of the House Democratic Caucus, which would have ensured EPA could continue its work cleaning up toxic air pollution and water pollution under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. You can watch my floor speech here or read my comments here. To my disappointment, all 232 Republicans, including Representatives Chip Cravaack (MN-08), John Kline (MN-02), and Erik Paulsen (MN-03) voted against protecting the Great Lakes with Michele Bachmann (MN-06) not voting. This was just the first of many attempts House Republicans will be making in the coming weeks to undermine our nation’s landmark air and water quality laws.

When I returned home last week, I joined the leaders of Environment Minnesota, the American Lung Association and other clean-air leaders at a press conference at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul to call attention to the House Republicans’ “all-out assault” on air quality. You can read my complete remarks here.

Be assured I will continue fighting in Congress to safeguard the health of Minnesota families and protect a generation of hard-won progress for cleaner air.

*Minnesota Environmental Partnership accepts posts by Minnesota’s elected officials that comply with our nonprofit’s 501(c)(3) status. Read our blog submission guidelines here.

By Kelsey Staberg, Sierra Club Policy Intern

Last Friday, Representatives Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison and Tim Walz stood up to the pro-polluter majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and voted against legislation that exposes Americans to toxic mercury, and creates detrimental health problems caused by smog and pollution for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans each year.

If signed into law, the TRAIN Act (H.R. 2401) will weaken the EPA’s ability to limit mercury and other air toxics from power plants under the Clean Air Act, and require the costly preparation of unncecessary and redundant reports. This legislation would also directly affect the health of the general public.

This Act would delay the EPA’s attempt to improve air quality by blocking two long-overdue rules to reduce harmful air pollution.  Blocking these standards for just one more year puts up to 25,300 lives at risk due to toxic air pollution. Smog, soot, and other air toxics have a pernicious effect on Americans suffering from heart disease, asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases. The EPA estimates that the Clean Air Act rules that inhibit the emissions of air toxics and pollutants will prevent 230,000 premature deaths by the year 2020, and dramatically reduce other medical expenses.

It’s both disappointing and outrageous that a majority in the U.S. House would vote for this bill, claiming that the costs of basic pollution protections that Minnesotans have relied on for 40 years are too high, but I’m relieved to know that three members of our Minnesota delegation recognize that a healthy economy begins with healthy people.

Allowing corporations to dump toxic pollution into the air we breathe will not lead to economic recovery. I commend President Obama for his vow to veto this bill, and urge Senators Klobuchar and Franken to also reject the House’s most dangerous attack on the Clean Air Act since the law was enacted.

Community Leaders and volunteers gather around a giant inhaler at Stewart Field to raise awareness the dangerous health problems of air pollution. Photo by Christy Newell, Will Steger Foundation Intern

On Tuesday, Minneapolis residents protested dangerous air pollution from cars and coal-fired power plants with an 18-foot-tall human hand holding an asthma inhaler. Concerned citizens gathered at Stewart Field, warning that air pollution causes asthma attacks and makes kids sick, and demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reduce toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants and from cars and encourage a 21st-century transportation system.

“Dirty air costs Minnesotan families too much,” said Jessica Tatro from the Sierra Club North Star Chapter. “Children with asthma need the EPA to adopt tough air-quality standards to protect our health and to transition us toward clean energy solutions like wind and solar.”

Burning coal for electricity and gas in our cars and trucks generates toxic air pollutants like smog and soot, which exacerbate asthma and other health problems. Children and seniors are especially vulnerable to the health risks of air pollution. The EPA estimates that smog and soot pollution cause over $100 billion in health costs nationwide each year. This startling number has not gone unnoticed by local community leaders, like State Senator Torres Ray.

On Tuesday, State Senator Torres Ray said, “I’m delighted to participate in the air quality awareness event organized by the Sierra Club in Minneapolis. Air Pollution caused by humans is an increasing danger for people and the environment. I’m very concerned about the threat to public health posed by cities’ air pollution. Many children and seniors in our City are being diagnosed with asthma disorders and need to take strong measures to address it.”

