Proposed rules aimed at protecting the metro portion of the Mississippi River are now available for public comment, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The proposed rules will replace a 37-year-old executive order that currently regulates development in the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA). Designated in the 1970s, the MRCCA is a 72-mile land corridor along the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities metropolitan area governed by special land development regulations. These regulations protect and preserve the unique natural, recreational, transportation and cultural features of this section of the river.
After five years of extensive public participation in developing the proposed rules, the DNR is embarking on the final and formal phase of rulemaking and is seeking public comment on the proposed rules.
Today, the DNR published the notice of hearing to adopt rules, which begins the formal comment period. During this period, an administrative law judge will review the proposed rules and take public input through a formal comment and public hearing process. Interested parties may submit written comments to the judge and/or provide oral comments at one of three public hearings:
Tuesday, June 14, 4:30 p.m.
Schaar’s Bluff Gathering Center
8395 127th St. East, Hastings
Wednesday, June 15, 4:30 p.m.
Greenhaven Golf Course Event Center
2800 Greenhaven Road, Anoka
Thursday, June 16, 10 a.m.
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
2522 Marshall St. NE, Minneapolis
Comments may be submitted online through the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings at https://minnesotaoah.granicusideas.com.
Written comments may also be mailed or faxed to:
Administrative Law Judge Eric L. Lipman
Office of Administrative Hearings
600 North Robert St.
P.O. Box 64620
St. Paul, MN 55164-0620
Fax: 651-539-0310
Over the past five years, the DNR has met with property owners, local governments, businesses, and environmental and recreation groups to hear their concerns and gather ideas for developing the proposed rules to:
Improve protections for water quality, habitat and scenic views.
Protect existing development and allow redevelopment while protecting key resources.
Simplify local government administration.
“Developing modern rules will go a long way toward improving efficiency and consistency while protecting the essential values that led to the area’s original designation,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. “That’s something we hope landowners, local units of government and river advocates can all support.”
The proposed rules, district maps, statement of need and reasonableness, and other information are available on the DNR’s project website at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/rules/mrcca/index.html. People interested in receiving further information can subscribe to the agency’s email updates at the project website.