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State Representative Rick Hansen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-6828
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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REP. HANSEN SHEPHERDS ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES BILL INTO LAW
ST. PAUL – State Representative Rick Hansen, Chair of the Subcommittee on Watersheds, Wetlands, and Buffers, is pleased that the Environment and Natural Resources Bill was signed into law by the Governor this week. Rep. Hansen served as one of the conferees from the House and Senate who crafted this final proposal and was instrumental in its bipartisan (97-30) success on the House floor.
"I am very pleased that Governor Pawlenty, and my colleagues in the Legislature recognized the value of this legislation in preserving our valuable natural resources; particularly in protecting our waters and improving habitat for native species," said Hansen. "Long hours of hard work, bipartisan efforts for true compromise, and good environmental leadership made this important piece of legislation successful."
The bill provides funding to improve trails, fights the growing threat of invasive species, increases funding for metro area parks, and will test Minnesota waters and design necessary cleanup plans within the next ten years. It also addresses several critical emerging issues pertinent to endocrine disruptors, preservation and restoration of native prairies, and global climate change.
"This bill establishes nation-leading policies capable of providing our state the policies and resources to make significant improvements in conservation efforts," said Hansen.
Other highlights of the bill include: Clean Water Legacy Act money for assessing water pollution funding for the Pollution Control Agency to monitor and analyze endocrine disruptors; funding for the Health Department to evaluate the removal of PFOA, PFOS and PFBS from drinking water; improvements for metro parks and trails; funding to jump-start initiatives involving native prairies, native seeds and plant-based fuels.
"While the bill makes considerable progress on a host of important environmental issues, there is still much to be done if we as a state intend to preserve our natural resources for generations to come," said Hansen. "We must remain committed to long-term progress by establishing responsible legislation in the years to come. My colleagues and I in the legislature intend to do just that."
News Items
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