Environmental Quality Board Will Seuffert| Executive Director MN - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Environmental Quality Board Will Seuffert| Executive Director MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us

Mission The EQB’s mission is to enhance Minnesota’s environmental quality for current and future generations by leading interagency work to advance meaningful public engagement and facilitate informed decision-making on critical environmental issues. MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 2

Membership • Citizen Members representing districts throughout Minnesota • Commissioner Members providing agency perspective and jurisdictional impact • Board Chair EQB leader and spokesperson • Preside over meetings, propose agendas • Strategic leadership • Vice-Chair vacancy MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 3

EQB Support • Budget: Annual $1.2 million • One Executive Director; Seven Staff and AGO support • Staff specialize in Communication, Rulemaking, Environmental Review and Coordination • Technical Representatives from all agencies • Support Environmental Review, planning, public engagement • Liaison and ambassador for EQB work; operational link to agency resources • Interagency Project Staff • EQB collaborates w/ staff throughout agencies for project related expertise • Relationship with MPCA • EQB housed in MPCA building • MPCA provides administrative support (accounting, purchasing, human resources, etc.) MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 4

Findings 116C Environmental Quality Board “The legislature of the state of Minnesota finds that problems related to the environment often encompass the responsibilities of several state agencies and that solutions to these environmental problems require the interaction of these agencies” ; and… “debate concerning population, economic and technological growth should be encouraged so that the consequences and causes of alternative decisions can be better known and understood by the public and its government .” MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 5

Jurisdiction and Authority General Powers and Duties (M.S. 116C.04) • EQB “… shall determine which environmental problems of interdepartmental concern to the state government shall be considered…” • “… shall review programs of state agencies that significantly affect the environment and coordinate those it determines are interdepartmental in nature, and ensure agency compliance with state environmental policy.” Environmental Review (M.S. 116D) • May meeting • “… shall convene an annual EQB congress including … representatives of state, federal and Water Laws (M.S. 103A, 103B) regional agencies, citizen organizations, • June meeting associations, industries, colleges and universities, and private enterprises who are Silica Sand (M.S. 116C.99) active in or have a major impact on Critical Areas Law (M.S. 116G) environmental quality.” MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 6

Our Role Serves as forum for public to engage in Strategic Interaction of Stewards Minnesota Multiple State Agencies Environmental Review Process environmental decision making MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 7

Pollinator Protection • Executive Order 19-28 • Honey bees and numerous native pollinator species have declined due to numerous stressors • Habitat Loss, Pesticides, Climate Change • Convened Governor’s Committee on Pollinator Protection (E.O. 16-07) • Established Interagency Pollinator Protection Team MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 8

Governor’s Task force on Wild Rice • Wild rice is culturally, economically, biologically important for Minnesotans • Health of wild rice dependent on water quality and habitat • Convened Governor’s Task Force on Wild Rice (E.O. 18-08/09) • Consensus-based approach: 9 meetings in fall 2018; report issued January 2019 • Established a positive, constructive dialogue around a complex and contentious issue MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 9

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) • EAB put 1.3 billion ash trees at risk in communities and forested areas • Minnesota has more ash than any other state • 1-in-5 community forest trees are ash • Established EAB Interagency Team • Needs include: • Strengthened statewide coordination to slow the spread and delay costs • Financial assistance to communities • Statewide approach for ash utilization and disposal Current Expanse of EAB in Minnesota MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 10

25% by 2025 Engagement Process Goal to improve water quality statewide 25% by 2025 • 10 Town Hall meetings across the state drew more than 2,000 attendees • More than 500 participated online and via community water meetings • Hundreds of fourth graders interacted with 25 by 25 at the Metro Water Festival  Over 3,500 unique ideas from Minnesotans about how to achieve 25% water quality improvement by 2025 MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 11

E+E Report Card • Staff collaboration across several state agencies • Biennial reporting on: climate, energy, air, water and land indicators • Results based accountability process to develop indicators • Evaluate MN environment to measure progress and prioritize efforts. MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 12

Climate Coordination • Interagency leadership and support • Energy and Climate (E&C) team • Interagency Climate Adaptation Team (ICAT) • 2016 Climate Solutions and Economic Opportunities report • Interagency effort, models policy options • Ongoing engagement opportunities • DOT-led Pathways initiative MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 13

Environmental Review Program • Assist governmental units, citizens and project proposers with the process • Monitor, track and report program effectiveness • Convene Environmental Review Advisory Panel • Develop Enterprise master contract • Rule Updates: May 15 Meeting • Legislative Directives • Qualified consultants • (Rec Trails and Silica Sand) • Reduced contracting time • Improve Clarity • Align with statute and regulations MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 14

Where we’re headed • Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) • ER Mandatory Category Rulemaking • 2020 State Water Plan • Environmental Congress • Environment and Energy Report Card • Interagency Pollinator Protection Team • ER Guidance and Continuous Program Development • Climate Change MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 15

2019 Calendar April May June May 1 : Environmental Review April 10 : Public Engagement June 13 : Water Plan, GEIS Overview Meeting discussion May 15 : ER Rule Revisions July August September July 17 : Board Retreat August 21 : Board Meeting September 18 : Board Meeting October November December October 16 : Youth Voices November 20 : Board Meeting December 18 : Board Meeting MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 16

How to be an effective EQB Member • Propose agenda items, interagency working groups, subcommittees, bring topics/ideas to the Board to discuss and get public input • Stay engaged with interagency staff teams; feedback loop with tech reps and other staff • Direct staff action • Propose a resolution • Ask questions and respond to public comments • Debate • Help get the word out MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 17

Strategic Plan • Adopted 5-yr strategic plan in 2018 • Identifies 6 priority results 1. Fostering innovative policy development 2. Leadership on priority emerging environmental issues 3. Transparent, accountable, efficient, environmental review process 4. Diverse/underrepresented groups actively included in policy development 5. A trusted partner with state agencies in collaborative work 6. Support to local government on environmental review and policy/program implementation MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 18

Thank You! Will Seuffert will.seuffert@state.mn.us 651-757-2766 MN Environmental Quality for Current and Future Generations | www.eqb.state.mn.us 19