This document is made available electronically by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library as part of an ongoing digital archiving project. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/lrl.asp LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON MINNESOTA RESOURCES 100 REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BLVD. - ROOM 65 ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 55155-1201 PHONE: 651/296-2406 FAX: 651/296-1321 TTY: 651/296-9896 OR 1-800-657-3550 EMAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.1cmr.leg.mn John Vdin, Director January 15,2005 Governor Tim Pawlenty Secretary ofthe Senate, Patrick E. Flahaven ChiefClerk ofthe House, Albin A. Mathiowetz Chair Senate Finance Committee, Senator Richard Cohen Chair Senate Environment and Natural Resources, Senator John Marty Chair Environment, Agriculture & Economic Development Budget Division, Senator Dallas Sams ChairHouseHouse Ways and Means, Representative Jim Knoblach Chair House Environment and Natural Resources Policy, Representative Tom Hackbarth Chair Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Finance, Representative Dennis Ozment Legislative Reference Library (6 copies) Dear Colleagues: Transmitted herewith is the biennial report ofthe Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) as required in MS 1I6P, Subd. 7. On December 16,2004, the members specifically adopted the new 2005 appropriation recommendations as stated inin "V. Recommendations." These funding recommendation are from the Environment & Natural Resource Trust Fund and the Great Lakes Protection Account. The LCMR no longer makes natural resource funding recommendations from the Future Resource Fund. The revenue was redirected to the General Fund per ML 2003, Ch. 128, Art. 1, Sec. 146 & Sec. 155. We looklook forward to presenting this information and certainly encourage questions and discussion. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the Legislature in this capacity.capacity. .'// Sincerely,(' .'/'/' i//:.'":." .' // ,p'",p'" ........ ·~if'lt£~;~~-· ''''''Chair,''''''Chair, LCMR Senators: Jim Vickerman - Chair, Ellen Anderson, D. Scott Dibble, Dennis Frederickson, .Linda Higgins, Pat Pariseau, Carrie Ruud, Dallas Sams, David Tomassoni, Charles Wiger Representatives: Lyndon Carlson, Tom Hackbarth, Larry Howes, Phyllis Kahn, Jim Knoblach, Mark Olson, Joe Opatz, Dennis Ozment, Kathy Tingelstad. gislative Commission on sota'Resources Biennial Report January 15, 2005 Pursuant to: M.S. 116~09, Subd. 7 Please return this document to the LCMR office: Room 65 State Office Building Ion• 5 SENATORS *Jim Vickerman - Chair, Ellen Anderson, D. Scott Dibble, *Dennis Frederickson, Linda Higgins, Pat Pariseau, Carrie Ruud, *Dallas Sams, David Tomassoni, Charlies Wiger. REPRESENTATIVES Lyndon Carlson, Doug Fuller, Tom Hackbarth, Larry Howes, *Phyllis Kahn, Jim Knoblach, Mark Olson, Joe Opatz, *Dennis Ozment, *Kathy Tingelstad. This list is the Membership as of December, 2004. * denotes Executive Committee Member L aft John Velin, Director Susan Thornton, Susan Von Mosch, Sandy Smith Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources Room 65, State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. St.Paul, MN 55155 Phone: (651 )296-2406 TIY: (651 )296-9896 or 1-800-657-3550 Fax: (651)296-1321 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Address: www.lcmr.leg.mn The LCMR Newsletter I. Strategic Plan I RFP " a copy of the current strategic plan..." The current Strategic Plan is the RFP dated December 2003. Following the Request for Proposal 2005: • Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Constitutional Language amended November 3, 1998 • M.S. 116P The Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (Trust Fund) • M.S. 116P.13The Minnesota Future Resources Fund • M.S. 116 0.02 Great Lakes Protection Account • Section 4.071, subdivision 2 Oil Overcharge II. and III. Project Description: See Laws 2001 and Laws 2003 " a description of each project receiving money from the trust fund during the preceding biennium; a summary of any research project completed in the preceding biennium.. :' Laws 2001, 1st Special Session, Chapter 2, Section 14 Laws ·2003, Chapter 128, Article 1, Sec. 9 [Note: The abstracts provided are for projects funded by the Trust Fund, MinnesotaFuture Resource Fund, Great Lakes Protection Account, Oil Overcharge Money] IV. Agency Implementation ''recommendations to implement successful projects and pro­ grams into a state agency's standard operations.. :' V. Recommendations - FY 06 - 07 "to the extent known by the commission, descriptions of the projects anticipated to be supported by the trust fund during the next biennium.. :' VI. Revenues and Distributions ''the source and amount of all revenues collected and distributed by the commission, including all