5.7. SR 01-18-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e M nnesota Wetlands Watcher FALL/WINTER 1 993 Wetlands Conservation Act comes on board: Re-tooling "Wetlands Watch": We Need You! When a handful of birders, envirQnmentalists, and assorted nature lovers got together half a dozen years ago to figure out what could be done about wetlands losses in this state, one of the most popular ideas was to find and train people to keep an eye on wetlands in their own communities. "Wetlands Watch" was formed on the simple belief that public participation improves government decisions. It is a communication network that lets people know about impending developments and gives them the tools to intervene if unacceptable environmental risks are involved. "Wetland Watchers" are counseled to became more knowledgeable about wetlands laws and processes, to build a working dialogue with decisionmakers, and to provide solid, specific information about particular wetlands when permitting decisions were being made. Over the years, they have won numerous victories in either turning back or significantly minimizing destructive projects. Now, with the Minnesota Wetlands Conservation Act ready to go into effect in January, Wetland Watch is more important than ever. Instead of one federal agency making decisions, nearly 250 cities and counties around the state will be taking responsibility for wetlands decisions within their borders. Many governments will do an excellent job, others will not. Virtually everyone agrees that implementation across the state will be uneven, and that in the first few years, while the law gets up and running, an alert and informed public will be crucial to ensuring conscientious administra- tion. Audubon and the Minnesota Wetlands Conservation Coalition are recruiting their members to sign up on the public notification lists for their communities. Ideally, every jurisdiction will have at least one of our members on the notification list to monitor administration of the law and to make sure that the perspectives of the conservation community are part of significant wetlands decisions. Hopefully, keeping an eye on this law will not be too difficult. The Act specifically provides for public oversight and participation by requiring that any individual member of the public who requests will be notified of applications for permission to drain or fill wetlands and of the permit decisions that result. During a 30-day comment period, the public may support, suggest modifica- tions, or oppose a project. To get on the public notice list, contact your city hall or county government office and request copies of wetlands applications in your community (see list elsewhere in this issue). To hook up with Wetlands Watch, send us your name and the community you will be monitoring. You will receive a set of guidelines to assist you in making sense out of and commenting on Corps permits. Join us, we need you!