Dear Neighbors,
Here is an update from St. Paul.
Giving Regulatory Certainty to Local Governments
In the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee this week, my legislation to give regulatory certainty to municipalities who voluntarily upgrade their water treatment systems was heard.
For municipalities who update their existing water treatment facilities to reduce phosphates and nitrates in their water, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will give them a 20 year period of regulatory certainty for their permit as long as the system is properly maintained and operated.
Too often, local governments struggle to meet ever-changing standards put forth under state agencies' rulemaking authority, and this bill will provide taxpayers and municipalities peace of mind and assurance that these upgrade investments will be certified for the long-term.
The MPCA is supportive of my legislation, and I think this is a common sense bill that will work for folks in Greater Minnesota.
Reforming the PUC
Last week in my legislative update, I talked about how the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has a significant impact on Greater Minnesota and infrastructure projects in our communities. The bill I had originally introduced, House File 3508, would require that starting in 2018, members of the PUC be elected by congressional district as opposed to being appointed by the governor. In committee this week, I amended that legislation's language to require that the governor appoint members to the PUC by congressional district for staggered 6-year terms.
Amending my bill in this way gives it a greater chance to move through the legislative process while still helping to make the PUC more regionally balanced between the needs of metro and rural Minnesota.
MNsure Feedback Website
Last week, House Republicans launched a website to gather comments and feedback from Minnesota families, taxpayers and small business owners affected by MNsure.
Folks across the state are facing problems with MNsure and are shocked by the agency's continued lack of competence when it comes to serving the people of Minnesota. MNsure must be held accountable, and this website will give people a chance to share their story and help legislators better understand the issues Minnesotans are facing.
The new website can be found here: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cmte/comment
I encourage folks to share their personal experiences with MNsure on the website.
E-Waste Bill
My bipartisan legislation to help encourage the recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) in Greater Minnesota was heard this week in the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. The bill will help reduce costs for rural county and city governments by adding additional recycling markets to dispose of e-waste.
E-waste can include things like cell phones, computers and televisions, and it is much more cost effective if people have a place to take those goods to properly dispose of them. Too often in rural counties, when these recycling centers are too far away or the cost to recycle these items is too much, they end up in dumpsters or other improper places for disposal and local governments then have to foot the bill because they are required to dispose of them properly.
Roseau County Environmental Officer Jeff Pelowski believes this will be a great way for Roseau County to save money, saying, "We are required by the state to collect and recycle e-waste. HF 1412, as amended, has statewide support by counties because it will ensure an outlet (market) for the e-waste that we spend a lot of taxpayer dollars on to collect and recycle. We thank Representative Fabian for carrying this important legislation."
I believe it will have a cost-saving effect in not only Roseau County, but for local governments throughout Greater Minnesota.
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To stay up-to-date on what’s happening at your State Capitol, feel free to “like” my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RepDanFabian.
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My door is always open to the needs and priorities of our area. Please feel free to let me know if I can be of assistance to you and your family. I am here to serve you!
Dan
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