MPCA, environmental rules take some heat at Pork Congress
By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 02/02/2012 9:13 AM
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MINNEAPOLIS — People at Minnesota Pork Congress asked a panel of state legislators about the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Vikings and the agriculture committee's dedication to getting work done.
Panelists during the Jan. 18 session were Rep. Rod Hamilton, R-Mountain Lake, chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Committee, Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-St. James, vice chair of the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee, and Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, chairman of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
Ingebrigtsen, a retired sheriff, said the theme of this year's legislative session will be helping taxpayers by expanding businesses, jobs and the economy, all while taking the environment into consideration.
He and Hamilton criticized a law regarding the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's budget.
In the past, at least half of the money MPCA raised through fines would go to the state's general fund, but that law has changed.
Fines MPCA collects today go to the state's Environmental Fund, which provides 37 percent of MPCA's Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget. The Legislature decides how money in the fund is spent, said MPCA public information officer Cathy Rofshus.
Others who receive money from the fund include the Department of Revenue, Attorney General's office and Department of Health, she said.
Ingebrigtsen said it makes sense to take some of that revenue back from MPCA to remove the perception that it may be trying to raise money through fines.
When MPCA's fines were contributing to the general fund, they amounted to $70,000 to $90,000 annually, but fines increased to $2 million per year after the law changed, Hamilton said.
Torkelson, who owns a hog finishing barn in Watonwan County, said legislators will also look to see if MPCA's revisions to the State Disposal System permits for feedlots are appropriate. The 2011 Legislature changed a law so that Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations only need a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit if they discharge or propose to discharge. However, a state rule says that feedlots or manure storage areas that can hold 1,000 animal units or more need to obtain a State Disposal System permit.
When asked if keeping the Vikings in Minnesota would be good for businesses, Torkelson said the benefits to greater Minnesota are limited, but citizens have an emotional connection to the NFL team.
Ingebrigtsen said losing the Vikings isn't a good idea and that money from gaming could be part of the solution. People have been telling him to keep the team in the state without spending taxpayer's money.
Hamilton wants the owners and players to have some "skin in the game" and says it's important to have a host community be involved. Fans could contribute to a new stadium by a tax of some kind, perhaps through a tax on memorabilia or tickets. He also has been supportive of trying to capture revenue from gaming.
Hamilton assured the audience that the agriculture committee will continue to be a bipartisan group, one that hits the ground running when the session begins Jan. 24.
Hamilton, a pork producer, will look for the Minnesota Pork Producers Association's stance on whether the Legislature should extend a moratorium on earthen basins to store hog manure.
"I would think to extend that moratorium on that would be the right thing to do," he said.
A judicial panel is scheduled to introduce a redistricting plan to the legislature and the public on Feb. 21. Torkelson is the only Republican slated to run against another Republican in all plans so far. One potential opponent is Hamilton.
With redistricting and population shifts, greater Minnesota districts become geographically larger while metro districts become more dense, which allows the metro to gain in political power, said Torkelson.
"We all need to be more involved to make sure our rural voice is heard," he said.