Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources officials announced the agency is seeking public comments on buffer law policies that will be used to implement the program on public waters and public drainage systems.

The preliminary policies are available for review on the BWSR Buffer Program website: http://bwsr.state.mn.us/buffers/.

BWSR is looking for feedback on compliance determinations; reporting and progress tracking; municipal storm sewer systems; alternative practices implementation; “Other Watercourses” protection; and failure to implement.

Public comment needed on buffer implementation policies by July 27

Information and comments on these preliminary buffer policies will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on July 27, 2016. Comments may be submitted via email to [email protected] or via U.S. mail to David Weirens, Asst. Director for Programs and Policy, BWSR, 520 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155.

The BWSR board will decide on final policies at its August 2016 board meeting.

In other BWSR news, Gov. Mark Dayton recently announced BWSR board appointments.

They are:

-Joe Collins, St. Paul, reappointed; BWSR watershed representative

-John Ditmore, St. Paul, reappointed; BWSR citizen member

-Nathan Redalen, Rochester; BWSR township representative

-Steven Sunderland, Montevideo, reappointed; BWSR soil and water supervisor

All terms were effective June 26 and expire Jan. 6, 2020.

BWSR is Minnesota’s soil and water conservation agency. Its 20-member board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens who set policy agenda that is delivered by local government. Board members, including the board chair, are appointed by the governor to four-year terms.