Asthma is one of America’s worst public health problems affecting over 400,000 people – including 118,111 children – in Minnesota alone. A local community member and a parent of a child with asthma, Valerie Martinez, shared the heart wrenching story of when her two month old son had trouble breathing because of environmental toxins. “Communities with less resistance are not aware of developments like freeways that add toxins to their community,” said Valerie. “Or they are not educated about the implications of these developments. Too often, it is these communities that bear the brunt of development in the city.” More than 35 million Americans live within 300 feet of a major road, which puts them at greater risk for illnesses like asthma.

State Representative Clark commented on Valerie’s statement, saying, “Clean air protection is an environmental justice issue because air pollution disproportionately affects low income neighborhoods like the Phillips neighborhood in South Minneapolis” where the press conference took place.

During Tuesday’s event, Sierra Club members and local residents demanded that the EPA take action to reduce harmful air pollution that causes asthma. This summer, the EPA is expected to set new standards for cleaning up smog and soot. If strong enough, these protections will lessen public health problems like asthma and save thousands of lives every year. Strong standards would also boost to the economy by saving billions of dollars in health costs, reducing sick days, and creating jobs for workers installing pollution controls on power plants and building better public-transit systems. Strong new EPA air pollution standards would also help encourage development of clean, renewable energy sources like wind and solar that create even more green jobs.

Residents are also calling upon the Obama administration to protect children’s health by issuing strong protections from air pollution like smog. The EPA was scheduled to release its final rule on smog on July 29 but announced last week that it would delay finalizing the rule. The new ozone standard would protect some of America’s most vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly, from respiratory illnesses like asthma. “EPA’s Science Advisory Board and health professionals have advocated a stricter standard for most of the 40 years that we’ve been monitoring ozone in the air we breathe,” said Dr. Simcik, a faculty member at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. “We need an educated public to support these experts and politicians in protecting both our health and our economy.” Dr. Simcik and other concerned citizens of Minneapolis urged the Obama administration to stand up for public health and to issue long overdue clean air protections that protect public health.

Jessica Tatro said. “We need to clean up our air and foster a healthy economy, with clean energy sources like wind and solar and a 21st-century transportation system.”

This post crossposted at the North Star Chapter blog.

“It ain’t over till it’s over,” said New York Yankee great Yogi Berra.

That’s the way a lot of lobbyists, advocates, agency staff, and legislators felt when the 2011 legislative session came to an end at midnight on May 23. Five months of action and drama, but still no budget and deficit resolve. “Extra innings,” Yogi would say!

Having been through many special sessions in my career, it is easy to understand why we will be doing it again but it is always frustrating to see it happen. Legislative law making is like watching sausage being ground up into wieners or hamburger. You wouldn’t want to see it or do it every day!

Most of the issues that MEP and its members groups have been working on through out the session are still pending. Here is a summary:

Environmental Budget:

HF1010 has been vetoed by the Governor. MEP supported the veto.

The bill contained deep general fund cuts in the environmental and conservation areas in MPCA, DNR, and the BWSR. The cuts ranged from 20-67% in certain programs and projects. The bill would have closed one of the two state nurseries in a money-saving effort. The DNR had indicated that the cuts to parks would directly affect the hours and services at state parks starting July 1. The biggest cuts in DNR would have come in waters and eco-services due to their heavy dependence on general funds.

The bill also would have moved money from LCCMR recommended projects to “emerging issues” like CWD, AIS, and a sulfate study. While these emerging issues are very important and need to be dealt with this session, it would have been done at the expense of the citizen-involved LCCMR process.

HF1010 also contained a couple of policy issues, including changes to the state sulfide standard applied to waters where wild rice grows. The bill would have suspended the current sulfide pollution discharge standard for waters capable of growing wild rice. The standard is currently 10 milligrams of sulfate per liter of water to 50 milligrams. The bill called for a study to be done on sulfide standards which could take 2-3 years. A suspended standard would benefit mining operations and their wastewater discharges, as well as wastewater treatment plants discharges.

The bill would have lowered the water quality standards for phosphorous discharge into Lake Pepin, placed a extra level of bureaucracy on water rule-making, repealed the protections provided under the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area guidelines, exempted from EAW’s ethanol facilities expansions, and lessened the permit standards of large feedlots.

