St. Paul, MN—The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) introduced a proposed Administrative Penalty Order (APO) last week that would fine farmers out of compliance with Minnesota's riparian buffer law by up to $500 per linear foot, which could result in thousands of dollars in fines annually for farmers who are even a few feet out of compliance across their entire property.
“The Dayton Administration is putting the wishes of their radical environmental supporters over the needs of Minnesota's farmers. Instead of working with our agricultural community, they decided to move forward with these excessive penalties,” said Rep. Matt Grossell, R-Clearbrook. “There is a short public comment period on these proposed penalties, and I would highly encourage folks to let BWSR and the Dayton Administration know this proposal is overkill and simply unacceptable. We all share the goal of clean waters and protecting our environment, but once again state agencies are going too far, doing far more harm than good.”
The public comment period lasts until 4:30 PM on Monday, April 16, 2018, and comments can be submitted by email to buffers.bwsr@state.mn.us, or by U.S. Mail at the following address:
Tom Gile
Buffers and Soil Loss Operations Supervisor
Board of Soil and Water Resources
3555 9th Street NW, Suite 350
Rochester, MN 55901
The House Agriculture Policy Committee will hold a hearing on the proposed penalties on Thursday, April 12 at 10:15 AM in Room 5 of the State Office Building in St. Paul (100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155).
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