Now that Gov. Tim Pawlenty has announced he will not be seeking a third term and all eyes turn to how he will use “unallotment” to close the huge state budget deficit, one major policy victory may be overlooked.

The Legislature passed, and Pawlenty signed, the bills necessary to spend the increased sales tax money from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. That tax increase kicks in July 1 and Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy was particularly pleased with the bill allocating the new Clean Water money.

The final bill closely followed the recommendations of MCEA and other members of the G-16 coalition of business, agriculture, environment, and local government groups. Now that adequate money is in place, the state can begin to fulfill its federal Clean Water Act responsibilities to test all of its rivers and lakes and developing and implementing clean up plans for those found to be polluted.

In addition, the bill provided money for groundwater protection and funds, that if properly allocated, will identify and address 20 percent of Minnesota’s estimated 60,000 straight pipe septics. This Third World method of allowing some homes to flush their toilets and have the sewage flow directly into a stream has been known and illegal for years, but with little money to fund a crack down, the disgusting practice continued.

Kudos to bill authors, long-time clean water champion Sen. Dennis Frederickson, a New Ulm Republican, and DFL Rep. Kent Eken of Twin Valley. Also, DFL Senators Sandy Rummel of White Bear Lake and Ellen Anderson of St. Paul, DFL Representatives Jean Wagenius of Minneapolis and Mary Murphy of Hermantown, all played a role in passing the bill.

When Gov. Pawlenty makes his cuts, MCEA will be watching to make sure they do not affect the constitutional amendment dollars. In addition, we will try to occasionally highlight interesting water projects or water quality improvements resulting from the clean water funding.