By Jody McIlrath I am a Planning Commissioner in Florence Township, which is in southeast Minnesota’s Goodhue County. I am also chair of the Save-The-Bluffs Citizen’s group and a new member of the Land Stewardship Project. I have been heavily involved in the silica frac sand issue here in Goodhue County since May 2011.
Posts By: Minnesota Environmental Partnership
Lecture on ‘confounding problem’ of nitrogen pollution
Nitrogen. It makes up three-fourths of the air all around us. It cascades through our environment between land, water and the atmosphere. It is critical to agricultural production that feeds the world. And it is a byproduct of all the fossil fuels we consume. In the United States, we put five times more nitrogen into… Read more »
Grow with MEP and receive a free Chinook Book
The sun is shining, the days are getting longer and you are undoubtedly enjoying all that Minnesota’s Great Outdoors has to offer. Now is the perfect time to let the Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP) help you grow your summer garden as you help us grow our efforts to protect and enhance the Minnesota you love…. Read more »
Minnesota Youth Environmental Network Ready to Take Off!
Written by Christy Newell, Research Assistant, Emerging Leaders Program The Minnesota Youth Environmental Network recently hosted the First Annual Spring Gathering, bringing youth leaders from across the state together to connect, learn new skills, and share stories about the work our generation is doing to create a sustainable future. “We must create new organizational structures… Read more »
2012’s Environmental Gains and Losses
By Steve Morse, executive director of MEP Now that the 2012 Legislative session has ended and the commotion about the stadium has somewhat subsided, let’s look back at what our elected leaders did on some issues that garnered less press, but faced significant threats: Minnesota’s water and Great Outdoors. Sadly, for those keeping score, the… Read more »
Gov’s signing of Enviro, Game and Fish bills disappointing
Statement by Steve Morse, executive director of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership Omnibus Environment and Game and Fish Bills’ passage further chips away at Minnesota’s environmental foundation Legislative Approval of Rules Bill (HF 203) Governor Dayton’s veto of this bill is good news for Minnesotans. With the Governor’s veto, a very real restriction and defacto moratorium… Read more »
Coalition letter to Gov. Dayton about three environmental bills
On May 1, members of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership sent the following letter to Governor Mark Dayton: Dear Governor Dayton, As you know, this Legislature has made a number of efforts to weaken environmental protections in this state. Your staff and staff from the MPCA, DNR, and BWSR have done a great deal to eliminate… Read more »
Coalition to Congressional Delegation: Incorporate Minnesota principles into Farm Bill
Thirty-six organizations recently sent a letter to Minnesota’s Congressional delegation asking for their support in helping Minnesota through parts of the Federal Farm Bill. Read the full letter here (pdf). Excerpt from the letter:
Our Green Heroes
Timberwolves team president Chris Wright and Twolves mascot Crunch presented Merlene and Jim Stiles with an autographed team picture during their halftime recognition. On April 9, 2012, the Minnesota Environmental Partnership was honored at the Minnesota Timberwolves game as part of their ‘Think Green Month.’ We were able to salute a few of MEP’s key… Read more »
Omnibus Environmental Policy Bill contains too many bad provisions
By Steve Morse, Executive Director Our coalition is disappointed today that the Minnesota House passed the Omnibus Environmental Bill (H.F. 2164) without addressing the some serious problems identified by our nonprofit members and Governor Dayton’s agencies. Troubling provisions of this bill include: Loss of wetlands Instead of following the current Wetland Conservation Act that replaces… Read more »