administrative and other expenses..." VII. Assets and Liabilities "a description of the assets and liabilities of the trust fund.. :' VIII. Findings to Legislature 'any findings or recommendations that are deemed proper to assist the legislature in formulating legislation.." IX. Gifts and Donations "a list of all gifts and donations with a value over $1 ,000..:' X. Environmental Spending Comparisons " a comparison of the amounts spent by the state for environment and natural resources activities through the most recent fiscal year..." . XI. Compliance Audit "a copy of the most recent compliance audit:' Fall 2004 Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Rrn. 65 - State Office Building St. Paul, MN 55155 WHAT IS THE LCMR? The Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) is a bipartisan commission that makes funding recommendations to the Legislature for special environment and natural resource projects. Funding recommendations are typically for new, innovative, or accelerated projects designed to help sustain, enhance, and utilize Minnesota's natural resources. The LCMR was created in 1963 to provide the Legislature with the background necessary to evaluate programs proposed to preserve, develop, and maintain Minnesota's natural resources. Since that time, over $525 million has been appropriated for approximately 1,200 projects. In 1963, projects were originally funded with Minnesota Future Resources Fund revenue (2 cents of the cigarette tax) until 2003 when that revenue was redirected to the General Fund. The first Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund appropriation (from Minnesota State Lottery proceeds) was in 1991. Today, the Trust Fund is the primary funding source of the LCMR. Other funds such as the Oil Overcharge Money and the Great Lakes Protection Account are recommended for appropriation when available. The Commission uses a number of approaches to assess the status of the state's natural resources and identify important issues and needs. These approaches include: site visits to public and private sector natural resource projects, regional discussions with natural resource managers, and a web survey soliciting input from citizens. With information gathered through those activities, the Commission adopts a Strategic Plan and issues/a Request for Proposal to guide expenditure recommendations by the LCMR to the Minnesota Legislature for natural resource projects. CITIZEN WHO RECEIVES FUNDING? ADVISORY The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund appropriations have equaled about 1% of the total state spending on environment and natural resources biennially. The Trust F COMMITTEE (CAC) is appropriated by the Legislature along with the rest of the state budget for environmen for the Environment & natural resources spending. Natural Resources Trust Fund Anyone may apply for funding from the Trust Fund provided that the proposal is consistent with public purposes. Past recipients include: Appointed by the Governor • state agencies • local governments District 1&At Large • colleges & universities John Kvasnicka • nonprofit organizations • school districts District 2 • private individuals & companies Nalani McCutcheon WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE FUNDED? John Dyke ALL FUNDING SOURCES: 1991 - 2003 LCM R Projects equals 100% ofamount appropriated District 3 Janet McMillan Land Use & Natural Resource Adm inistration Environmental Information 2.3% District 4 Education I 7.6% Information *vacant Energy 6.3% 2.7% District 5 Nancy Gibson, Chair Recreation including. Fish & Wildlife James Nelson History Habitat 39.1% 24.8% District 5 & At Large David Hartwell Agriculture & Children's Natural Resource Environmental Health District 6 Industries Water Resources 0.2% Catherine Thayer Nicholson 8% 9% District 7 LCMRStaff: *vacant John Velin, Director Susan Thornton, Assistant Director District 8 Susan Von Mosch, Manager of & Ann Glumac Research Planning Sandy Smith, Secretary *Vacancqr If interested in serving on the Phone: 651-296-2406 CAC, contact the Secretary of State's Office, Open Appoint­ The LCMR steif!is available airytime to ments, at 651-296-5845 or Fax: 651-296-1321 www.sos.state.mn.us help with questions, specifics on pro/ects, Email: [email protected] \ natural resource issues and background j Membership as of ......"-.. / information. Do not hesitate to call with Web Address: www.1cmr.1eg.mn December 2004 your questions or to set up a meeting. " .../ Winter'Newsletter 2004-2005 LCMR MEMBERS RESTORING M'fNNESOTA'SFISI:! AND WILDLIFE Sen. Jim Vickerman, Chair HABITAT CORRIDORS PROJECT - PHASE"1 COMPLETED Sen. Ellen Anderson ACCOMPLISHMENTS TIfROUGH PARTNERSHIPS . Sen. D. Scott Dibble Sen. Denni~ Frederickson Overthe last three years, a unique partnership funded by the Environment and . Sen. Linda Higgins­ Natural Resources