Capitol Update from Rep. Dan Fabian

Dear Neighbors,

Here is an update from the Capitol.

Gathering Input from Farmers

After agriculture groups and Republican legislators pushed back this week against excessive buffer penalties proposed by the Board of Water and Soil Resources, I signed onto a letter to Governor Dayton asking for more transparency and input from the agriculture community going forward on major policy proposals.

Whether it’s buffers, ditch mowing, nitrates, pesticides or other issues, too often the Dayton Administration takes what we call a “ready-fire-aim” approach that leaves farmers, landowners, rural communities and legislators blindsided. Instead, the approach should be engaging stakeholders before moving forward with controversial or sweeping policy changes.

With that in mind, we asked that Governor Dayton immediately release his draft nitrate rule that he announced in early March, giving folks affected by these policies a chance to share their input and have a say in the process.

Rural Demolition Landfill Bill

On Wednesday, the Environment Committee heard my bill that will help our rural demolition debris landfill operators through the repermitting process. These landfills are operated both privately and by counties.

House File 4070 requires that when issuing or reissuing a Class I demolition landfill permit, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) must consider a number of factors including the environmental benefits and impacts, social and economic factors, the feasibility of implementation, and whether any resulting tax or fee would be reasonable and practicable. It also requires the MPCA to comply with current permitting rules or the existing 2005 guidance document. Any changes to those rules would have to go through the formal rulemaking process.

Simplifying this permitting process is critical in rural Minnesota, as we don’t want the permitting process to be cost prohibitive, forcing these landfills to close. We need commonsense solutions that are not so costly, while still ensuring we’re protecting our environment and groundwater.

Budget Targets

This week, House Republicans unveiled budget adjustments and targets which committee chairs will use to craft supplemental budget bills. Our priorities are focused on what folks in Minnesota want including roads and bridges, school safety, and tax relief for middle-class Minnesotans. Additionally, our targets also include a reduction to state government through efficiencies, mental health funding for farmers, money for tackling Chronic Wasting Disease, and funding for broadband.

Our state government is fully funded for this budget cycle, and I think our second year budget adjustments focus on commonsense things that Minnesotans support.

Icehouse Safety

In the Environment Committee this week, we heard a presentation from Tom Schooley, whose son, Sam tragically died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a fish house. The DNR did an overview in the committee of what they’re planning to do to increase awareness of this issue.

I wanted to share this and remind folks to practice safety and make sure they’re using carbon monoxide detectors properly in their icehouses.

Deer Management Plan Public Meetings

Anyone interested in commenting on Minnesota’s draft statewide deer management plan can attend one of the public meetings in our area. Here are the details:

• Baudette area, April 18, 6 to 8 p.m. at Lake of the Woods School – IT Room, 236 15^th Ave. SW, Baudette, Minn.
• Karlstad area, April 17, 6 to 8 p.m. at Lake Bronson State Park – Visitor’s Center, 3793 2230^th St., Lake Bronson, Minn.
• Red Lake area, April 16, 6 to 8 p.m. at Hayes Lake State Park, 48990 County Road 4, Roseau, Minn.
• Roseau area, April 17, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Roseau County Courthouse, 606 5^th Ave. SW, Roseau, Minn.
• Thief Lake area, April 18, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Thief Lake Area Wildlife Office, 42280 240^th Ave. NE, Middle River, Minn.

You can also submit comments online at mndnr.gov/deerplan through May 9^th.

At the Capitol

Thanks to all the folks who attended the AG Energy Alliance Rally this week, advocating for the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project.

With Sydney Berg who was at the Capitol to advocate for the University of Minnesota

With Miranda Tunheim and Lindsay Heath from Roseau, who were in St. Paul for Student Nurses Day at the Capitol

With John Schoenrock of Grygla, representing the construction trade unions

Don Martodam, Darryl Tveitbakk, Gary Johnson, Dalene Monsebroten, and Lucas Spaeth from TRF were at the Capitol this week

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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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