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

Archive for the 'Sulfide mining' Category

Clean water or jobs? Both, but only with strong regulation

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

Ely, Minnesota has been an environmental battlefield for decades. Ely was founded as an iron mining town, and a century later, conflicts today focus on mining.

The conflict came to a head last month at a meeting of the St. Louis County board of commissioners in Ely. Commissioners were hearing testimony about a proposed resolution in support of nonferrous mining in the County. The commissioner chairing the meeting asked the people testifying to state whether they wanted clean water or jobs.

Clean water OR jobs? (more…)

It’s the 39th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act!

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Since being signed into law on Oct. 18, 1972, the federal Clean Water Act has helped Minnesota and the rest of our nation limit and clean up pollution in our lakes, rivers and streams.

(For an easy-to-understand summary of the landmark Clean Water Act and how it affects Minnesota, see Minnesota’s impaired waters 101, written by Friends of the Mississippi River, an MEP member organization.)

Unfortunately, many leaders in Minnesota proved unfriendly to our water during the past legislative session.* (more…)

2011 Session in Review

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

So what happened this past legislative session? Here’s our brief overview:

State Budget

Defending traditional sources of funding for our Great Outdoors was a significant part of MEP’s work at the Capitol this year. (more…)

Disturbing Trend for Special Exemptions Threatens Minnesota’s Great Outdoors

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

2011 Regular Session Ends in a Draw

Disturbing Trend for Special Exemptions Threatens Minnesota’s Great Outdoors

While we wait for a Special Session to resolve Minnesota’s budget crisis, it is time to take stock of what happened and what didn’t happen to Protect Minnesota’s Great Outdoors in the 2011 Regular Session.

Heading into the regular session, we knew we would have to play defense.  However, none of us fathomed how much of our energy would be expended to stop bad bills that threaten Minnesota’s lakes, rivers and streams, natural areas, wildlife habitat and Clean Energy Future. (more…)

Policy Update: Governor signs omnibus energy, enviro policy bills

Friday, May 27th, 2011
May 27, 2011

“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! (more…)

Policy Update: Final weekend of session will feature action on enviro bills

Friday, May 20th, 2011
May 20, 2011

What are you doing this weekend?

I will be spending some quality time at the State Capitol as we continue to work with the 201 legislators on legislation of major importance to Minnesotans and to our environment and conservation traditions and values. (more…)

Policy Update: Omnibus policy and finance bills expected to move fast

Friday, May 13th, 2011
May 13, 2011

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). (more…)

Policy Update: Senate passes coal bill; House action will wait until after break

Friday, April 15th, 2011
April 15, 2011

It is Friday afternoon and both the Twins and the Legislature is out of town. The Twins are in Tampa Bay and the 201 Legislators are getting ready to go home for a full week of Easter Break! (more…)

Is proposed legislative action harming our environment and legacy??

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Learn more about the potential damage to our environment being proposed by our Legislature.—
Check out the League of Women Voters- Minnesota website and their Capitol Letter that highlights some of the environmental issues at the legislature today.

Scroll down to the Environment section by Gwen Myers, LWV Minnesota Volunteer Lobbyist and Our Sky-Blue Waters at Risk
http://www.lwvmn.org/Page.aspx?pid=448

MN Legislature Lowering Water Quality Standards

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

More dirty deeds of our legislators.  Please call yours and tell them lowering our water quality standards is not acceptable. And jobs is a smokescreen for the Iron Range legislators. People need to stand up and tell their legislators this is not acceptable.

Read the article from the Duluth News Tribune: http://tinyurl.com/44y9saa

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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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