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.

Minnesota has come a long way in developing better transportation options:

• Our system of safe bike trails is growing,
• Public transit is becoming more accessible,
• And our roadways are being upgraded to be friendly to all users.

Help MEP do more.

With your support on Give to the Max Day (Nov. 16), we can move Minnesota further – imagine what’s possible for our state if we all give together!

Let’s make commuting enjoyable.

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

With less than four days to go until the current Minnesota budget expires, a state government shutdown is looking more and more likely. If Governor Dayton and the legislature fail to reach an agreement on spending by the end of the day on June 30, most state agencies will find themselves without the statutory authority to continue operating. A shutdown would severely limit the availability of many basic services, like education and health care, that Minnesotans rely on.

What would a government shutdown mean for Minnesota’s environment and the people who enjoy it?

If a budget does not pass, all state parks will close at 4 PM on June 30, and remain closed for the duration of the shutdown. According to the Department of Natural Resources, all restrooms and park buildings will be locked and the grounds will be closed to camping. Forest campgrounds will also be closed, although state trails and public water access points will remain open for day use.

With the Fourth of July weekend fast approaching, the timing for park visitors could not be worse. Up to 90,000 Minnesotans are planning to visit a state park over the holiday weekend. The DNR has waived cancellation fees for park visitors with reservations between June 30 and July 14, and full refunds will be available once the shutdown ends.

Because the DNR offices will be closed, the sale of all hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses will be suspended for the duration of the government shutdown. Nevertheless, all license laws will remain in effect, and the enforcement of conservation laws will continue. Anyone hoping to hunt or fish during the government shutdown must purchase a license before the DNR closes on June 30. Because the shutdown will continue as long as the state government fails to pass a budget, hunters and anglers are advised to plan ahead.

Mass transit will continue to operate, using reserve funding and the money received from customer fares. The Star Tribune estimates that Metro Transit can keep buses and trains rolling for at least a month without state funding. Dial-a-ride service and Metro Mobility will also continue to run, as well as bus lines operated by the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and other suburban providers.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will also suspend most of its services and programs during a government shutdown. Even in the absence of a state budget, certain government services will be allowed to continue operating if they are essential for public health, safety, and the statewide economy. For the MPCA, the Dayton administration has identified only a few essential services: maintaining safety and health equipment at four closed landfills and seven superfund sites, monitoring air quality, and responding to environmental emergencies.

No one knows yet exactly which services will be provided by the DNR and the MPCA in the event of a shutdown. The Dayton administration has prepared a list of state government services it deems to be “critical.” This week, a Ramsey District Court judge will decide whether to accept Dayton’s recommendations or appoint an independent mediator to choose which state services must continue during a shutdown.

We will continue to monitor the negotiations in St. Paul, and we’ll keep hoping that Dayton and Republican leaders in the state legislature reach an agreement before July 1 — for the sake of Minnesotans and their environment.

Crossposted at the Sierra Club North Star Chapter Blog.

Mn/DOT says that the cuts to outstate transit would mean the loss of 101,000 hours of annual bus service, or about a 10 percent cut, which is the equivalent of completely eliminating service in five average small regional centers and five average rural counties.

The same bill also nixes the state’s efforts to plan for future intercity rail lines, like Twin Cities to Chicago, Duluth, and Rochester. This is a cynical cut of $500,000 that does little for the state’s bottom line, but would waste much of the work that was initiated under then-Governor Pawlenty to get Minnesota back in line with a plan to move forward on intercity rail investment.

Make no mistake about it, these cuts would have a big negative impact on quality of life for many Minnesotans now and into the future. With families facing $4 gas, this is the wrong direction. For the thousands of Minnesotans that do not have access to a car, they will be faced with even more challenges to reach work, school, or appointments. It also only makes the state less attractive for businesses, who increasingly consider affordable transit options when deciding on where to locate.

The bill also threatens any future light rail or bus rapid transit lines. The Federal government requires that local communities support their bus system before they will pony up their 50 percent share for new transitways. Clearly, this type of cut would not fulfill federal requirements and would jeopardize Southwest LRT from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, Bottineau Boulevard LRT from Minneapolis to the northwest suburbs, any future bus rapid transit or commuter rail to serve the East Metro, and other projects being discussed. The bill also includes language that gives the Counties Transit Improvement Board, which oversees the ¼ cent local sales tax for building and operating new transitways, the option of diverting their funds to support the bus system. That is a lose-lose scenario for everyone involved and isn’t a meaningful solution to the budget deficit, not to mention a terrible precedent for other local option sales taxes.