An environmental budget bill will be a part of the special session discussions and debate. MEP will continue to work to get the revenue committed to the environment and conservation increased to at least the traditional general fund base. MEP will also work to keep the bad policy issues left off the budget bill.

Coal Plant Restrictions:

SF86, authored by Senator Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont) and Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee) has passed and is awaiting the Governor’s decision. The Governor vetoed this bill!

This legislation would remove restrictions on building new coal-fired power plants in Minnesota and/or would allow Minnesota utilities to buy electricity from dirty coal plants in North Dakota.

This legislation would undo a critical part of the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act which passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Pawlenty. Currently the law establishes a goal of a 15% reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions by 2015 and 80% by 2050.

The omnibus energy bill, SF1197, also was passed and sent to the Governor. This bill includes a special exemption for the Spiritwood plant near Jamestown, N.D., in terms of allowing electricity produced at that plant to be exported to Minnesota. The Governor signed this bill.

MEP opposed these bills due to concerns over back tracking on the renewal energy alternatives and exporting Minnesota energy dollars to other states.

Nuclear Power Plant Moratorium:

The conference committee on SF4 /HF9 never got out of conference committee. This legislation would repeal the 17-year-old moratorium on building new nuclear power plants in the state.

Environmental Policy:

SF1115 is the bill that started out as the Aquatic Invasive Species Policy Bill. However, in the House the bill became the omnibus environmental policy bill with more than 100 sections!

This omnibus bill includes controversial environmental and conservation issues, including changes in environmental review and EAW petitioning processes, water withdrawal from the Poplar River from snowmaking at Lutsen Ski Resort, and many more. The Governor signed this bill.

Legacy Clean Water Dedicated Dollars:

HF1061, authored by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) is the Legacy Bill. All four “pots” of money from the legacy funds are in this bill, including the conservation and habitat legacy funds, the clean water dollars, the parks and trails dollars, and the arts and history dollars.

The bill appropriates the $170 million over two years of clean water dollars raised from the dedicated sales tax funds. There is money for local governments and hopefully nonprofit organizations to continue to clean up our lakes and streams. The bill also calls for some changes in the makeup of the current clean water council and its duties.

This bill made it through conference committee but was rejected by the House due to a public meeting provision and the percentages of dollars to state parks, regional metro parks, and outstate local and county parks. This bill is expected back in special session, as well.

MEP and many other organizations are concerned over the deep cuts in environmental and conservation general funds in the budget bills and the possibility that the Legacy dollars could be used to “backfill” the gaps created by the deep general fund cuts. This is not what the voters expected when they voted strongly in support of the Legacy Amendment in 2008! We are working to see that this backfilling does not take place.

Streamlining of Environmental Review:

HF1 is now Chapter 4.

With the Governor’s signature, a major rollback of environmental review and permitting has taken place.

HF1 establishes a goal of petition decision making within 150 days of application by the DNR and the MPCA in order to provide faster environmental review and permitting.  The Governor had already addressed this concern and legislative priority with a January executive order. The legislature chose to go further then the provisions in the executive order.

The new law eliminates the district courts as the first line of defense for individuals or groups to appeal EIS decisions – leaving only the appeals court to be the court of pubic input.

The bill also allows the proponent of a project to prepare the draft EIS and then have the Responsible Government Agency (RGU) review and approve the document. MEP and others believe that this two-step approach to environmental review could actually slow down the entire process.

The biggest environmental roll back in the bill is language that exempts the IRRRB from MEPA’s requirement that environmental impacts be taken into consideration before making financial decisions relating to proposals in front of the IRRRB. MEP believes strongly that before the IRRRB decides to loan public money to a project such as PolyMet, it should first understand the environmental impacts of what it is funding. This provision was not in the bill as introduced but was added by amendment on the house and senate floors with Republicans and Iron Rangers voting in support of the provision.

This type of environmental review and permitting covered by this new legislation usually occurs in the MPCA on permits for big agriculture feedlots, large construction sites, power plants sitting and building, and the DNR for mining and forestry projects.

