MN House Environment & Ag Policy committees to batter water quality protections week of Jan 17

Via the Rochester Post Bulletin, Kyle Potter of the Associated Press reports Republicans target water quality law for repeal. That "water quality law" is the so-called buffer law requiring vegetative buffers or an alternative along public drainage ditches, streams and rivers.

Potter's article explores various facets of the law, but we doubt that we'll see that sort of even-handedness on Thursday, January 19 in a Minnesota House joint committee meeting on Thursday, January 19 from 8:15 through 12 noon. From the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance web page:

 Thursday, January 19, 2017

8:15 AM

Time Note:

***This is a joint hearing with the House Agriculture Policy Committee. The meeting will be held in the Capitol building and is scheduled from 8:15 AM until noon***

Room: 120 Capitol

Chair: Rep. Dan Fabian

Agenda:

Buffer Implementation Update

Already, the Environment committee minority lead and water quality champion Rick Hansen, DFL-S. St. Paul, has sounded  the alarm on his Facebook page, posting twice on Friday afternoon about the assault on water quality.

 

In one post, he highlights Thursday's meeting:

On Thursday, January 19 a four hour meeting has been scheduled to attack the Buffer (water quality protection) Law. I believe the majority of Minnesotans support the law. People need to show up and see how their government works and testify their opinion:

"A joint meeting of the Environment Policy & Finance Committee and the Agriculture Policy Committee has been scheduled for a buffer implementation update. The meeting will be from 8:15 to noon in the Capitol Building, Room 120. While this is not an official Ag Finance Committee meeting, members of the Ag Finance Committee are invited to attend. Please contact me with any questions.

Mark Nisley
Committee Administrator
Minnesota House of Representatives
Agriculture Finance Committee
Agriculture Policy Committee
432 State Office Building
Saint Paul, MN 55155
651-296-1540
mark.nisley@house.mn "

Earlier, he'd noted a series of anti-water quality hearings next week:

And so it begins....Minnesotans need to show up to protect our water quality:

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

8:15 AM
Room: 5 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Dan Fabian

Agenda:
Agency Rulemaking Overview

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

8:15 AM
Room: 5 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Dan Fabian

Agenda:

BWSR Overview
Section 404 Assumption Feasibility Assumption Report
Wetland Bank Service Area Closures

Thursday, January 19, 2017

8:15 AM
Time Note:
***Please note, this hearing will be held in the Capitol building***
Room: 120 Capitol
Chair: Rep. Dan Fabian
Agenda:

Buffer Implementation Update
***Joint hearing with House Agriculture Policy Committee*

Photo: A drainage ditch in Renville County.

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