The bill authors purport that the numbers won’t be that bad. But their math is dependent on unlikely increases in car sales – an area that has failed to meet projections in 9 of the last 10 years. They also take from other valuable Metropolitan Council programs for economic development and future transportation corridor right-of-way acquisition to try to lessen the impact on the transit system. But those shifts are a bad short-term fix as well given the value and success of those programs in supporting new development and saving tax payers money in the long-term.

The Minnesota House approved the bill on a party-line 71-61 vote early Thursday morning. The Senate is likely to approve the bill Thursday afternoon as part of the Republican majority’s overall budget package. When it reaches the Governor Dayton’s desk on Friday or Saturday, we hope he promptly vetoes it so we can figure out a solution that won’t gut the state’s transit system now and into the future.

I am writing this report on Thursday this week! The Legislature met on Monday and took the rest of the week off for the Holidays. It is like spring break without the beach! 

When the Legislature returns next week they have about one month to finish their work. All the budget bills are in conference committee, except the Agriculture Budget bill which was agreed to and signed into law by Governor Dayton. That process and agreement may be a good sign for things to come. If not it will be a long hot summer!

With all the general cuts that are being used to close the $5 billion budget gap without any new revenue, the debate has been long and heated. Many of these cuts go deep into program after program that have be developed and delivered over the years. The pain is real and the concern is being expressed by many affected parties.

Bills to lift Coal Plant Restrictions:

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

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. The House bill is awaiting floor action.

HF72, authored by Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee), would repeal the current standards for building new coal-fired power plants without a plan for offsetting the emissions. 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.

Now the Next Generation Energy Act goals of a 15% reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions by 2015 and 80% by 2050 are being re-debated in the coal bills debate. Opposition centers on back tracking on the renewal energy alternatives and exporting Minnesota energy dollars to other states.

MEP opposes these bills.

Environmental Budget Bills:

The House and the Senate have each named their five conferees (Reps. McNamara, Hackbarth, Torkelson, Hoppe and Dill and Sens. Ingebrigtsen, Rosen, Gerlach, Pederson and Dahms) who will negotiate the differences in the dollars and the policy issues rolled into the two environmental budget bills. MEP testified on both bills and both times expressed concern over the deep general fund cuts and the 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), passed the House floor on a 72-57 vote after a number of hours of debate. 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 properly manage 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. (Tell your legislators to stop messing with our wild rice!)

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 continues to oppose both bills for financial reasons and concerns, as well as the environmental protection rollbacks that are contained in both bills. We will be working with the governor’s office and the conference committee members to improve these bills into a bill that the governor could sign.

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:

The House Legacy Division met this week and merged three bills into one, including the legacy dedicated funds, the clean water dedicated dollars, and the parks and trails dedicated dollars bill. HF1061, authored by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City), has become the Legacy Amendment bill to watch. The bill will be finished the week after Easter and be moved to the House for final action.

The bill appropriates the $170 million of clean water dollars raised from the dedicated sales tax funds over two years. There is money for local governments and 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. HF1061 now contained the language of HF471, authored by Rep. Denny McNamara (R-Hastings). This section of the bill appropriated the Lessard-Sams legacy dollars for the third year since the constitutional amendment passed in 2008 to dedicate a portion of the sales tax to habit, water, parks, trails, arts, and history. 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.

MEP and many other organizations are concerned over the deep cuts in environmental and conservation funding in the budget bills and now 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.

On Thursday the Senate began putting its Legacy bill together. SF657 is authored by Environment Committee Chair Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria). The committee discussed and debated the clean water legacy portion of the bill and will continue putting the bill together after Easter. Both bills are expected to contain the funding provisions for the habitat legacy, clean water legacy, parks and trails legacy, and the arts and history legacy dollars. 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 what level PILT payments to local governments for property taxes need to be made and where will they be paid from.

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).

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. (Tell your legislators to stop messing with our wild rice!)

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. The Governor has 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, as well.

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 Bonding Committee has also prepared a working list of existing bonds authorized that, if canceled, would save the state money through reduced debt payments.  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) and HF389, authored by Rep. Mike Beard, have raised concerns to some MEP members. To date, no hearings have taken place, but MEP and its members are watching these bills.