Environmental Cut Backs:

Much work remains to be done in a special session in June or later! The entire state budget, except to the Ag Department, needs to be passed by July 1 in order to avoid a government shut down! With the veto of all the GOP-supported budget bills the Governor and legislative leadership must refocus and attempt to come to some resolve on the entire budget level and where to get extra revenue—if agreed upon.

MEP does not support the deep cuts in the budget or the legislative effort to roll back environmental protection in this state. Many gains have been made in the environmental arena over the 10-20 years. Republicans and Democrats, working together, crafted public policy for clean energy alternatives to coal and nuclear energy, stronger protections for our lakes, rivers, and streams, and established ways that the general public and interested parties in general to participate in decisions that affect their communities and lives.

In MEP’s annual polling, Minnesotans indicate that clean energy and clean water are keys to the future of this state. Over 80% of Minnesotan’s polled last fall indicated that they support the need for industry to continue to follow existing laws that protect water, land, and the air—not roll back the protections!

MEP Message & Mission:

MEP’s position of protecting our environment, preserving of habitat, improving the quality of our lakes and streams, and using clean energy are strongly supported by the majority of Minnesotans. Our message remains clear. Minnesotans want clean water. We want clean energy jobs.  We want our Great Outdoors to be protected and preserved for future generations.

MEP and its members groups will continue to lobby in the special session to “Protect Minnesota’s Future.”

If you have any questions or concerns about the issues mentioned above, or any other, feel free to contact me at gary@capitolconnections.com.

I am writing this update on Friday afternoon in advance of a long evening back at the Capitol as the House and Senate confer the environment budget bill. The House version is HF1010 and the Senate version is SF1029. The two sides have met a number of times in the last week and are expected to reach final agreement yet tonight (Friday).

With one week left in the 2011 legislative session, it appears likely that the Legislature will not reach agreement on budget bills and numerous policy issues. It appears that a special session in June will be necessary in order to reach any agreements in terms of dealing with a $5 billion budget shortfall and how to fund state government for the next two years.

One budget bill, the Agriculture Budget bill, is finished and signed into law! All other budget bills are in conference committee. Most of the committees have met this past week to review the differences in the House and Senate versions of the spending bills for state agencies and all the programs and projects that the state pays for with general funds.

Bills to lift Coal Plant Restrictions:

An amended version of HF72, authored by Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee), was passed by the full House this week, 76-54.

The Senate voted 42-18 to lift restrictions on carbon dioxide from coal production. The bill, SF86, is authored by Senator Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont).

These two bills are now headed for a conference committee to work out the differences.

Both the House and Senate versions of this legislation would remove restrictions on building new coal-fired power plants in Minnesota and would allow Minnesota utilities to pay for electricity from dirty coal plants in North Dakota.

This legislation would undo a critical part of the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act which passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Pawlenty. Currently the law establishes a goal of a 15% reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions by 2015 and 80% by 2050. MEP opposes these bills due to concerns over back tracking on the renewal energy alternatives and exporting Minnesota energy dollars to other states.

Environmental Budget Bills:

The environment conference committee, as I mentioned above, will be meeting Friday night and into the weekend if needed. The committee is considering dollar differences in major important environment and conservation programs and departments. The committee is also considering numerous policy changes that were incorporated in each version of the budget bills.

The House conferees are Representatives McNamara, Hackbarth, Torkelson, Hoppe and Dill. The Senate conferees are Senators Ingebrigtsen, Rosen, Gerlach, Pederson and Dahms.

MEP testified on each of the bills as they moved through the process and expressed concern over the deep general fund cuts. We also commented strongly on a large number of bad policy bills, most surrounding water, that have been rounded into the budget bills.

House Environmental Budget Bill:

HF1010, authored by committee chair Rep. Denny McNamara (R-Hasting). There are deep general fund cuts in the environmental and conservation areas in MPCA, DNR, and the BWSR. The bill would close the two state nurseries in a money-saving effort. The DNR has indicated they may have to close a number of state parks if these general fund cuts become law.

The bill also moves money from the LCCMR recommendations to “emerging issues” like CWD, AIS, and a sulfate study. While these emerging issues are very important and need to be dealt with this session, it is being done at the expense of the citizen-involved LCCMR process. The bill also sets aside some of the LCCMR dollars in order to maintain newly acquired lands and provide dollars to local government for payment for lands coming off the tax rolls.

