9-Mile Creek Watershed district offers cost-share grants
Property owners in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, which includes most of Southwest, can now apply for grants to help pay for projects that protect local water resources. Those projects could include the installation of rain gardens or pervious pavers, eligible for grants of up to 50 percent of total projectContinue Reading
Without Your Consent: Mining Co. Can Dig Up Your Land per DNR’s sale
DULUTH — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources opens bids this week for mineral leases that would allow companies to prospect for precious metals across northern Minnesota, even if the owner of the surface land disagrees. Full story here. Update! Here.Continue Reading
Ethanol plant fined $150k for pollution
A southwest Minnesota ethanol plant agreed to pay a $150,000 fine and take corrective action after the state found numerous violations of its pollution permits . . . Full story here.Continue Reading
GOP members bring new priorities to environmental panel
Newly elected officials rejected 20 of 94 projects the group had approved just last year. … drive to redirect about $7.5 million in Minnesota State Lottery proceeds that had been tentatively been promised to other environmental projects over the next two years. See full article here.Continue Reading
Despite criticism, Dayton approves bill easing environmental reviews
New legislation hands the responsibility for environmental assessments to the corporations pushing the projects. . . Critics said portions of it weaken regulatory and environmental protections instead of simply streamlining procedures. . . . “We’re passing a bit of a pig in a poke here,” said Steve Morse, executive director ofContinue Reading