LCCMR Dollars:

Both the House and Senate Environment Finance Committees decided to make major changes in the recommendations of the citizen-involved LCCMR. The changes include dropping funding for more than 20 recommended projects in order to free up money for other emerging issues/priorities like chronic wasting disease control, a sulfide standard study, and an AIS control program. Projects cuts were generally research-oriented projects.

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

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. No hearings have been held to date.

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:

With about one more month to go before the Legislature has to adjourn many “experts” around the Capitol are already predicting a special session or “over time.”

The Legislature has agreed on one conference committee report for Agriculture and sent the bill to the Governor, who signed it into law Friday morning.

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!

“As the world around us is turning green with spring, it’s an ideal time for Minnesotans to think about ways to live a little greener,” says Steve Morse, executive director of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP), a nonprofit coalition of more than 80 conservation and environmental organizations that produces the Living Green Expo. 

“This year, we’re challenging each Minnesotan to make at least one small change that, taken as a whole, can positively impact the environment.  These small steps are incredibly important.  Together, they add up to big steps on the road to sustainability.  Ultimately, these actions set the stage for larger-scale behavioral changes that have the potential to dramatically improve our community and our world.”

Here are a few simple ideas for pledges Minnesotans can make this Earth Day to live a little greener*:

• Recycle Your Cans: Just over half of aluminum cans are recycled.  Americans throw away enough aluminum cans in three months to rebuild the entire US commercial air fleet.

• Think Before You Toss: Minnesotans toss more than 1 million tons of recyclable materials annually, which have a value of more than $312 million, but cost our state $200 million to dispose of these materials.

• Use Rechargeable Batteries: One rechargeable battery has a lifetime equivalent to 1,500 alkaline batteries, and can save a consumer $500 over the life of one single rechargeable battery.

• Try A Compact Fluorescent Bulb (CFL): If each household in the U.S. replaced one standard light bulb with a CFL, the environmental impact would be equivalent to removing 1 million cars from the road.  Plus, CFLs last 8-10 times longer, use 75% less energy, and save an average of $25-$50 per bulb when compared to standard bulbs.

• Drive Smarter: Keeping tires properly inflated, avoiding sudden stops and starts and driving the speed limit is not only safer, it can save 25% or more on fuel costs.

• Use a Refillable Water Bottle: Americans used 50 billion plastic water bottles in 2006, or 167 per person.  Only 23% of these bottles were recycled, resulting in 38 billion water bottles thrown in landfills in only one year.

• Switch To A Battery-Powered Lawn Mower: One hour of mowing with a gas-powered lawn mower emits the same amount of smog as driving a car 340 miles. Switching to a battery-powered emits fewer emissions, 1/10th the noise, and costs only $5 per year to operate, a significant savings over the average annual cost of $70 to operate a gas-powered mower.

• Try A “Smart” Power Strip: Save an average of $11.55 on your monthly electricity bill by using a power strip that automatically shuts off.  This avoids “phantom” power use, which comprises approximately 10% of an average home’s power use.

About the Living Green Expo

The Living Green Expo is a two-day event filled with fun hands-on activities that help Minnesotans find ways to live a little greener.  Now in its 10th year, the Living Green Expo will be May 7-8, 2011 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and will feature more than 300 exhibitors, hourly workshops, and experts. This year’s highlights include:

• A local couple’s green wedding (Saturday, May 7 at 11 a.m.) one lucky couple will marry during the Living Green Expo to demonstrate how special events can be more environmentally conscious, from the invitations to the honeymoon and every step in between.

• Our Amazing Earth: An 8,000 square-foot interactive art display brings to life the four elements of the earth – water, earth, fire, wind – while inspiring preservation and conservation.

• Kids Eco Carnival: Enjoy fun activities for the entire family at the Kids Eco-Carnival, and introduce children to sustainable living by making garden hats and Mother’s Day recycled art gifts.  Kids are encouraged to show off their crafts during the Green On Parade (Saturday, May 7 at 1 p.m.)

• Complete Streets in Action: Take a stroll down a street designed for all kinds of users – yes, cars, but also bikes, strollers, pedestrians, buses and wheelchairs.

• Electric Vehicle Experience: Fasten your seatbelt and hop in for a free test ride in the latest electric vehicles!

