ST. PAUL— Tomorrow Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL-Virgina) will introduce a bill requiring the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to designate wild rice waters in Minnesota, following years of erratic enforcement of the sulfate standard across Minnesota.
“The MPCA has inconsistently enforced sulfate standards across the state, using incomplete science as a basis for their rules,” said Rep. Metsa. “This bill ensures the MPCA finishes the rulemaking process and ultimately determine whether or not a sulfate standard is needed in Minnesota after analysis of the scientific data.”
The bill requires the MPCA to publish a list of wild rice designated waters. Currently, the sulfate standard to protect wild rice is enforced inconsistently across the state, and a comprehensive list of designated waters does not exist.
“This bill will give local government and Minnesota industry predictability,” said Rep. Melin (DFL-Hibbing), a co-author of the bill. “Not knowing what standard applies to a particular body of water makes it impossible for municipalities and industry to properly plan at their treatment facilities. It should not be the responsibility of these groups to research if nearby waters once grew wild rice in the last 50 years.”
“I want to thank my colleagues in the House for their watchful eyes," said Senator David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm). "This bill clarifies the 2011 law and ensures the MPCA is following legislative intent. If you asked the MPCA for a list of all of the designated wild rice waters in Minnesota, the state could not produce it. It is unacceptable that before rulemaking and an inventory is complete the MPCA would start erratically enforcing this rule.”
A 2011 law passed by the Minnesota Legislature directed the MPCA to designate wild rice waters for sulfate protection, but the MPCA has not completed the rulemaking process to designate the waters. The bill is expected to be referred to the Mining and Outdoor Recreation Committee. The House Iron Range delegation includes Rep. David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake), Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township), Rep. Carly Melin (DFL-Hibbing), Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL-Virginia), and Rep. Dale Lueck (R-Aitkin).
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