News

Contentious battle over buffers looms for Minnesota Legislature

A Minnesota Legislator says a contentious battle is brewing over certain Buffer Law provisions.

Representative Jeanne Poppe of Austin tells Brownfield the House and Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committees have advanced bills that include buffer clarification language.

“Changes to the Buffer Law, including extensions to push the (implementation) dates off to November of 2018 (for public waters).  And then a couple of changes to what is considered a public water.”

She says Governor Dayton will likely oppose any effort to change the Buffer Law after agreeing to amendments during last year’s session.

“The Governor really does not want to delay it.  He wants to make sure that what he’s kind of got in place stays in place, and the same timeframe that he’s laid out there.  So that’s going to be an issue.”

The House and Senate bills include one year delays for implementation of the Buffer Law—currently this November for public waters and the following November for public ditches—as well as financial aid for watershed districts, and modified requirements for public drainage systems.