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Environment and Natural Resources
Drought, fracking could top environment agenda
With the somewhat controversial decision to include
agriculture under the jurisdiction of the House Environment, Natural Resources
and Agriculture Finance committee, the issue was raised during the body’s first
meeting.
However, for the most part, members took the time to
introduce themselves and discussed the issues important to their constituents.
Committee Chairwoman Jean Wagenius (DFL-Mpls) told the
20-member committee it had a lot of work to do and not much time to get it
done, warning her colleagues to expect extra meetings as the session moves
forward.
She outlined four issues she believes are coming at the
committee “whether we want to deal with them or not:”
• the impact of the drought on both agriculture and
natural resources;
• aquatic invasive species;
• fracking; and
• complying with federal regulations on fine particulate
matter in ozone.
Because of the issues’ complexity, Wagenius told the
committee its first few meetings would be spent hearing from experts on a
variety of issues — including groundwater and air quality — who would “bring in
some science” to better inform decision making when the governor’s budget is
available in a few weeks.
Other issues committee members said they’d like to
address during the session include streamlining government red tape, public
access to private land and modernizing some agriculture education and training
materials.
Continuing the discussion that began on the House Floor
Tuesday, Rep. Dan Fabian (R-Roseau) asked about the Democrats’ decision to
include the agriculture finance on a committee that also oversees environment
and natural resources, noting there was “some unease” among his constituents
with the decision.
He also questioned why Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa),
who requested to be a member of the committee, had not made the roster.
After Wagenius told him that the question was better
addressed to the House speaker, Fabian asked her directly whether she’d had any
input into the makeup of the committee with regards to Drazkowski, to which she
replied “No.”
- Jonathan Mohr
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