Good news for both Minnesotans and the planet: The state just passed a landmark law that gives regulators the power to take swift, decisive action against the worst polluters, according to the Star Tribune.
Beginning July 1, 2024, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will have a range of new powers to shut down companies that falsify pollution data, repeatedly violate the terms of settlements, chronically violate permitting rules or operate without proper permits. Talk about accountability.
The law is inspired by cases like Water Gremlin, a company that made fishing tackle and battery parts and violated air pollution regulations for nearly two decades. Under the old rules, the MPCA said its hands were tied unless a polluter posed an “imminent and substantial danger” to public health.
No more excuses. Now, serial offenders will face real consequences, including having their licenses revoked or being forced out of business. This is a huge victory for Minnesotans’ lungs and the future of our planet.
The MPCA is also putting its money where its mouth is. The agency is getting more than $5 million to hire 22 new staff members to focus on air quality monitoring, permit reviews and inspections. It’s also investing in state-of-the-art pollution sensors to keep pollution in check.
“While the Legislature has given the agency stronger tools to act quickly in certain situations, the MPCA must still conduct investigations and gather factual evidence that warrants action,” Becky Lentz, a spokeswoman for the MPCA, said in an email to the Star Tribune.
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Evan Mulholland, an attorney with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, said the law gives the MPCA commissioner broad authority to protect communities.
“This change will help MPCA do both,” Claire Lancaster, a spokeswoman for Gov. Tim Walz, said in an email.
Some fear the law could cause costly legal battles, but sometimes you have to fight for what’s right. Minnesota just showed the nation how to test polluters. Let’s hope other states follow suit.
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