Even before Bluestem Prairie received the press release below from the Pollinator Friendly Alliance, we were getting emails from individual readers deeply upset by the removal of pollinator protection language in the environment and natural resources omnibus bill.
Responding to Friday's post, Minnesota House approves compromise Environment and Natural Resources budget, one reader wrote in an email:
Hi - I think the references to pollinators here is vastly overstated and out of touch with reality. Out of about six major pollinator protection bills and one minor protection bill, the only thing that got past the Senate was the minor BWSR’s Lawns to Legumes funding. Pathetic.
This press release from the Pollinator Friendly Alliance sums up the problem with the final product:
SAINT PAUL, Minn.; Friday June 25, 2021---This Pollinator Week, Minnesota Senators killed provisions that would have helped to protect our state’s struggling pollinators. Minnesota had been a leader in pollinator-friendly efforts, but missed an opportunity to continue advancing this important work in the legislature despite broad support for pollinator protection among Minnesotans.
"The time has passed for baby steps, the natural world which supports all of us is in serious trouble. The actions we take now will either help save our world or further the demise of our environment,” said Laurie Schneider of Pollinator Friendly Alliance. “Leaders need to put aside their differences and stop playing politics with our future. If we learned anything in the last year, it's that we need to come together and protect what keeps our communities and our world healthy."
Thanks to the hard work of pollinator advocates, Minnesota’s House passed innovative pesticide reforms to protect essential pollinators and communities across the state. Initiatives included allowing targeted local control over pesticide use, limiting unsafe disposal of excess pesticide-treated seed, and prohibiting the use of toxic insecticides in Minnesota wildlife refuges and sensitive habitat. Unfortunately, all of these provisions were removed by Republican Senators.
"Despite the hard work of House Natural Resources Committee Chair Rick Hansen along with the support of his caucus several worthwhile provisions were excluded from the bill," said Chris Cowen, lobbyist for the Pesticide Action Network. “The House’s proposed language would have protected pollinators, human health and our environment in general."
One aspect of the scuttled legislation was restrictions the House developed on seed treated with insecticides in response to severe pesticide contamination at an ethanol plant that processed excess pesticide treated seed in Nebraska. Excess treated seed was sent to the plant from across the country, including from Minnesota. Provisions passed by the House would have banned improper disposal of treated seed in ethanol plants and directed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to complete rulemaking that ensures proper disposal of pesticide-treated seed.
“Lack of oversight led to unchecked pesticide contamination in Nebraska, and without action from the legislature a similar situation could play out in Minnesota,” said Sarah Hoyle, Pesticide Program Specialist at the Xerces Society. “Currently there is no regulation around disposal of treated seed, leaving Minnesota’s pollinators and communities vulnerable to harm from pesticide contamination.”
Despite the support of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to make their current practice a new state law, Republican Senate leadership on the Environment Committee killed provisions that would have prohibited the use of toxic insecticides in state parks, forests, wildlife management areas and natural areas in an effort to reduce pesticide exposure. Earlier this year, the DNR released a study showing that deer were contaminated with neonicotinoids across the state. Halting the use of toxic insecticides on DNR lands would reduce contamination of lands and waters, and exposure of pollinators, wildlife and people across the state.
“Minnesotans are working hard to plant habitat for declining pollinators, but habitat is not enough,” said Sarah Foltz Jordan, Senior Pollinator Conservation Biologist with the Xerces Society. “We sorely need pesticide reductions, and these important measures to reduce insecticides would have been a common-sense place to start.”
Related posts:
- Minnesota House approves compromise Environment and Natural Resources budget
- Session Daily: Omnibus environment bill gets committee review before expected House vote
- Star Tribune: 'Clean cars' rule and environmental funding move forward; hearing at 8:30 a.m.
- MN Reformer Opinion: Like Henry Ford, Minnesota must lead
- North to Alaska: coalition scolds Bill Ingebrigtsen for trip while dangling state park closure
- It's Bill Ingebrigtsen's agenda & he's sticking to it
- Free LCCMR: Hansen letter clarifies how constitutionally dedicated fund appropriations aren't tied to budget targets
- Lutefisk booya: new offer, new editorial, new morning of environment committee meeting
- OAH judge rules in favor of MN Clean Car Rules; @sen_inge quickly adjourns conference committee
- Enviro Conference Committee: in no-drama move, House releases offer hours before meeting
- In the spirit of compromise, Sen. Ingebrigtsen denies shutdown strategy, makes offer, takes Senate members, logs out and goes home
- Enviro Conference Committee: in no-drama move, House releases offer hours before meeting
- In the spirit of compromise, Sen. Ingebrigtsen denies shutdown strategy, makes offer, takes Senate members, logs out and goes home
- New low for #mnleg: Senate Republicans to shut down parks, Zoo & more over emission rules
- [Star Tribune] Senate Republicans threaten to cut funding for Minnesota state parks, environmental programs over 'clean cars' rule
Photo: A rusty-patch bumblebee.
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