NISSWA, Minn. -- Addressing environmental issues is a debate often seen at the state and federal level.
But in Minnesota, local governments are taking it on themselves through an expanding program.
The GreenStep Cities initiative is now in its 10th year. It guides cities that want to reduce their carbon footprints but might not have the resources.
Rick Patraw, section manager at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, says his agency, which oversees the program, can recommend nearly 30 ways these cities can make improvements.
"They can move in and try to do things with buildings and lighting to reduce their greenhouse gases," he points out.
Patraw says stormwater management is a common practice adopted by cities as they see more heavy rain events brought on by climate change. He says finding enough money can sometimes be a barrier for smaller communities trying to go green.
More than 130 municipalities, many of which have fewer than 5,000 residents, have signed up for the program,.
One of those communities is Nisswa, a city of nearly 2,000 people in northern Minnesota. Brittney Cotner, the city's planning and zoning administrator, says Nisswa signed up for GreenStep Cities a few years ago, and has taken a more active approach over the past year.
"There's some of these best practices that you look at and you think, 'Oh gosh, how is a city of 2,000 going to accomplish that?'" she states. "And there's some really creative ideas out there. So, just knowing where to look is really half the battle."
Cotner says the program assigns a single person to help guide the city through various steps, which she describes as very helpful. For Nisswa, the steps have included using more recycled paper and buying energy efficient appliances for city use.
As it looks to the future, the program hopes to get more county governments and school systems to join.
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A Knoxville-based environmental group is voicing concerns over what it sees as an increasing financial strain imposed on taxpayers by nuclear weapons projects. Expense for the Y12 Uranium Processing Facility in Oak Ridge are expected to increase as it ages.
Tanvi Kardile, coordinator for the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, said the National Nuclear Security Administration requested an extra $810 million for the Y12 complex. That pushes its total cost to $9 billion, which is $2.5 billion more than the initial estimate.
Kardile suggested this money could be better spent on other state priorities.
"It would just be so great for the state to up their health care, up education. We don't have public transportation here. That can be something great for us - but instead, we're paying towards nuclear weapons," Kardile suggested.
Kardile added the Biden administration total weapons budget for the nation is $19.8 billion. She pointed out delays in construction of the Uranium Processing facility mean it won't be completed until 2029, several years behind schedule.
She said her group is also concerned with the ongoing environmental hazards and public health risks tied to enriching uranium and other activities at the weapons complex. But proponents of the plant point to the jobs and economic impact it has for the local area. Kardile said that wouldn't necessarily go away if the facility closed.
"If the plant were to shut down operations, they would still have to be cleanup, because there is a lot of contamination and radiation from the plant. So, it would still provide jobs for years to come, because that contamination is not going to go away in our lifetime," Kardile added.
She emphasized the importance of Tennesseans collaborating with lawmakers to find the best path to allocate their tax dollars.
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New Mexico has one of the nation's last "wild" rivers, free of human-made structures and community representatives will be back in the nation's Capitol this week to advocate for its protection.
A delegation of tribal leaders, local elected officials, veterans and community leaders will urge members of Congress to pass the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act. Passage would protect nearly 450 miles of the Gila and San Francisco Rivers and their tributaries.
Harry Browne, a commissioner in Grant County, said local residents have championed the legislation for nearly a decade.
"This region is among the nation's most economically challenged," Browne pointed out. "We deserve the benefits of Wild and Scenic Designation, increased tourism, increased investment by small businesses in outdoor recreation activities."
After four introductions, the bill passed out of a Senate committee last year with bipartisan support. As negotiated, it would allow grazing operations to continue on surrounding areas. Nonetheless, some landowners oppose the bill, worried it might restrict their Gila water use and lead to lawsuits.
In 2011, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico won the right to establish a reservation on homelands in southern New Mexico.
Pamela Eagleshield, vice chair of the tribe in Oklahoma, said many of the remaining 800 members hope to return and enjoy the pristine environment.
"Because our petroglyphs, our carvings, our culture, our history; everything that we have is there," Eagleshield emphasized. "If it's changed in any way, that's something that directly affects the spirituality of our people."
Browne noted the Grant County community-driven proposal will benefit people of all kinds.
"That is why my family and I moved here back in the early '90s," Browne stressed. "It would be devastating to see what we have here diminished by un-careful development."
New Mexico's outdoor recreation industry generates just over $2 billion in consumer spending by directly employing 28,000 people.
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The Supreme Court's decision in 2023 to roll back the Clean Water Act has meant less federal oversight in protecting the country's wetlands.
Illinois does not have a standalone program, and one organization hopes state legislators will pass measures to change this. Wetlands clean the water, reduce flooding and provide fish and wildlife habitat.
David McEllis, Illinois legislative director for the Environmental Law and Policy Center, said Senate Bill 3669 and House Bill 5386 have passed out of their respective committees, but he expects future amendments.
"This would create, through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, a permitting process for when a landowner wants to destroy or fill in or work on wetlands in the state," McEllis outlined. "That covers the gap that was created by the Supreme Court decision."
The department believes landowners can play an important role in protecting the state's nearly 54,000 species of insects, birds, mammals, frogs and fungi by providing nesting and roosting places for habitat and making clean water accessible. The agency warns the state's natural areas are being lost to urban development and agricultural and industrial interests.
McEllis believes a wetlands standalone program would continue where the court's ruling left off and protect the state's remaining untouched and unprotected wetlands. The center's fact sheet said Illinois has already lost 90% of its wetland acreage and the status of the remaining 10% is unknown.
He pointed out the destruction of wetlands has taken place in Illinois for hundreds of years, since the state's establishment in the 1800s.
"There are some existing protections in the state in Cook County and some of the suburban counties, so those wetlands have some protection," McEllis acknowledged. "There are multiple rivers in downstate Illinois, and also wetlands areas throughout the state."
McEllis noted millions of wetlands have already been used for farming purposes, resulting in a loss for the state. A report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said wetlands currently cover nearly 6% of the land in 48 states. An estimated 95% of wetlands are freshwater; the rest are marine.
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