Minnesota can sell mining rights with no environmental review

[Eric J in MN]

The Minnesota Court of Appeals today rejected an attempt to stop the state’s sale of mining leases without any environmental review.

...“Once the leases are sold, the DNR can’t go back and say ‘oops, we shouldn’t have sold you that one because it’s right on top of a trout stream,’ ” Paula Maccabee, an attorney for the landowners said. “That’s a legal contract, and it’s done.”

http://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2013/09/court-clears-way-for-minnesota-to-sell-mining-rights/

[annm4peace]

1. is this something we get our state Reps and Senators to change ?

how can we stop this?

[Eric J in MN]

3. The court was interpreting a Minnesota statute.

The legislature has the power to change this.

[glinda]

2. Did it ever occur to anyone that the DNR/EPA heads are plants? Seriously

with their shooting everything they can and stuff like this I don't wonder at all. I think the only hope is to cut those tumors out of the Agency somehow. Class action lawsuit? Investigation of ties to Kochs' or NRA? I don't know the answer but they have to go. They are making the calls and they are dead wrong and devastating.
I feel that they should be replaced with experts. Or committees of experts that are part of larger Environmental non-profits or educators that are from day one "PRO" environment.