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Water regulation a point of contention in Minnesota

Water regulation is a point of contention in Minnesota.

Department of Ag Commissioner Dave Frederickson spoke with Brownfield while attending the first day of the State Fair.

In regards to the Clean Water Rule, commonly referred to as Waters of the U.S., he says it’s important to remember the EPA was responding to a court order.

“We have two lawsuits, Rapanos and Swank.  Both dealt with the very same issue and came down on opposite sides of it.  So the courts have said fix this, and I think administrator McCarthy has done due-diligence and hard work and has now put this out.”

The rule goes into effect today. However, a federal judge in North Dakota has issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking implementation in 13 states.

In Minnesota, Frederickson says farmers are getting acclimated to Governor Dayton’s buffer law. He tells Brownfield he sat down with farm organizations during the legislative session to come up with a plan that works.

“We had the Farmers Union, Farm Bureau, Corn Growers and Soybean Growers all standing shoulder to shoulder saying let’s make sure that we enforce existing law.  The existing law said 16 1/2 feet.  That’s pretty much what came out of this legislative session.”

Frederickson says the original mandatory 50 foot buffer proposal around all waterways in the state is still a point of contention, even though it’s not part of the legislation passed in the special session.

He also reminds landowners that the buffer rule will not impact them for another two years.