MCEA encourages the 2009 Legislature to make budgetary decisions that will:

• Champion the people's clear desire to protect clean water and habitat
• Protect the Clean Water Fund and Outdoor Heritage Fund from raids
• Use Clean Water Fund for Clean Water Legacy purposes
• Maintain essential environmental programs
• Prevent sales of irreplaceable public lands

To effectively regulate global warming emissions, we need more solid information on the sources of problematic pollution. Minnesota should enact a statewide climate registry to collect that information by establishing a mandatory reporting system for all sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The resulting knowledge would inform all future policy decisions on climate change and could serve as a foundation for a cap and trade system.

Bill Authors and Numbers: Rep. Kate Knuth, HF 774, Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon, SF 444

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Scientific research shows that current lead exposure limits insufficiently protect children’s health. The Legislature should implement cost-effective measures to lower the exposure limit and educate families about the presence of lead in the environment.

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Bill Authors and Numbers: Rep. Jim Davnie, HF419, Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, SF 522

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To meet the global warming emissions reduction goals established by the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act, protect public health, improve air quality, and meet consumer demand for more efficient cars, Minnesota should adopt statewide vehicle emissions standards that are more protective than the federal standards.

Download fact sheets: Clean Cars: a Win-Win for Minnesota , The Truth About Clean Cars Legislation, Cars that Already Meet Clean Cars Standards, Cleaner Trucks

Bill Authors and Numbers: Rep. Melissa Hortman, HF 690, Sen. John Marty, SF 522

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Faced with the reality of climate change and the profound effects it could have on Minnesota’s environment and quality of life, the state set ambitious goals in 2007 to reduce global warming emissions 15 percent by 2015 and 80 percent by 2050. Reaching those benchmarks will require important adjustments in development patterns and the availability of transportation options. In the 2009 legislative session, MCEA will work with a coalition convened by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership to pass legislation that will reduce vehicle miles driven and incorporate reduced driving goals into planning by the Metropolitan Council and local governments. The Building Sensible Communities bill will also require wetlands to be protected and valued for their ability to sequester carbon dioxide, and incorporate global warming emissions analysis into environmental review.

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Bill Authors and Numbers: Rep. Frank Hornstein, HF 898, Sen. Scott Dibble, SF 549

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The Legislature should enact more stringent regulations and restrictions on proposed new sulfide mining projects to make sure sulfuric acid and other metals don’t contaminate waters near the mining site. Mining companies should also be required to provide a financial instrument that is immune from bankruptcy and large enough to ensure taxpayers aren’t billed for any environmental clean-up after a mine closure.

MCEA is working with Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness to pass safe mining legislation in the 2009 session. Our legal team is also actively engaged in the development of an Environmental Impact Statement for PolyMet's proposed sulfide mine near Hoyt Lakes.

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Bill Authors and Numbers: Rep. Alice Hausman, HF 916, Sen. Jim Carlson, SF 845

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Image of nickel tailings in Ontario, courtesy of Tony Di Lorenzo.