Saturday, April 19, 2014

Welcome back to lake country!!

Please plan to attend one of the one-hour sessions designed especially for our Long Lake Area Association seasonal residents to help you learn about the proposed Sandpiper Pipeline Route through Hubbard County's lakes area.

The MN Public Utilities Commission has extended the public comment period only until 5/30/14 to give us all a chance to learn even more about this important opportunity.  We will have resource materials available that were shared in the January 2014 Park Rapids League of Women Voters Panel Discussion on the Sandpiper Pipeline, educational maps with the pipeline route from the Friends of the Headwaters, recent newspaper articles and other information available for you.

To accommodate everyone's busy spring schedules, this one-hour session will be offered 3 separate times.  All sessions will be at the Northwoods Bank Community Room, 1200 East First Street, Park Rapids, MN 56470.  The room is handicap accessible.  Park away from the front of the Bank!

Choose just one "1-hour session" that fits your schedule best.

Friday, 4/25/14 at 10 AM

Wed, 4/30/14 at 1 PM

Thurs 5/8/14 at 7 PM

Come, learn, and enjoy refreshments.  Check out the links below for more information on the topic areas in the meantime.  Bring your friends and neighbors too!

http://www.longlakeliving.org/2014/04/deadline-for-filing-comments-with.html

link to previous post about pipeline

We'll also have information on the MN DNR Straight River Pilot Groundwater Management Area Program that started in 2014.  This area includes Long Lake.  To learn more, go to http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gwmp/areas.html.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Deadline for filing comments with Public Utiltities Commission has been extended!

The Long Lake Area Association (Hubbard County) Inc. Board of Director's Request for an extended comment period for our seasonal residents to learn about the Sandpiper Pipeline Route was heard by the MN Public Utilities Commission!   Please see the resources suggested in the earlier post "Crude Oil Pump Station Planned Near Hubbard" to enhance your education on the Sandpiper Pipeline Route.  (Click here to view the post). Talk with your neighbors about this information.

The new deadline for filing comments is Friday, May 30, 2014 at 4:30 PM for the
Application of North Dakota Pipeline Company LLC for a Pipeline Routing Permit for the Sandpiper Pipeline Project in Minnesota.


Topics Open for Comment at this Time:
  • What human and environmental impacts should be studied in the comparative environmental analysis?
  • Are there any specific methods to address these impacts that should be studied in the comparative environmental analysis?
  • Are there any alternative routes or route segments that should be considered?
Submit Public Comments:

Please include the PUC Docket Numbers (13-474) in all communications.

Email:  larry.hartman@state.mn.us
Online:  http://mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities/#comment
Fax:  651-539-0109

Persons without email access may send by U.S. Mail to:
Larry Hartman, Environmental Review Manager
Minnesota Department of Commerce
85 7th Place East, Suite 500
St. Paul, MN 55101

Monday, April 14, 2014

LLAA's April 2014 Email from Arthur Howe

Two bills are before the Minnesota Senate and House, which could bring $250,000 to Hubbard County, and provide many decontamination units.

SF 2342 / HF 2855 – County Program Aid Modification & Appropriation

(related to local AIS work)
  • Sends $10 million to counties for local AIS work ($250,000 for Hubbard County)
  • Money is apportioned (50%) based on the number of watercraft ramps and 50% based on the number of watercraft trailer parking spaces at those ramps.  Areas with higher need are apportioned greater funding.
  • A county that receives funding must use the money soley to, “prevent the introduction of or limit the spread of invasive species at all access sites within the county, regardless of ownership or management.”
  • Funding begins in 2015 and thereafter.
SF 2707 / HF 2628 – Use of Weigh Stations and Rest Areas for AIS Inspection, Education, Decontamination
 - Requires the Commissioner of the DNR and the Commissioner of Transportation to “cooperate in an effort to use weigh stations and rest areas, where feasible, as sites for watercraft decontamination and other activities to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.”

These are very important bills.  Please e-mail your support to the Long Lake Legislators:
     - Steve Green – 02B – MN House: rep.steve.green@house.mn
     - Rod Skoe – 02 – MN Senate: sen.rod.skoe@senate.mn
Don't live in Park Rapids?  Find “Who Represents Me” at Minnesota Legislature: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/

New!  See the MN DNR Annual Report to the Legislature on AIS for 2013:
http://www.hubbardcolamn.org/uploads/3/2/6/5/3265696/2013-ais-annual-report.pdf

Late News
MN DNR is offering new updated Aquatic Invasive Species Volunteer training in Detroit Lakes on 4/16/14, in Bemidji on 4/23/14 and in Walker on 5/7/14:
* Please let LLAA know if you complete this new training.