Daily entertainment will take place on an outdoor stage. Nearly everything at the Living Green Expo is recycled or reused, making it the largest zero-waste event in the state.  Admission to the Expo is free (with voluntary $2 nonprofit donation.) Secure bike storage is available. Metro Transit provides shuttle services at the Living Green Expo and free transportation to and from the Expo with the Go Greener Pass.

All exhibitors at the Living Green Expo are reviewed by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP) and the Living Green Expo Stewardship Council to ensure they meet specific standards that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and the environment.

To learn more about the Living Green Expo, visit www.LivingGreenExpo.MN, “like” Living Green Expo on Facebook or join the conversation on twitter @LivingGreenExpo, #lgemn.

* Statistics provided by Terry Gips, President of Alliance for Sustainability (www.afors.org), an MEP member and Living Green Expo partner that offers resources and seminars on Sustainability and the Natural Step Framework.

Transit is a basic public service, getting people to and from work and school, and reducing congestion and pollution. Public transit helps the downtown office commuter avoid rush-hour headaches and high parking fees, but it is particularly important for those who either can’t afford a car or who can’t drive.

The House (House File 1140) and Senate (Senate File 898) propose significant cuts to transportation. The Senate cuts general fund spending by $41 million from base funding for FY 2012-13, a 23 percent reduction. The House goes much further, cutting transportation spending by $138 million in FY 2012-13, or 77 percent of general fund spending. And all of these cuts fall on mass transit. The general fund accounts for just three percent of all transportation spending – and nearly 90 percent of that general fund money goes to transit. Most funding for transportation comes from other funding sources, such as the gas tax or federal highway funding.

The Senate proposal cuts general fund spending for Metro Transit by $32 million in FY 2012-13, a 25 percent reduction. The Senate also cuts $8 million from transit in Greater Minnesota, but fills in that cut with an $8 million transfer from a fund that supports suburban area transit providers. The end result is a $40 million cut to transit in the metro area.

The House cuts are even more dramatic, eliminating all general fund support for Metro Transit in FY 2012-13, a $130 million reduction. The House also cuts nearly $8 million from Greater Minnesota transit (a 23 percent cut) and eliminates all of the Department of Transportation’s general fund money for commuter and passenger rail.

The Governor’s supplemental budget proposes no transit cuts.

Read complete post

Minnesota Budget Bites is a blog for the Minnesota Budget Project, an initiative of MEP member group, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

This week included the first day of spring, the latest snow storm, and the consideration and action on many, many budget bills from the Minnesota House and the Senate!

Late this week the House Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee and the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee passed out their versions of the omnibus budgets for the Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, and other parts of state agencies and divisions.

Environmental Budget Bills:

HF1010, authored by committee chair Rep. Denny McNamara (R-Hasting), is expected to be debated on the House floor next week. HF1010 contains deep general fund cuts (in the range of 10-64%) in the environmental and conservation areas in MPCA, DNR, and the BWSR. The bill also moves money from the LCCMR recommendations to “emerging issues like CWD and AIS programs.” Most organizations support the funding of these important timely issues, but also strongly support the citizen-driven process of LCCMR recommendations.

HF1010 also contains a number of policy issues that should not be included in a funding bill. They include a weakening change in the sulfide pollution discharge standard for waters capable of growing wild rice, a language change for DNR management of school trust fund lands to raise more money off those lands, and new language to require the DNR to log high-value tress on some of most valuable state parks. (Read MEP’s news release about the logging proposal.)

The Senate Environment Finance Budget bill, SF1029, does not cut the environmental conservation state agencies as deeply as the House bill. However, the general fund cuts at 30% to MPCA and 15% cuts to DNR waters.

SF1029 is loaded with environmental rollback policy changes! Provisions in the bill would suspend the current sulfide pollution discharge standard while a new standard or standards are researched and put in place through rule making. The bill also:

•    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,
•    lessens the permit standards of large feedlots,
•    and reduces the wetland replacement requirements for mining projects in the Great Lakes and Rainy River watershed basins.

Both HF1010 and SF1029 are expected to be considered on the House and Senate floors next week. After passage they will probably need a conference committee to work out the differences. MEP continues to oppose both bills for financial reasons and concerns, as well as the environmental protection rollbacks that are contained in both bills.

These budget bills, along with all the other budget bills, are expected to be vetoed by Governor Dayton. Then the real negotiations begin. May 17 is not too far away!

