it is strictly illegal for the MPCA to combine
public notices and comment periods for
environmental review (EAW/EIS) and air
permitting. It's been done before. But I think
it contravenes the intent of the laws to enable
to public to participate in a meaningful, informed way.
Minnesota has a lot of good environmental laws
such as the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act
(MERA, MN ST 116B.01 - 13. 1971) and the
Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (1973, EAW,
EIS ...) Problem is, they were passed a long
time ago and developer/polluter interests have
been chipping away at them ever since.
Last year, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
(<http://www.mnchamber.com/about/board.cfm>board)
(the same Chamber, of course, that set up
"Minnesota Forward" to promote Emmer, et al) made
weakening "environmental review" one of it's key
priorities. The legislature--both houses
supposedly controlled by the DFL--responded by
telling the MPCA to study weakening--but NOT
strengthening--the EAW/EIS process. It did not
seem to me that "environmental" orgs in Minnesota
pushed back very hard, but maybe I just don't understand how they operate.
I wrote some about this, as did Brian DeVore and others:
<http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2010/03/02/agenda-week-hf-3079-weakening-environmental-review-minnesota>
the agenda this week: H.F 3079: Weakening Environmental Review in Minnesota
<http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2009/10/14/underway-attempt-curb-citizen-rights-mn-environmental-review-process>
An attempt to curb citizen rights in MN environmental review process
<http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2009/12/10/polymet-manipulation-and-public-meetingshearings>
manipulation, and public meetings/hearings
<http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/blog/brian-devore/environmental-reviews-latest-threat>
review's latest threat
Of course, this stuff isn't limited to the
MPCA. One can see it in the behavior of the DNR,
Public Utilities Commission, Department of
Commerce, etc. (Wonder why Minnesota no longer
has a Department of Public Service...?)
Suborning the integrity of regulatory agencies,
turning them over to the interests they are
supposed to be regulating, cutting the public out
of decision-making, making the world safer for
sprawl development, pollution and disease,
inequality and injustice ... these are core
agendas of "conservative" politics. It's the
real stuff behind the rhetorical antics.
Worth thinking about on an election day.
Alan Muller