The executive director of the Environmental Quality Board said a bill to trim the board’s composition and duties is premature.
Bob Patton told the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee April 26 that an analysis of the board’s functions is due out next January and that
HF1360 should be tabled until that study can be reviewed.
Sponsored by Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Nelson Township), the bill would eliminate the citizen members and reassign some of the board’s oversight to the Clean Water Council. The committee approved the bill 7-6 and sent it to the House Government Operations and Elections Committee. It has no Senate companion.
The EQB consists of nine state agency heads, five citizen members and a governor’s appointee who serves as the board chair. The board writes the rules for conducting environmental reviews and publishes environmental review documents and comment periods in its “EQB Monitor.” Under the proposed changes, the publication would continue and the board would meet at the call of the governor.
Minnesota Index: Enjoying the outdoors
Facts and statistics on state parks and trails
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Published 4/20/2012
Minnesota Index: Birding
Facts and statistics on birding in Minnesota
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Published 4/6/2012
A prickly situation
Farmers seek fair fight against noxious weeds
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Published 3/16/2012
Angling for more participation
DNR looks for ways to get more anglers and hunters into the great outdoors
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Published 3/2/2012
Meeting halfway
Environment and energy law packs policy changes
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Published 8/11/2011
Legacy bill brought back to life
More than $449 million appropriated from voter-approved sales tax increase
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Published 8/11/2011
Trees from start to finish
Environment finance bill would close tree nursery
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Published 5/20/2011
Legacy spending differences
Conference committee needed to determine parks and trails funding
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Published 5/20/2011
Less means more
Some Legacy recipients may see increases despite drop in appropriation percentages
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Published 4/29/2011
Minnesota Index: Outdoor Heritage Fund
Facts and statistics on the Outdoor Heritage Fund
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Published 4/29/2011
Environment bill reflects ‘priorities’
House addresses wild rice, harvesting timber and closing of state parks
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Published 4/1/2011
Putting a stop to aquatic invasive species
Broader enforcement, stiffer penalties proposed for violators
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Published 4/1/2011
Wild rice study proposed
Committee approves policies for wild rice, state parks
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Published 3/25/2011
Should Minnesotans be hunting for land?
Legislators aim for no-net-loss and no-net-gain targets
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Published 3/4/2011
Minnesota Index: Horticulture and agriculture
Figures and statistics on horticulture and agriculture in Minnesota
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Published 3/4/2011
At Issue: Leaving a legacy
Recipients report outcomes of dedicated tax appropriations
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Published 2/4/2011