We've noticed an odd convergence of news items--and a frightening weather experience--with discussions in the Minnesota legislature's conference committee on the state Senate and House versions of the Environment supplemental finance omnibus bills.
To be sure, it's worth reviewing the chasm separating the bills, outlined in Brian Hall's May 9 Session Daily article, What’s the difference? Environment conference committee compares bills:
With more than $240 million in appropriations and several statutory changes to be reconciled, a conference committee started work on the state’s omnibus environment and natural resources supplemental finance and policy bill.
The House version of the bill is looking to spend some of the state’s surplus — $249.6 million worth in fiscal year 2023 — while the Senate only looks to spend a modest $8.44 million while focusing on many new policies.
The result is a $241.2 million difference in the two versions. The 10-member conference committee, led by chairs Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), received a walkthrough of the similarities and differences of HF4492/SF4062* Monday.
“I know that the gulf is wide and deep between us in the amount of money,” Hansen said. “But I’m hoping there are some things that we can come together on.”
Indeed, before the meeting adjourned, the committee unanimously approved an Ingebrigtsen motion to adopt all provisions that are identical in the policy sections of the two bills, and to accept the House language on those that are similar.
The House would appropriate $68.9 million more to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, $54.6 million more to the Pollution Control Agency, $52.2 million more to the Department of Natural Resources and $9.5 million more to Explore Minnesota Tourism.
Of those appropriations, the largest differences would be in the House’s appropriations of:
- $30 million to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs;
- $25 million to the DNR for climate adaptation for natural lands and waters;
- $20 million for adaptation action grants and water storage, half to the Pollution Control Agency and half to the Board of Water and Soil Resources;
- $10.1 million to the DNR for ash tree replacement grants;
- $10 million to the Pollution Control Agency for waste prevention recycling grants and loans; and
- $10 million to the Board of Soil and Water Resources for a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program state incentive.
Other major funding included in the House proposal but not in the Senate is $13.1 million to the Metropolitan Council and a one-time repayment to the Metropolitan Landfill Contingency Action Trust of $29.1 million.
The largest appropriations in the Senate bill for fiscal year 2023 are $1.6 million to the DNR for land acquisition (which is also in the House bill); $1.5 million from the Pollution Control Agency Remediation Fund to clean up a school that will be destroyed in Lake of the Woods County; and $1 million to Explore Minnesota Tourism for large scale events promotion.
The House appropriations and policy changes would also create a Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Office, which is not included in the Senate version. The bill would fund the office with $1.7 million in fiscal year 2023 from the General Fund, with an additional $500,000 in the next biennium.
Proposed provisions included in both versions but have differences include:
- walk-in access expansion to areas for activities other than hunting;
- water-use permit sustainability standards; and
- changes to the lottery-in-lieu tax of state lottery sales.
Some of the major House provisions that are not included in the Senate bill would:
- prohibit PFAS in carpet and textiles, cookware, cosmetics, juvenile products and ski wax;
- prohibit the use or sale of seeds treated with neonicotinoids;
- establish state goals for soil health and restoration of peat lands;
- make changes to boater safety permitting and education; and
- add regulations regarding white-tailed deer farms, including fencing requirements and prohibiting new registrations, certain movement bans and increased testing for chronic wasting disease.
[MORE: View the policy differences]
Side-by-side comparisons of the bill can be found here, here and here. . . .
But we were more struck by how news items paired with policy points in the bill. For example, we read Health officials advising no more than one smelt meal per month:
“We wanted to inform people that fish consumption advisories had changed for rainbow smelt,” said Don Schreiner, a Fisheries Specialist for Minnesota Sea Grant.
According to Schreiner, a recent test discovered dangerous chemicals known as PFAS in Lake Superior smelt.
PFAS stands for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
“PFAS is a chemical that comes into the water through a number of manufactures items that we use,” said Schreiner.
He said it’s found in non-stick pans and water repellents and can enter the watershed through runoff.
“There are issues because it can be cancer-causing of course, and obviously that gets everyone concerned,” said Schreiner.
In response, the Minnesota Department of Health is advising anglers to limit how much smelt they eat.
“Now it’s restricted to one meal per month,” Schreiner said.
Schreiner said this discovery is relatively new, and the health leaders are taking a cautious approach while continuing to test for the chemical. . . .
And in the committee? Here's a Minnesota House Information Services of testimony about PFAS:
On Thursday, we had to perform an errand in Watertown; on the way back in the late afternoon, the extreme storm forced us to shelter beneath an I-29 overpass because we simply couldn't see the county road on which we were headed home.
AgWeek reports on the storm in ‘Derecho’ severe winds thrash bins and machinery on South Dakota, Minnesota farms:
A derecho – a large-scale wind storm with 90- to 100-mph straight winds and two tornados – blasted through eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota on May 12, 2022, killing one, damaging buildings including hundreds of farms.
Later, watching the committee hearing, we were struck by the discussion of forestry, soil and water conservation, cover crops and such--and their relationship to climate action. Perhaps there might be a way to lessen those massive dust clouds that hit the Sioux Falls and Southwestern corner of Minnesota.
Here's Thursday's meeting:
There's more in the full YouTubes-- including the testimony summarized here (watch at the 2:45:46 mark):
Grateful to Dr @peter_a_larsen for explaining #CWD and the work @UMN_MNPRO is doing to the #EnviroConferenceCommittee - how CWD kills deer, the urgency to act to prevent its spread and the frightening possibility of it being able to infect humans. We must act now.🦌 pic.twitter.com/Tx06lINnyj
— Kelly Morrison (@Morrison4MN) May 10, 2022
We enjoyed venison burgers that night. Whitetail health and the safety of the deer meat isn't an abstract issue for many people in Minnesota and its borders.
Photo: Storm clouds hover over Birch Avenue in Milton, Minn., on Thursday evening May 12, 2022. Severe thunderstorms surged through Minnesota and South Dakota on Thursday, causing widespread damage and fatalities. Photo by Emily Notch.
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