Nuclear Power Plant Moratorium Lifting:

The conference committee on SF4 / HF9 has met once and is on hold!  No doubt the emergency status surrounding the nuclear power plants in Japan is a factor in no further action or movement.

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 encouraging the Governor to veto the bill.

New Coal Plants Air Emissions Standards for Minnesota or Electricity from North  Dakota:

Both the house and senate versions of legislation that would remove restrictions on building new coal-fired power plants in Minnesota are on the House and Senate floors, but were not discussed in floor action this week.

HF72, authored by Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee), would repeal the current standards for building new coal fired power plants without a plan for offsetting the emissions. This legislation would undo a critical part of the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act that was passed with bipartisan support and signed in law by then Governor Pawlenty.

The companion to this bill, SF86, is authored by Senator Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont).

In was just back to the year 2007 when the “Next Generation Energy Act” was passed 125-7 in the House and signed into law by Governor Pawlenty. Now the goals of a 15% reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions by 2015 and 80% by 2050 are being re-debated in the coal bills debate. What a difference an election or two makes!

MEP and MEP members continue to oppose these bills.

Clean Water Dedicated Dollars:

The Clean Water Legacy money is contained in HF656 sponsored by Rep. Paul Torkelson (D-Nelson Township). This bill appropriates the clean water dollars raised the dedicated sales tax funds for two years. There is money for local governments and 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.

The House Legacy Division was all set to work on the Legacy Amendment bills this week but the meetings have been canceled due to heavy floor action expended instead.

SF657 — the companion to HF656 — is authored by Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen and is awaiting action in his committee.

MEP’s Water Cluster is actively working with key legislators, lobbyists from local government, business, agriculture, and the current Clean Water Council on plans and directions for this year’s clean water dollars.

Water Rules Two-Year Moratorium:

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

HF182 is the House companion in is authored by Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee).

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 is now 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 over sulfate standards for water growing wild rice continues! Changes to the current sulfate standard are changed 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.

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 full Senate this past Friday on a 35-27 vote!
The bill has also been amended into 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 rule-making 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 guideline designed to update protections for the Mississippi River from being enacted.

MEP and many MEP members oppose these bills.

Aquatic Invasive Species Controls:

The House Environment held its first hearing this week on a new funding option aquatic invasive species (AIS) control programs. HF1162, authored Rep. John Ward (D-Brainerd), is the Governor’s plan for a stronger AIS control program.  The fight against AIS includes zebra mussels, Eurasian water milfoil, and Asian carp. HF1162 increases fines for violations for boaters not properly draining their boats and bait buckets. The Governor has 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.

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:

The House Bonding Committee continues to work on a cancellation of existing bonds bill. These cancellations would save the state debt payments.  The Governor’s $500 million bonding bill, HF607, received a hearing earlier in the month but it not expected to be in play. The Senate Capitol Investments Committee is working on a flood bonding proposal to be ready if needed.

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 has passed two committees and is awaiting a hearing in its third committee stop.

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), and HF389, authored by Rep. Mike Beard, have raised concerns to some MEP members. To date no hearings have taken place, but MEP and its members are watching these bills.

School Trust Fund Laws:

Also included in the House Environment Finance bill is policy language coming from HF206, HF207, and HF435 authored by Rep. Dittrich (D-Champlin). These bills call for change in the law regarding how the state manages its permanent school trust lands. There are 2.5 million acres of school trust fund lands, mostly in northern Minnesota, that are managed by the DNR for timber and mining with the revenue raising going to the school districts of the state. The language added in the House Environment Finance bill requires the DNR to more aggressively manage these lands in terms of revenue raised for school districts across the state

Legacy Dedicated Dollars:

HF471, authored by Rep. Denny McNamara (R-Hastings), appropriated the Lessard-Sams legacy dollars for the third year since the constitutional amendment passed in 2008, to dedicate a portion of the sales tax to habit, water, parks, trails, arts, and history. At an earlier hearing that bill was amended to recommit 20% of the Lessard-Sams money for rehab and maintenance of lands purchased under the bill and dollars for payments to local government for taking the land off the tax rolls. The entire Legacy bill that will include habitat, water, parks and trails, and arts and culture is being formulated in the House Legacy Division, chaired by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City).

SF158 is the Senate companion and is authored by Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen. These two bills are where the debate over state land purchases, PILT payments to local governments for property taxes, and where the money might come from to improve and maintain the new public lands for public uses has and will continue to take place.

