Laserfiche WebLink
2007 Environment and Natural <br />Resources Issues <br />2007 was a banner year for envi- <br />ronmental progress. Many new <br />measures were signed into law, <br />including the Great Lakes Compact, <br />a new plan for managing electronic <br />waste, a global - warming initiative, <br />funding for cleanup of polluted <br />lakes and rivers, new restrictions <br />on products that contain mercury, <br />additional wetland protections, and <br />others. <br />Budget <br />Budget discussions held center <br />stage in the 2007 Legislative Ses- <br />sion. Legislators approved the <br />Environment and Natural Resources <br />budget, which provides funds for <br />the Minnesota Pollution Control <br />Agency, the Department of Natu- <br />ral Resources, the Board of Water <br />Resources, and other environmental <br />boards and commissions. <br />Great Lakes Compact <br />Minnesota became the first state <br />to approve a compact between the <br />Great Lakes states that specifies <br />when and how much water from <br />the lakes can be used for commer- <br />cial purposes, including rules for <br />pumping or shipping water out of <br />the Great Lakes region. The Com- <br />pact must be ratified by each state <br />bordered by the Great Lakes before <br />being sent to the U.S. Congress for <br />approval. When implemented, the <br />Compact will: <br />• Set environmental standards <br />for managing new or increased <br />water - withdrawal proposals; <br />• Prohibit water diversions out of <br />the basin (with certain excep- <br />tions); <br />• Establish protection for all the <br />waters of the Great Lakes Basin, <br />including tributary streams, riv- <br />ers and groundwater; <br />• Direct each state to establish <br />water - conservation program, <br />and s <br />• Preserve the rights of states to <br />enact stronger protections. <br />Electronic Waste <br />A statewide ban on the disposal of <br />CRTs in landfills went into effect <br />July 1, 2006, but the provision <br />contained no program or funding to <br />deal with the collection and recy- <br />cling of e- waste. The legislation <br />puts responsibility for recycling <br />electronic waste on manufacturers, <br />encouraging them to devise their <br />own recycling programs and to <br />team up with counties to ensure col- <br />lection. When fully phased -in, the <br />bill charges manufacturers with col- <br />lecting and recycling e -waste equal <br />to 60% of the electronics they sold <br />in the previous year. If they miss <br />their 60% goal, the company pays <br />a small fee, which is used to help <br />counties fund independent e -waste <br />recycling programs. <br />Global Warming <br />The Legislature passed the Global <br />Warming Mitigation Act which <br />set a goal of an 80% reduction in <br />Environmental <br />Resources <br />Minnesota Pollution <br />Control Agency <br />(General Information) <br />651 -296 -6300 <br />or toll -free 800 - 657 -3864 <br />"Ask MPCA" <br />electronic link for <br />answers to many <br />environmental questions <br />www.pca.state.mn.us <br />/ask.html <br />Department of Natural <br />Resources (DNR) <br />651- 296 -6157 <br />or toll -free 888 - 646 -6367 <br />Board of Water and Soil <br />Resources <br />651- 296 -3767 <br />or toll -free 888 - 627 -3529 <br />Computer Disposal <br />651 -296 -6300, <br />or toll -free 800 - 657 -3864 <br />greenhouse gas emissions from <br />2005 levels by the year 2050. The <br />Department of Commerce and other <br />agencies are to develop a plan with <br />a broad -based stakeholder group <br />in order to best determine how to <br />State Senator Sandy Rummel <br />323 State Capitol, St. Paul, MN 55155 - (651) 296 -1253 <br />sen.sandy.rummel @senate.mn <br />