A bill was laid over for consideration later in the legislative session, providing grants to manage manure in the Karst region of southeastern Minnesota. “Nitrate pollution continues to be a threat in Minnesota water quality, especially in southeastern Minnesota where nitrate levels frequently exceed federal and state drinking standards,” said State Senator Heather Gustafson, who authored the bill. “It creates a grant program to help address nitrate groundwater contamination and the fish kills occurring within the state.” Grants would be provided to small dairy farms. State Senator Steve Green is concerned about the open appropriations language in this bill. The Fosston lawmaker is upset with the lack of transparency. “I don’t get (policy) breakdowns, not even from the MPCA as far as water quality and it’s got me in the dark and so I get frustrated with that.”
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