2001-10-25_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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BWSR Meeting Minutes August 23, 2001 Page Three Copies of the Executive Orders will be available for board members next month. Ron stated that the BWSR Cost-Share/Soil Conservation Committee needs to revisit the feedlot issue regarding the diversion of water from. buildings/feedlot facility. Doug Thomas distributed the publication "Private Lands, Public Benefits". Doug represented BWSR at a meeting in Washington, D.C. BWSR's monitoring program is acknowledged on page 31 of this document. Chair Coe thanked Doug for spreading the good word. The report is on the website for the Governor's summit. Ron Harnack has rescheduled some field office visits. Ron will be in Europe in September; Doug Thomas will be acting during Ron's absence. Ron reported that there is a potential strike with AFSCME and MAPS bargaining units; BWSR has a strike plan in place; potential for reassignment of staff. The all staff meeting scheduled for October 1-3, has been postponed due to the possible strike. Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) -Chair Coe reported that there are presently four appeals pending; all four appeals involve WCA. One appeal is of an exemption determination in McLeod County. The appeal has been remanded to the county to develop a better record including more technical analysis. Another pending appeal is in LaCrescent along the Mississippi River in Houston County. The replacement plan denial arose from a cease and desist order and a restoration order. The appeal has been accepted and at the pre-hearing conference resolution was explored. The appeal is pending while discussions occur with the landowner, the city and the county. Another pending appeal regards an exemption denial in Lake of the Woods County. A cease and desist order is involved in the appeal. No decision has been made yet to accept the appeal. Another pending appeal regards an exemption approval by the Lac Qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed District involving the federal exemption. The appeal has been accepted and apre-hearing conference has not been set since resolution is being pursued. John Jaschke has been corresponding with Lac Qui Parle on this issue. Wetlands Committee -Darrell Bruggman reported that a stakeholders meeting was held yesterday on rule revisions for WCA rule development. Dan Eklund reported that they are in the process of rewriting the WCA rule system. BWSR staff have initiated three LGU meetings. Dan stated that the stakeholders meetings' overriding theme was positive regarding the one application process. Although, there is still the sense of more process is better; however, it was the minority. When you change from a very prescriptive regulatory process to a conformative process there is a concern. Another stakeholder's meeting will be held after the proposed rules are drafted. Education and Public Relations Committee -Jack Frost reported that the committee will now meet on a quarterly basis.