Water

FMR is proud to be a leading voice in protecting the water of our Big River and all the people and wildlife who depend on it.

From the banks of the Mississippi to the halls of the Legislature, our Water program strives to keep you up to date on important water-quality issues. (For political animals, here are all FMR posts related to legislative advocacy.)

Updates are also shared on social (Facebook and Instagram) and in FMR's Mississippi Messages newsletter.

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POSTS

Legislation to undermine agency rulemaking adopted in State Government Finance Conference Report

This week, the State Government Finance Conference Committee released its conference report which includes 30 pages of redundant, regressive, time-consuming, and expensive hurdles that agencies must go through in order to adopt or even propose rules to protect our environment, natural resources, health, and safety. These provisions were written by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, which characterizes them as "streamlining" the agency process. The reality, however, is that this legislation will result in significant delays and administrative expenses.

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Building on a successful Water Action Day

More than 1,000 Minnesotans joined us at the Capitol to urge legislators and Gov. Mark Dayton to invest in clean water and protect Minnesota's great outdoors. Now we're keeping up the momentum with the River Guardians and Water Action Daily. 

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Pollution Control Agency chief: Anti-environment bills put politics ahead of science

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner recently penned a thoughtful commentary on the threat of anti-environmental legislation moving forward at the Minnesota Legislature this session.

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MINNPost: 'Legislature makes a sweeping assault on Minnesota's environmental traditions'

"When people like [FMR director] Whitney Clark and Steve Morse call out the Minnesota Legislature for a 'full frontal assault' on the state’s traditions of environmental stewardship, for an 'unprecedented' trashing of established and accepted practice, it’s time to take notice," writes Ron Meador in MINNPost. We couldn't agree more.

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FMR joins letter opposing House and Senate environmental bills

FMR is proud to be a signatory on a pair of letters to the Minnesota House and Senate asking members to vote ‘no’ on the Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources budget bills.

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MN House & Senate rewrite Legacy and undercut Clean Water Fund recommendations.

A pair of bills advanced in the House and Senate this week that re-write appropriations for the State’s Clean Water Fund. These bills:

  • Undermine the Clean Water Council’s recommendations;
  • Violate the Legislature’s 2015 promise to taxpayers on buffer funding; and
  • Reduce or eliminate funding for drinking water, agricultural conservation, water monitoring and other core clean water programs. 
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Stealth House-only bill undermines agency rulemaking

A bill poised to pass the Minnesota House with minimal hearings would make it possible for a single legislative committee to block or hamstring state agencies from adopting or even proposing rules to protect Minnesotans' environment, natural resources, health, and safety. Written by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the bill explicitly elevates the interests of corporate polluters and other regulated entities above all other regulatory considerations.

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Clean Water Fund bill brought forward in the House

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.

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Unexpected amendment undermines state’s buffer law

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.
 

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