HF1010 also contains a couple of policy issues, including changes to the state sulfide standard applied to waters that are capable of growing wild rice. The current sulfide pollution discharge standard for waters capable of growing wild rice is changed from 10 milligrams of sulfate per liter of water to 50 milligrams. This new, weaker standard would be used in the interim while the two-year study takes place. The weaker standard would benefit mining operations and their wastewater discharges, as well as wastewater treatment plants discharges.

Senate Environment Budget Bill:

SF1029, authored by committee chair Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), does not cut the environmental conservation state agencies as deeply as the House bill. However, the general fund cuts also hit hard in the waters and eco-services division, as well as parks and trails.

SF1029 contains a number of policy changes to current state law.  The bill would suspend the current sulfide pollution discharge standard while a new standard is researched and put in place through rule making. The bill lowers the water quality standard for phosphorous discharges into Lake Pepin, places a two-year moratorium on all water rule-making, repeals the protections provided under the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area guidelines, exempts from EAW’s ethanol facilities expansions, and lessens the permit standards of large feedlots.

MEP is meeting with and working with the committee conferees to improve the dollars in the bill and remove “bad bills” that have been included in two versions of the bill. We have also been in contact with the Governor’s office in regard to our concerns.

Environmental Policy Bills:

Identify the two bills SF1115 / HF1097 have passed both the House and the Senate and are headed for conference committee. These omnibus bills include key controversial environmental and conservation issues, including
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), changes in environmental review and EAW petitions, and policies concerning the Poplar River and its trout population.

Nuclear Power Plant Moratorium Lifting:

The conference committee on SF4 /HF9 continues to be on hold. The debate has paused after the problems with nuclear power plants occurred in Japan.

This legislation would repeal the 17-year-old moratorium on building new nuclear power plants in the state. The Governor is actively involved in this legislation and has established three concerns that would need to be addressed if he is going to sign the bill.

SF4 is authored by Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-Buffalo). HF9 is authored by Rep. Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers).

MEP and MEP member organizations oppose the legislation and are encouraging the Governor to veto the bill.

Legacy Clean Water Dedicated Dollars:

HF1061, authored by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) is now the Legacy Bill in the House. All four “pots” of money from the legacy funds are in this bill, including the legacy dedicated funds, the clean water dedicated dollars, and the parks and trails dedicated dollars, and the arts and history dedicated dollars.

The bill appropriates the $170 million over two years of clean water dollars raised from the dedicated sales tax funds. There is money for local governments and hopefully nonprofit organizations to continue to clean up our lakes and streams. The bill also calls for some changes in the makeup of the current clean water council and its duties.  Language in the bill reserves 20% of the Lessard-Sams money for maintenance of lands purchased under the bill and dollars for payments to local government for taking the land off the tax rolls.

The Senate’s version of the Legacy bill is SF1363, authored by Environment Committee Chair Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria). This bill would replace the current Clean Water Council with a new Clean Water Council modeled after the Lessard-Sams Council. These two bills are where the debate is occurring over state land purchases and money to improve and maintain them, as well as, determine levels of PILT payments to local governments for property taxes and the source(s) of funding for those PILT payments.

MEP and many other organizations are concerned over the deep cuts in environmental and conservation general funds in the budget bills and the possibility that the Legacy dollars could be used to “backfill” the gaps created by the deep general fund cuts. This is not what the voters expected when they voted strongly in support of the Legacy Amendment in 2008! We are working to see that this backfilling does not take place!

Water Rules Two-Year Moratorium:

SF196, authored by Senator John Pederson (R-St. Cloud) would place a two-year freeze on all water rulemaking currently taking place and calls for a study due back next session regarding consolidation of the water agencies and functions. This bill language is also included in the Senate Environment Finance bill.

HF182 is the House companion and is authored by Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee). That bill is now part of HF1097-the House’s version of the omnibus environmental policy bill.

Phosphorous Standards in Lake Pepin:

SF161, also authored by Pederson would require the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin to establish a phosphorous standard for Lake Pepin and implement that new standard only in certain months of the year. This bill language is included in the Senate Environment Finance bill.

