Urgent Help Needed: Protect Minnesota Loons from Lead Poisoning
The Issue
In April 2010, British Petroleum's (BP) Deep Horizon oil rig erupted which caused one of the world's largest oil disasters in history. Approximately 900 Minnesota loons wintering in the area perished, the health and fertility of survivors was compromised, and they continue to suffer from the effects. After years of litigation, billions of dollars were set aside to be administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for clean up and awards to states who lost wildlife. The MPCA was awarded $1.2 million for its Get the Lead Out education program to protect Minnesota loons and their environment from lead poisoning. Just one lead sinker can fatally poison a loon. Swans, eagles, and other wildlife would also be protected by this educational campaign.
The MPCA's Get the Lead Out program is supported by the MN DNR, National Loon Center, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, and more. The program is funded entirely by BP settlement dollars and will not cost the state of Minnesota a penny. But one Minnesota senator, Sen Bill Ingebrigtsen, is blocking this valuable program from proceeding. Sen Bill Ingebrigtsen prevented the Legislative Advisory Commission from approving the MPCA to spend the money they were awarded and has insisted on a hearing during the upcoming legislative session. The Get the Lead Out program was scheduled to begin in November, and Sen Ingebrigtsen is preventing the program from proceeding as planned and reaching its target audience at sporting shows and other events.
Sen Ingebrigtsen's stated reason for blocking spending approval is that he is concerned that the two temporary, unclassified, limited term positions required to staff the program will become permanent positions. This is a groundless concern. The facts are the positions are not part of classified state service and have an end date. This is a widely used staffing practice in state government and the MPCA could not implement the high degree of planned activities for this program without filling the positions.
Urgent action is needed! Please sign this petition urging Sen Ingebrigtsen and the Environmental Finance Committee to end this unnecessary delay and immediately authorize the MPCA to spend the funds they were awarded by the BP settlement for their Get the Lead Out education program to protect Minnesota loons and the environment from lead poisoning. Please share this petition.
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The Issue
In April 2010, British Petroleum's (BP) Deep Horizon oil rig erupted which caused one of the world's largest oil disasters in history. Approximately 900 Minnesota loons wintering in the area perished, the health and fertility of survivors was compromised, and they continue to suffer from the effects. After years of litigation, billions of dollars were set aside to be administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for clean up and awards to states who lost wildlife. The MPCA was awarded $1.2 million for its Get the Lead Out education program to protect Minnesota loons and their environment from lead poisoning. Just one lead sinker can fatally poison a loon. Swans, eagles, and other wildlife would also be protected by this educational campaign.
The MPCA's Get the Lead Out program is supported by the MN DNR, National Loon Center, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, and more. The program is funded entirely by BP settlement dollars and will not cost the state of Minnesota a penny. But one Minnesota senator, Sen Bill Ingebrigtsen, is blocking this valuable program from proceeding. Sen Bill Ingebrigtsen prevented the Legislative Advisory Commission from approving the MPCA to spend the money they were awarded and has insisted on a hearing during the upcoming legislative session. The Get the Lead Out program was scheduled to begin in November, and Sen Ingebrigtsen is preventing the program from proceeding as planned and reaching its target audience at sporting shows and other events.
Sen Ingebrigtsen's stated reason for blocking spending approval is that he is concerned that the two temporary, unclassified, limited term positions required to staff the program will become permanent positions. This is a groundless concern. The facts are the positions are not part of classified state service and have an end date. This is a widely used staffing practice in state government and the MPCA could not implement the high degree of planned activities for this program without filling the positions.
Urgent action is needed! Please sign this petition urging Sen Ingebrigtsen and the Environmental Finance Committee to end this unnecessary delay and immediately authorize the MPCA to spend the funds they were awarded by the BP settlement for their Get the Lead Out education program to protect Minnesota loons and the environment from lead poisoning. Please share this petition.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on February 8, 2020