Pawlenty urges Capitol action on environment

01/07/2006

Governor chides legislators, self for failures

BY CHRIS NISKANEN
Pioneer Press
Posted: Jan 7, 2006

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Gov. Tim Pawlenty, speaking to hundreds of outdoors enthusiasts here on Friday, said state lawmakers should be held accountable if they again don’t pass key pieces of environmental legislation this year.

Pawlenty said he and other lawmakers failed on their promises to pass two pieces of legislation last session — a “Clean Water Legacy” bill and a bill asking voters to consider a constitutional amendment dedicating a portion of the state sales tax to natural resources.

He referenced speeches made at the Ducks, Wetlands and Clean Water Rally last April, when he and other lawmakers voiced their support for the legislation but failed to approve it.

“It’s time we hold folks accountable, including me, for those words,” he said in a speech punctuated by a standing ovation.

The outdoors enthusiasts and conservation groups were gathered in St. Cloud for the Department of Natural Resources’ annual Fish, Wildlife and Ecological Services Roundtable, where the agency unveils new initiatives and hears from the public on hot-button issues.

Pawlenty focused on the sales-tax proposal in his speech, saying if voters were asked to dedicate a portion of the state’s sales tax as a constitutional amendment to protect natural resources, “I have no doubt … it will pass.”
Supporters are working on House bills that would dedicate 0.25 percent of the state’s tax to natural resources, raising about $160 million every two years. Under one proposal, half would be dedicated to cleaning up Minnesota waters and the other half would be dedicated to wildlife habitat and parks. Similar bills have failed to pass the Legislature in the past six years.

This year’s roundtable focused on waterfowl, grasslands and wetlands restoration efforts. The DNR unveiled its Minnesota Duck Plan, an ambitious proposal to protect 2 million acres of habitat to the state’s prairie region.
Duck hunters have complained about the declining duck kill in Minnesota, but scientists also say Minnesota’s wetlands are disappearing or are being degraded by murky water and chemicals. About 60 percent of Minnesota’s shallow prairie lakes are degraded, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

The DNR’s 2 million-acre habitat plan could take at least 50 years to accomplish, given limited state and federal funding and pressures of agriculture and development on the land. No price tag was put on the plan.

“We wanted to have a long-range plan, understanding that we didn’t get into this (problem) overnight,’’ said DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam.

A more modest goal of protecting 600,000 additional acres of waterfowl habitat in the next 20 years would conservatively cost $1 billion, said Ray Norrgard, DNR wetlands wildlife program leader. It would require not only contributions and cooperation from the DNR but also from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, local soil and water conservation services, and perhaps dozens of other partners, he said.

“We need to find a way to get funding that would support multiple efforts,’’ Norrgard said.

Pawlenty announced Friday he would ask lawmakers to approve a nearly $187 million bonding package for outdoors and environmental projects this year. About $72 million of it would go to the DNR. That’s about the same amount the agency received last year.

Included is a $15 million request for 8,000 acres of new Wildlife Management Areas and $10 million to secure public access to northern forests. The $10 million would be paid to the timber industry for easements on its forestlands, ensuring the lands don’t fall into private hands.

Conservationists were encouraged by Pawlenty’s support of legislation friendly to wildlife and the environment, especially his pitch for the constitutional amendment to dedicate state tax money for natural resources.

“He feels this is the year for (this legislation) to pass,’’ said Kevin Ausland, a volunteer with the Ducks, Wetlands and Clean Water Rally, which is scheduled for April 22 at the Capitol. “It’s a real positive sign.”