ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Environment and Natural Resources Omnibus Bill (House File 888), which streamlines environmental review, reins in government spending through agency efficiencies, and protects farmers and landowners from government overreach on a bipartisan vote of 80-53.
“This bill will give a louder voice in St. Paul to folks in Greater Minnesota,” said Rep. Dan Fabian, R-Roseau, Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. “The reforms in this bill will help ensure that the MPCA and the DNR abide by the longstanding rulemaking precedent and don’t overstep their authority.”
House File 888 works to improve government agency transparency through reforming the funding process of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) by requiring more detail on where and how efficiently funds are being used, and by reforming the permitting process of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the MPCA.
“Minnesotans deserve permitting processes and environmental regulations that protect our air and water and don’t create arbitrary delays and obstacles for proposed projects,” added House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown. “House Republicans believe we can do both—we can protect our environment while ensuring a rigorous and fair environmental review process.”
The bill also addresses and improves the representational structure of the Environmental Quality Board by requiring appointments to the board be by congressional district, instead of statewide. This provision also narrows the focus of their work to environmental review and permitting, as it's a critical issue area that needs attention. Additionally, appointees will be required to have knowledge or experience in environmental review, so the input that is gathered is from people with real-world experience in these very complicated processes.
Some other reforms in the bill include:
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Delaying the implementation of the buffer law from 2017 to 2018
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Improving the sustainability and productivity of the state’s timber industry
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Prohibits the DNR from further restricting the use of lead shot
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Raising the criminal penalty for those who poach to the point of being grossly over limits
The Senate is expected to take up their version of the bill in the coming days. The differences between the House and Senate language will then be reconciled in conference committee.
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