Governor’s Task Force on Wild Rice will recommend best practices for protecting natural stands of wild rice for future generations while supporting economic progress in Minnesota
ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton today announced his appointments to the Governor’s Task Force on Wild Rice. Established in June 2018 through
Executive Orders 18-08 and 18-09, the Task Force will work toward the restoration and protection of wild rice habitats, in order to preserve the cultural, environmental, and economic interests many Minnesotans have for this complex issue.
“Wild rice is vitally important to many Minnesotans and, especially, to our state's Native Americans,” said Governor Dayton. “We must find a sustainable solution that will protect both wild rice and its waters and economic growth and jobs. I thank the Members of this Task Force for their efforts to find a solution that benefits all Minnesotans.”
About the Governor’s Task Force on Wild Rice
The Governor’s Task Force on Wild Rice is a nonpartisan group of experts and key stakeholders who are committed to finding a compromise solution to wild rice restoration and protection in Minnesota. The Task Force, appointed by Governor Dayton, is comprised of representatives from Tribal Nations, industry, environmental advocacy groups, scientists, state government agencies, and other stakeholders.
Over the coming months, the Task Force will work to review existing peer-reviewed scientific literature and existing wild rice conditions. The Task Force will also help develop recommendations on funding for additional data collection, best management practices for protecting and restoring wild rice, sulfate minimization plans, and the development and installation of cost-effective sulfate treatment technologies.
By December 15, 2018, the Governor’s Task Force on Wild Rice will recommend specific policy proposals and actions that can be taken by the Executive and Legislative branches of state government and the private sector to protect wild rice in Minnesota, while supporting continued economic development and job creation across the state.
Core Members of the Task Force:
Kurt Anderson – Brookston, MN
Electric Utility Representative
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Paul Austin – Minneapolis, MN
Environmental Nongovernmental Organization Representative
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Chrissy Bartovich – Mountain Iron, MN
Ferrous Mining Industry Representative
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Leya Charles – Welch, MN
Minnesota Dakota Tribal Representative
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Gary Drotts – Brainerd, MN
Non-Native Wild Rice Harvester
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Kathryn Hoffman – St. Paul, MN
Environmental Nongovernmental Organization Representative
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Emi Ito – St. Paul, MN
Independent Scientist with Expertise in Wild Rice Research, Plant-Based Aquatic Toxicity
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Peter Lee – Kakabeka Falls, Ontario
Independent Scientist with Expertise in Wild Rice Research, Plant-Based Aquatic Toxicity
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Norman Miranda – Deer River, MN
Municipal Wastewater Discharger Representative
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Brad Moore – Mahtomedi, MN
Non-Ferrous Mining Industry Representative
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Al Pemberton – Red Lake, MN
Red Lake Nation Representative
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
John Rebrovich – Eveleth, MN
Statewide Labor Organization Representative
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Ex-Officio Members of the Task Force:
Ann Pierce – St. Paul, MN
Ex-Officio Representative of the Department of Natural Resources
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
Catherine Neuschler – St. Paul, MN
Ex-Officio Representative of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Effective: September 12, 2018
Term Expires: April 7, 2019
About Wild Rice Legislation Vetoed During the 2018 Legislative Session
Governor Dayton created the Governor’s Task Force on Wild Rice after the Administration, Minnesota Legislature, and key stakeholders did not agree upon a workable policy solution during the 2018 Legislative Session that adequately balanced the environmental and cultural protection of wild rice, with the need for continued economic development and job creation across Minnesota.
In May 2018, Governor Dayton
vetoed HF 3280, a bill regarding the sulfate standard for waters used to produce wild rice. The bill would have eliminated important environmental protections for wild rice, which would have violated the federal Clean Water Act. To read more about the harm HF 3280 would have caused wild rice habitats in Governor Dayton’s veto letter to Speaker of the House Kurt Daudt,
CLICK HERE.
Governor Dayton also
vetoed HF 3422, a bill that would have replaced the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s responsibility under state and federal laws to determine a wild rice water quality standard by unlawfully giving a work group this power. To read more about Governor Dayton’s objections to that bill in his veto letter to Speaker of the House Kurt Daudt,
CLICK HERE. 