LCCMR Dollars:

Both the House and Senate Environment Finance Committees decided to make major changes in the recommendations of the citizen involved LCCMR. The changes include dropping funding for over 20 recommended projects in order to free up money for other emerging issues/priorities like chronic wasting disease control, a sulfide standard study, and an AIS control program. Projects cuts were generally research-oriented projects.

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 recommendation from the LCCMR and the Lessard-Sams Council has been changed in the legislative process. Changes have been made in the past regarding the old LCMR process and recommendations, but the newer LCCMR version and even newer Lessard-Sams model are not used by the legislature holding and playing the bigger cards strategy. The jury is still out over the fallout of this year’s actions, but a bill, HF1073 has been introduced that would do away with both councils and all the citizens involved and move the decisions back to the legislature. HF1073 is authored by Rep. Rick Hanson (D-South St. Paul).

Innovative Energy Projects:

MEP members are monitoring a new energy bill. SF417, authored by Senator Dave Tomassoni (D-Chisholm) and HF618 http://bit.ly/housefile618, 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. No hearings have been held to date.

Streamlining of Environmental Review:

HF1 is now Chapter 4.

With the Governor’s signature a major roll back 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!

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.

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

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!

The legislation Cong. Bachmann has introduced would exempt the current interstate-like bridge proposal from the U.S. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act – a terrible precedent with national implications.  Many citizen groups and local residents have argued for years that the bridge in its proposed form would harm one of the most beautiful rivers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as spur sprawl into rural Wisconsin, exacerbating the Twin Cities region’s growth and traffic problems.

The proposed bridge is only 7 miles north of the Interstate 94 bridge across the St. Croix. Two freeway-style bridge structures over this protected river cannot be justified on either economic or environmental grounds.  One long-time observer of this dispute has called the current alignment and design of this bridge basically “an economic development project for St. Croix County, Wisconsin”.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum was the first in Minnesota’s congressional delegation to speak out against the Bachmann bill.  She referred to the proposed bridge as “fiscally irresponsible” and “environmentally damaging,” saying that it “will create a transportation mess for communities along Minnesota Highway 36 in the Congressional District I represent.”  McCollum has come out in favor of a smaller-scale, less expensive structure, one which can serve the needs of the region while still protecting this beautiful river.  Her leadership on this issue deserves support.

25 regional and national environmental groups recently released a coalition letter from the Minnesota Environmental Partnership calling on Governor Mark Dayton and Transportation Commissioner Thomas Sorel to advance a proposal for a new smaller-scale bridge in Stillwater that would dramatically reduce impacts on the Lower St. Croix River, serve the needs of regional residents, provide a new transportation corridor to replace the current lift bridge, and save taxpayers potentially hundreds of millions of dollars that could be spent for road and bridge repair and other transportation priorities. The Governor is to be commended for saying that all options are on the table for the St. Croix bridge project.   Less intrusive and expensive bridge options exist and need to be pursued so that the aging Lift Bridge is not the only option to cross the river in Stillwater.

At a time when state governments are cutting critical services in order to balance budgets and our road and bridge repair needs are significant, does it really make sense to build this massive bluff top to bluff top bridge when a smaller, lower and slower bridge could still accommodate the needs of the region?

It occurs to me that many ‘big’ bridge proponents and Cong. Bachmann and her cosponsors are supporting a design and investment that is no longer economically viable and never justified given its impact on the St. Croix River, one of our region’s most treasured natural resources.  Gov. Dayton and Cong. McCollum have wisely urged an examination of lower cost and impact alternatives.  Legitimate access and traffic needs in the Stillwater area can be accommodated without wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on the current design.

The primary task of the 2011 Legislative Session is to pass a two-year state budget that will set funding levels for critical state investments from health care to education to affordable housing to environmental protection…all while tackling a $6.2 billion budget shortfall. These budget decisions will have a profound impact on our communities and Minnesota’s future.

Governor Dayton will release his budget plan on Feb. 15. Come get a look at the details from Abigail Read, Executive Budget Coordinator at Minnesota Management & Budget. There will be time for you to ask questions and to hear ideas from the Minnesota Budget Project about opportunities for you to get involved in the budget debate.

Friday, Feb. 18, 1-2:30 p.m.
Wilder Center, 451 Lexington Parkway North in St. Paul
Parking: Free parking is available and accessible by #16 bus
Fee: Free, but please RSVP.

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