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Loon Commons: The MEP Blog
A forum for current and emerging environmental and conservation issues in Minnesota.

Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

Detailing the Outdoor Heritage Council’s Recommendations

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Last week, the Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council made tentative selections of over $56 million in fish, game and wildlife habitat restoration and conservation projects from Legacy Amendment funding. Darby Nelson, a member of the Council, reports on the process of sifting through applications and begins a series of reports, by region of the state, of what work would be funded if the recommendations are accepted by the Legislature next year.

Greening The Deck-The-Halls Ritual This Year

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Conservation Minnesota’s Liz Hunt provides tips and insight on reducing her (and your) environmental impact this holiday season. Among her thoughts:

* Replace regular Christmas tree lights with LEDs;
* Safely get rid of old light strings;
* Make your own gift boxes from used boxes.

There are a million ideas — what are yours?

Holding Legislators Accountable on Conservation/Environment Votes

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

The Conservation Minnesota Voter Center’s annual legislative scorecard is now available for the 2009 session. Seven legislators scored a perfect 100%. Issues included safe baby products, farm stewardship, clean and renewable energy and others. Click here.

Conservation Leadership Awards

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Will Steger, Representative Paul Gardner, Mike Kilgore and Sheila Smith took home Conservation Leadership Awards from the Conservation Minnesota Voter Center Monday night. These four people have done much for our outdoors and environmental policy and funding.

What's In Your Neighborhood?

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency today issued a news release about its updated “What’s In My Neighborhood?” web application. It’s designed to make it easy for any Minnesotan to find out about nearby pollution permits, old dumps and other environmental information. It’s well-intended, but a check of my neighborhood revealed terminology that a layperson has a difficult time understanding (small to minimal hazardous waste QG). It’s a good try — but what do you think?

What Can Minnesota's Environmental Literacy Report Card Tell Us?

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

According to one of its creators, Dr. Tony Murphy, Minnesotans score off the charts compared to other places when it comes to understanding sources of runoff pollution. Other news is not as encouraging. Only 8% of the state’s adults have excellent knowledge about the environment. And 38% of the state’s adults have below-average knowledge about the environment (worse than a C grade). Read for yourself here.

High School Senior Holds Green Jobs House Party

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Download Video


 

High school senior Lily Andrews wants to improve the environment and the economy, so she and her friends gathered to write letters to Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to ask him to create green jobs. Want to learn more about green jobs? Check out this video and contact Joshua Low at 612.659.9124 x 311.

High School Senior Holds Green Jobs House Party

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

[video http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF0098A1400017009913C2/ MTV Covers the Story] 

High school senior Lily Andrews wants to improve the environment and the economy, so she and her friends gathered to write letters to Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to ask him to create green jobs. Want to learn more about green jobs? Check out this video and contact Joshua Low at 612.659.9124 x 311.

Governor vetoes ban on toxic flame retardant

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

The rationale for the Governor’s veto is as interesting as the veto itself. Pawlenty declared in his veto letter that “the legislative mandate overreaches and goes beyond current scientific research.”

It’s a health protection and sustainable business opportunity lost. The science is clear that this compound is problematic for human health and the environment.

Potentially risky mining method debated at legislative hearing

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
By Heidi Alford, Sierra Club Intern

At Friday afternoon’s legislative hearing held to address the possibility of future sulfide mining in Minnesota, there was standing room only. Concerned citizens from all over the state attended to hear testimony about this method to extract ores such as copper and nickel. Sulfide mining differs from taconite mining in that it has the potential for acid mine drainage: pollution caused by the exposure of sulfide minerals in the ground to air and water. Not only do sulfide mines pollute heavily while operational, they will continue to pollute for hundreds of years afterwards.

Those who would like to see the mining project go forward argue that a new mining site would give much needed employment to thousands of workers in the Iron Range, serving as an important aspect of the local economy. However, there are many who feel that the risks of sulfide mining should be addressed before putting the plans into practice. While Wisconsin has a moratorium in place stating that to achieve a permit for a sulfide mine the applicant must first prove they can operate a sulfide mine for ten years without acid mine drainage and close a mine without producing pollution for ten years afterwards, Minnesota has no such law.

“We want to see mining without harm and we want the companies to prove that it’s possible,” says Clyde Hanson, co-chair of the Sierra Club North Star Chapter’s Mining Without Harm campaign. “Proof, not promises” is what he would prefer from corporations such as PolyMet who have yet to show that their proposed mine near Babbitt successfully solves these environmental issues.

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This site is sponsored by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP), a coalition of over 80 conservation and environmental organizations working together to protect our Great Outdoors. As a nonprofit public policy 501(c)3 organization , MEP does not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns. MEP encourages informed and open discussion of environmental issues on LoonCommons.org. However, views expressed on this blog may not necessarily be the views of MEP or its member organizations.

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