Critical Area Reform Approaches Finish Line
Published May 14, 2009. See current Land Use and Planning Updates.
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Last Friday evening at the State Capitol, the omnibus Clean Water Fund bill was passed by both the House and Senate. The Mississippi River Corridor critical area bill and funding for DNR rulemaking is included in both versions of the omnibus bill HF 1231 and SF 1651. Read more about the critical area bill in FMR's web fact sheet.
This week, these bills will go to conference committee where the two versions of the bill will be reconciled into one bill to be voted on by both the House and Senate before it is sent to Governor Pawlenty for his signature.
However, it is possible that the Governor could choose to line-item veto specific appropriations within the bill, including the funding for rulemaking on Critical Area.
FMR is asking members and other interested citizens and groups to contact Governor Pawlenty to urge him to support the appropriation to the DNR to conduct rulemaking for the Mississippi River Corridor critical area. Seventeen groups from the Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP) signed on to a letter to the Governor just this week. Please visit our "take action" page on the bill for more information, suggested talking points, sample letters and links to Governor Pawlenty's contact info.