HF368 is the House companion and is authored by Rep. King Banaian (R-St. Cloud).

Waters with Wild Rice, Sulfate Standards:

The battle continues over sulfate standards for water where wild rice grows! Changes to the current sulfate standard are included in both the House and Senate Environment Finance bills. An MPCA-led study to determine the appropriate level or standard based on good science is also included and funded in both bills. The current sulfate level in wastewater discharges of 10 milligrams has been in place since 1973. Mining operations and certain legislators believe this standard is not based on any good science and is too strict for them to meet. MEP supports the sulfate standards study to be headed by the MPCA and supports leaving the current sulfate standard in place until the study is complete.

Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Repeal:

SF39, authored by Senator Benjamin Kruse (R-Brooklyn Park), would repeal the Mississippi River corridor critical area designation that covers the river front planning and development along the 72-mile Mississippi river from Dayton through Hastings. SF39 passed the Senate floor over a week ago on a 35-27 vote.

The bill is also included in the Senate Environmental Finance bill.

The House companion is HF95, authored by Rep. Melissa Hortman (D-Brooklyn Park). Her bill is pending in the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee.

These bills would repeal state rulemaking for the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area. This 2009 law directs the DNR to work with local units of government and other stakeholders to update minimum standards and guidelines for the river corridor. That work is nearly complete. If allowed to become law, this legislation would prevent new standards and guidelines designed to update protections for the Mississippi River from being enacted.

MEP and many MEP members oppose these bills.

Aquatic Invasive Species Controls:

The legislature is moving forward with an increased effort in the battle against aquatic invasive species. The Governor’s plan is contained in HF1162, authored Rep. John Ward (D-Brainerd).  The fight against AIS includes zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, and Asian carp. HF1162 increases fines for boaters who don’t properly drain their boats and bait buckets. That bill has now become part of HF1097.

The Governor proposed to pay for the increased effort with an increase in the current $5 surcharge every three years tied to boat licenses. These license surcharges would vary depending on the watercraft size and type and are projected to raise $4 million per year for the educational, enforcement, and public awareness AIS campaign. However, HF1162, as currently written, contains policy changes by no increased funding sources.

In the Senate, SF1115, authored by Senator Ingebrigtsen is moving in the Senate.

Both the House and Senate Environment Finance bills fund an increased AIS effort by the DNR with LCMMR dollars for two years.

The reaction to license fee increases, including boat license fees for AIS, has not been well received at the State Capitol. The majority party considers fees to be taxes and does support raising either at this point in the legislative session. Currently in both budget bills, lottery dollars are being redirected to increase the efforts surrounding the fighting of AIS through education and enforcement.

A Bonding Bill:

Rumors around the Capitol continue to include the strong possibility that a bonding bill will be part of the “final solution.” Both the House and Senate Bonding Committees are readying a smaller bonding bill that would deal with flooding concerns and problems for the state and local government in terms of highways and buildings.  The House is working on a bonding bill, HF959, authored by Rep. Larry Howes (R-Walker).  The Governor’s $500 million bonding bill, HF607, received one hearing and was laid on the table.

Legislative Approval of Agency Rules:

Legislation is moving that would require legislative approval of any state agency rule making process that would cost of $10,000. Similar legislation has been introduced relating to elections, education, and health and human services. The philosophy is one of legislative control of rule making so that the rules to do not move too far from the original intent of the legislation.

HF203 is authored by Rep. Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake) and has passed the House. SF261 is authored by Senator David Senjem (R-Rochester) and is awaiting action on the Senate floor.

Governor Dayton has indicated opposition to these bills, noting that Governor Pawlenty vetoed similar bills in the past.

Local Control:

Legislation of concern has been introduced that could potentially weaken local control for townships, cities, and counties. SF270, authored by Senator Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove). This bill passed its only committee this week and is headed for the Senate floor.

The House companion to this bill is HF389, is authored by Rep. Mike Beard and is awaiting House floor action.

MEP is opposed to these bills due to the fact that they would weaken local control in terms of environmental protection and review.

