Citizen input will be the highlight of March 15 Environmental Congress

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2013 Environmental Congress header

News release

For release: March 8, 2013

Contact: Anna Sherman, 651-201-6607


Citizen input will be the highlight of March 15 Environmental Congress

ST. PAUL, Minn.  – The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) will hold its Environmental Congress on March 15. The goal is to shape a vision for the state’s environment and energy future.

The Congress is the culmination of six citizen forums drawing hundreds of citizens held around the state late last year. Input gathered from the forums is the starting point for the Congress, where recognized experts and community leaders will develop recommendations for addressing Minnesota’s environmental and energy challenges and opportunities. These recommendations will help guide the EQB and the Dayton Administration to create short-term action steps and to set goals for the future.

Minnesota Environmental Quality Board Chair Dave Frederickson says the top environmental issues citizens targeted at the forums included silica sand mining, copper-nickel mining, water quality and groundwater depletion, climate change and renewable energy, and wolf hunting.

“We heard repeatedly the need for regulation based on sound science, the need for more education about the environment, and the need for jobs and the economy to be balanced with environmental protection,” said Frederickson. “All of the comments were recorded and a summary will be presented at Environmental Congress.”

Governor Mark Dayton will open the Congress, to be followed by many of Minnesota’s top environment and energy experts. These experts will lead a dialogue on issues of water, land, energy, air, and climate.  Explorer and educator Will Steger, CEO of Northern States Power Judy Poferl, former U.S. Congressman David Minge, and Dr. Mark Seeley of the University of Minnesota are among the experts leading the dialogue.  Additionally, young adults from high schools and colleges around the state will present the Next Generation’s perspective. 

The Environmental Congress will be held Friday, March 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, Bloomington. Interested members of the public are welcome to register as space allows. For more information on the Congress, including the agenda and speakers, visit www.mn.gov/environmentalcongress.