Updates and Articles

Clean Water Fund bill brought forward in the House

by Trevor Russell

March 7, 2017

FMR strongly supports a bill introduced by Rep. Paul Torkelson (R – Hanska) to allocate the Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund (Legacy Amendment) money as recommended by the state’s 28-member Clean Water Council. FMR applauds Rep. Torkelson for his leadership on this issue, and looks forward to working with him to help HF 1731 earn Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature.

N Mpls riverfront metal shredder required to move!

by Irene Jones

March 3, 2017

Unexpected amendment undermines state’s buffer law

by Trevor Russell

March 2, 2017

An unexpected amendment to the state's buffer law undermines Gov. Mark Dayton’s landmark buffer initiative by removing 50-foot buffers from as many as 48,000 miles of Minnesota streams.

Agency rulemaking attack take three! Now with suspension of river phosphorus standards!

by Trevor Russell

March 1, 2017

In yet another attack on state agency authority, SF 1283 requires legislative approval of most state water quality rules and standards and suspends Minnesota’s hard-won river phosphorus standards pending legislative approval.

SF 1283 (Newman, Ingebrigtsen, Utke, Eken, Tomassoni)
Status: Introduced and referred to Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance

Agency rulemaking attack take two!

by Trevor Russell

February 27, 2017

Another bill has come forward at the Minnesota legislature aiming to undermine environmental rulemaking by state agencies.
SF 769: (Kiffmeyer)
HF1285: (Pugh)

Bill to eliminate Environmental Quality Board, rollback environmental review brought forward.

by Trevor Russell

February 27, 2017

A bill recently introduced in the Minnesota Legislature aims to make dramatic rollbacks to Minnesota’s environmental review and permitting processes while eliminating the Environmental Quality Board.

Buffer rollbacks persist at legislature

by Trevor Russell

February 26, 2017

A handful of rollbacks to Governor Dayton’s landmark 2014 Buffer Rule continue to capture legislative attention at the Minnesota Capitol this session.

Welcome Daurius, FMR's new outreach assistant!

by Irene Jones

February 13, 2017

A hearty welcome to Daurius Mikroberts! With so much energy, enthusiasm and experience, Daurius is sure to be a great addition to both the FMR office and our outdoor volunteer and education events.

Nature Notes: A murder most fowl

by Alex Roth

February 13, 2017

As dusk approaches on a cold winter night, Twin Cities residents may notice an unusual number of crows flying overhead. Each winter, they show up by the thousands to roost in metro neighborhoods. While the gatherings may seem ominous to some, they serve an important purpose for these intelligent birds.

Bill seeks to have judges, not experts, determine MN's water policies

February 10, 2017

Water quality standards must be based on expert science and public input. We need to reject rulemaking by judges and oppose this legislation.