Lawmakers disband citizens’ council on pollution

Published 10:38 am Tuesday, June 16, 2015

ST. PAUL — The nearly 50-year-old Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens’ Board will fade away next week after a legislative deal certified its demise.

Republican lawmakers argued that the group was no longer useful and slowed decision-making by the agency, but supporters say the public is losing an effective board that helped force better decisions.

The citizens’ panel oversaw decisions for the agency protecting the state’s air and water. Those decisions included whether to require an in-depth environmental study for a project, or whether a new water quality rule was justified.

Email newsletter signup

The agency’s commissioner and staff will now be responsible for that kind of decision-making.

The Legislature created the agency and its citizens’ board in 1967.

The board’s last meeting will be held next Tuesday.