Citizen Participation in LCCMR and Lessard-Sams Decisions:

This has been a tough year for citizen participation in the two councils that “make recommendations” regarding lottery dollars and dedicated sales tax dollars. Both the recommendations from the LCCMR and the Lessard-Sams Council have been changed in the legislative process. Changes have been made in the past regarding the old LCMR recommendations and process, but the newer LCCMR version and even newer Lessard-Sams model are not accustom to the Legislature holding and playing the bigger cards. The jury is still out over the fallout of this year’s actions.

HF1073, authored by Rep. Rick Hanson (D-South St. Paul),
has been introduced that would do away with both councils and all the citizens involved and move the decisions back to the legislature.

Innovative Energy Projects:

MEP members are monitoring a new energy bill. SF417, authored by Senator Dave Tomassoni (D-Chisholm), and HF618, authored by Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee), would modify the innovative energy project standards in current law. The bill calls for the use of a combustion turbine generation technology using synthesis gas derived from coal and other hydrocarbon resources as a primary fuel. SF417 received it first hearing this week.

Streamlining of Environmental Review:

HF1 is now Chapter 4.

With the Governor’s signature, a major rollback of environmental review and permitting has taken place.

HF1 establishes a goal of petition decision making within 150 days of application by the DNR and the MPCA in order to provide faster environmental review and permitting.  The Governor had already addressed this concern and legislative priority with a January executive order. The legislature chose to go further then the provisions in the executive order.

The new law eliminates the district courts as the first line of defense for individuals or groups to appeal EIS decisions – leaving only the appeals court to be the court of pubic input.

The bill also allows the proponent of a project to prepare the draft EIS and then have the Responsible Government Agency (RGU) review and approve the document. MEP and others believe that this two-step approach to environmental review could actually slow down the entire process.

The biggest environmental roll back in the bill is language that exempts the IRRRB from MEPA’s requirement that environmental impacts be taken into consideration before making financial decisions relating to proposals in front of the IRRRB. MEP believes strongly that before the IRRRB decides to loan public money to a project such as PolyMet, it should first understand the environmental impacts of what it is funding. This provision was not in the bill as introduced but was added by amendment on the house and senate floors with Republicans and Iron Rangers voting in support of the provision.

This type of environmental review and permitting covered by this new legislation usually occurs in the MPCA on permits for big agriculture feedlots, large construction sites, power plants sitting and building, and the DNR for mining and forestry projects.

MEP and MEP members opposed this bill all the way along the legislative process and asked the Governor for a veto. It did not happen!

Environmental Cut Backs:

These GOP-authored bills are strongly backed by the state Chamber of Commerce and are part of the GOP “jobs creation” and “get government off of the backs of business” package. These bills are, in theory, what the Republicans heard from the general public and business during the campaigns of last year.

The majority party is also against raising taxes for fees—thus the deep cuts to address the $5 billion deficit.

MEP does not support the deep cuts in the budget or the legislative effort to roll back environmental protection in this state. Many gains have been made in the environmental arena over the 10-20 years. Republicans and Democrats, working together, crafted public policy for clean energy alternatives to coal and nuclear energy, stronger protections for our lakes, rivers, and streams, and established ways that the general public and interested parties in general to participate in decisions that affect their communities and lives.

In MEP’s annual polling, Minnesotans indicate that clean energy and clean water are keys to the future of this state. Over 80% of Minnesotan’s polled last fall indicated that they support the need for industry to continue to follow existing laws that protect water, land, and the air—not roll back the protections!

MEP Message & Mission:

MEP’s position of protecting our environment, preserving of habitat, improving the quality of our lakes and streams, and using clean energy are strongly supported by the majority of Minnesotans. Our message remains clear. Minnesotans want clean water. They want clean energy jobs.  And they want our Great Outdoors to be protected and preserved for future generations.

MEP and its members groups will continue to lobby the 2011 Legislature and the Governor Dayton administration to “Protect Minnesota’s Future.”

If you have any questions or concerns about the issues mentioned above, or any other, feel free to contact me at gary@capitolconnections.com.

We urge you to contact your local representative and senator and talk to them about good clean energy jobs and the need to continue to enhance and protect the environment. They need to hear from you; grassroots is the key to success!