Thank you for a year of action to strengthen the Mississippi River rules

A view from the Minneapolis and Saint Paul river gorge, a portion of the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA).

Photo: MNRRA

Over the past year, the DNR has been moving forward the process of creating rules for the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) a 72-mile corridor along the river extending from Dayton to Hastings. FMR has been in-step the whole way working to ensure the rules are the most protective of our portion of the Mississippi River as they can be.

FMR organized nearly 2,000 people and groups over the last year to advocate on behalf of the Mississippi River and surrounding corridor in the Twin Cities to protect, enhance, and restore the area for future generations. These community members and partner groups advocated by writing letters, signing petitions, attending trainings, testifying at meetings, spreading the word, and sending formal comments to the DNR. FMR would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who made the effort to participate.

Next, now that the formal comment period has ended on the rulemaking process, the DNR is revising their draft rules. Late this year, the DNR is expected to release their revised version of the rules. The 30-day comment period on the revised version is expected to occur in early to mid-January 2015. Once completed, an Administrative Law Judge will consider the comments and draft rules before issuing report. The Governor will then approve or veto the rules. As always, FMR will be closely following this process and will keep you updated as the rulemaking process progresses.

If you are interested in learning more about the Critical Area, please visit FMR's MRCCA webpage that has a link to FMR's formal comments or contact Alicia at auzarek@fmr.org or 651-222-2193 x29.