MN:Buffer strips ahead of deadline; Dayton opposes big changes to law

Landowners are making good progress toward complying with Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's signature water-quality law, leaving the governor firmly opposed to any legislative attempts to delay or revoke the new standards. There are bills working their way through the Legislature that would delay or weaken the buffer law that passed in 2015 with bipartisan support. Dayton has promised to veto those bills if they reach his desk. Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, who worked to pass the initial buffer bill, said he was surprised Dayton was so emphatically against delaying the implementation deadline by a year. He noted that because the governor vetoed last year's tax bill for an unrelated reason there currently isn't funding to help counties enforce the buffer law. Recent analysis by state agencies found nearly 40 percent of Minnesota waters were polluted or impaired.State officials say three out of four Minnesota counties are already 60 percent or more compliant with the new buffer rules. Counties in northwest and southwest Minnesota appear to have the most work to do to ensure buffers are in place by the November deadline.