Hot List: Conference Committee on H.F. 1231/S.F. 1651
05/18/09 On behalf of our members and partners, the Minnesota Environmental Partnership and Conservation Minnesota are pleased to provide state leaders with the Minnesota Hot List. The Minnesota Hot List contains clear, concise and useful information on priority issues for the upcoming week. Senate and House editions of the Minnesota Hot List are delivered to legislators by email. A list of participating organizations can be found at the end of this document. We hope you find this communication helpful.
LESSARD OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND
Position:Support the Senate appropriation of $36 million to secure easements for the 190,000 acre Upper Mississippi Forest Project. Full funding is important to the success of the transaction.
CLEAN WATER FUND
Septic Cleanup Position: Support at least the Senate appropriation of $5.3 million (of the $6.5 million needed) to correct straight-pipe systems and septic tanks that are flushing sewage into our lakes, streams and groundwater. Support stakeholder-approved language to ensure these systems are inventoried within ten years, and to target the funds to prevent contamination of groundwater and lakes, rivers and streams.
Assessment Position: Support Senate full funding for statewide assessment and monitoring
Senate Section 5, subd. 2: Statewide Assessment and Monitoring to PCA
2010 2011
$5,950,000 $7,050,000
Senate Section 5, subd. 3: DNR Water Quality Assessments
$1,240,000 $1,760,000
Endocrine Disruptors Position: Support House appropriation to PCA for water monitoring sites to assess levels of endocrine-disrupting compounds. Senate appropriates a total of $375,000 (Section 5, subd. 3).
House Section 4, paragraph (g): Endocrine-disruptor monitoring. 20102011
$1,000,000
Minnesota River Assessment Position: Re-test the site of the first Minnesota TMDL; House Section 4, paragraph (e) 20102011
$348,000
Critical Area Reform Position: Support appropriation and provisions from the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Reform Bill. Follow Rep. Hansen's and Rep. Wagenius' lead on any amendments or recommendations (House -Article 2, Section 5, Part (f) and Article 2, Section 14; Senate - Article 1, Section 3, Subd. 11 and Article 1, Section 10).
GOVERNANCE (Article 5, House Version) Position:Governance of the funds is an important policy decision and should be made with as much public input as possible. We recommend addressing issues related to governance in 2010 and in the interim, develop a process for a full discussion that involves agencies, stakeholders and the public.
MANAGEMENT (Article 6, House version) Position: We recommend utilizing a broad public process that seeks input from all stakeholders prior to adopting provisions related to management and avoid any unintended consequences that may arise.
Participating Organizations: 1000 Friends of Minnesota * Alliance for Sustainability * Audubon Minnesota * Center for Energy and Environment * Clean Water Action Alliance of Minnesota * Conservation Minnesota * Duluth Audubon Society * Environment Minnesota * Fresh Energy * Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness * Friends of the Cloquet Valley State Forest * Friends of the Mississippi River * Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy * Izaak Walton League of America – Midwest Division * Izaak Walton League - Minnesota Division * Land Stewardship Project * League of Women Voters – Minnesota * Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation * Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota * Mankato Area Environmentalists * Minnesota Catholic Conference * Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy * Minnesota Conservation Federation * Minnesota Land Trust * Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union * Minnesota Public Interest Research Group * Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter * National Wildlife Federation * Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness Action Fund * Saint Paul Audubon Society * Save Lake Superior Association * Sierra Club * The Trust for Public Land * Voyageurs National Park Association * White Earth Land Recovery Project * Will Steger Foundation
