The environment policy bill includes technical provisions tweaking Minnesota’s 2015 buffer law. That includes language giving the Board of Water and Soil Resources regulatory authority over buffer zones. “There may be a local entity that is not doing the implementation,” explained Representative Rick Hansen. “This actually provides a procedure for the Board of Water and Soil Resources to make sure that there’s a process if they are revoking that authority.” Representative Jeff Backer of Browns Valley spoke in opposition, saying this is a ‘top-down’ approach. “This could be interpreted as if BWSR does not like what the local soil water conservation district is doing, they will be forced to become the bad cop even though they have worked over the last ten years to help get the landowners into compliance.” The amendment to maintain local control was rejected.
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