Mississippi River Critical Area Update - Comments requested

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is requesting comments on a working draft of possible rules governing land development in the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA). A Request for Comments was published today, June 2, 2014, in the State Register. The Request for Comments, working draft of possible rules, district maps, rulemaking schedule, and other information regarding the rulemaking are available to view and print from the MRCCA Rulemaking Project website: www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/rules/mrcca/index.html.

The MRCCA is a land corridor along the Mississippi River within the seven-county metro area. There are 30 local governments within the 72 mile long, 54,000 acre corridor. Land development in the corridor is guided by existing state regulations, which are implemented through local government plans and zoning ordinances. The proposed rules, if adopted, would replace the existing regulations.

This rulemaking will:

• Continue to guide management of the MRCCA as a multi-purpose resource
• Establish new districts and update minimum guidelines and standards for land development in the districts

The rules would likely affect the following persons and organizations within the MRCCA:

• All local government units with jurisdiction in the MRCCA
• Property owners, institutions, developers, and businesses
• Recreational facility users
• Water-oriented businesses, facilities, and navigation interests on the Mississippi River
• Utility providers
• State and regional agencies and and institutions with facilities, property interests, and/or regulatory authority in the MRCCA (such as the Metropolitan Council, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Airports Commission, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul Port Authority, Minnesota Historical Society, and federal agencies such as the National Park Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) 

How to Comment: The DNR will accept comments until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 15, 2014. We encourage written comments. As you review the working draft rules, please focus on the following topics:

• What doesn’t work and why?
• What needs clarification?
• What specific changes do you recommend?

 It will help us if you can cite specific parts or pages within the working draft document.

Comments may be submitted via e-mail, US mail, or fax to:

Daniel Petrik

MRCCA Rulemaking Project, Minnesota DNR
Ecological and Water Resources Division500 Lafayette Rd, Box 25
St. Paul, MN 55155-4025
Phone: 651-259-5714
Fax: 651-296-1811
E-mail: mrcca.rulemaking@state.mn.us