Senate Environment Committee begins natural resources reorganization discussion

(Jan 6, 2010) - In November 2008, 1.6 million voters approved an amendment to constitutionally dedicate funding for the preservation and protection of our state’s wildlife habitat, lakes and rivers, parks, and cultural heritage. Minnesotans’ willingness to raise taxes even in tight economic times is a signal of the value they place on our natural resources.

The next step in protecting our environment and natural resources is to examine the way we deliver natural resource governance. The structure the state has in place for managing our natural resources has evolved in many layers over decades. There are a number of state departments and agencies, together with local government entities, that share environment and natural resources oversight and enforcement responsibilities. Many of these agencies and departments have overlapping jurisdiction and local governments also perform some of the same functions.