In an updated post published Monday, UPDATED: Lights out for Bambi in Senate GOP lights-on bill; could look better in budget deal, Bluestem noted a tweet by Roseville DFLer and Minnesota wild deer defender Jamie Becker-Finn about the Omnibus Environment and Natural Resource conference committee "large policy compromise in #mnleg Enviro conference committee! Includes CWD plan and #NoChildLeftInside."
The conference committee kicked decisions on language the Wild Rice Stewardship Council, naming a public space to honor Walter Mondale, and the wolf hunt to leadership. and so the omnibus environmental and natural resources bill didn't make the deadline for the final day of the session.
Here's what was discussed by the conferees about CWD, according to Becker-Finn's twitter commentary and photos of the language:
Here is the language re #CWD that was adopted by #mnleg conference committee yesterday. 🦌 It is not as strong as I think it needs to be but it is a good start given what we are up against.
— Jamie Becker-Finn (@jbeckerfinn) May 21, 2019
Page 1 includes funding for U of M diagnostic test and fencing/gate changes. 1/5 pic.twitter.com/VsjvCD2nIg
Page 2 of #mnleg #CWD language.
— Jamie Becker-Finn (@jbeckerfinn) May 21, 2019
Changes to animal identification requirements and requires an annual inspection (now it’s a ‘must’ instead of a ‘may’) of entire fence perimeter & all animals 2/5 pic.twitter.com/k85pQDdfug
Page 3 of #mnleg #CWD language 🦌
— Jamie Becker-Finn (@jbeckerfinn) May 21, 2019
Increases annual fees for captive cervid business owners, specifies that those with herds for commercial purposes (including selling the ability to shoot animals) pay more. 3/5 pic.twitter.com/81F3TngGSz
Page 4 of #mnleg #CWD language. 🦌
— Jamie Becker-Finn (@jbeckerfinn) May 21, 2019
Mandatory depopulation with positive CWD in the herd, maintain fencing with biohazards signs for 5 years.
Quarterly reports/legislative oversight of Board of Animal Health, DNR, U of M research.
Set up account if federal funds available 4/5 pic.twitter.com/7WHsxH8r0J
Page 5 is just #mnleg renumbering
— Jamie Becker-Finn (@jbeckerfinn) May 21, 2019
Additional agreement not in this #CWD language re importation of hunter harvested cervidae and creating “adopt a dumpster” program to address safe disposal of potentially infected carcasses. 🦌 Global deal also includes $$ to DNR and BAH. 5/5 pic.twitter.com/do4fqnDVSg
We'll continue to track this issue as details about the final bill emerges. Readers can listen to audio from Monday at Conference Committee on SF2314 Part 1 and Conference Committee on SF2314 Part 2.
Readers should also check out Star Tribune Outdoors columnist Dennis Anderson's post from this weekend, Legislature is turning a blind eye to CWD in Minnesota.
Photo: A big wild whitetail buck.
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