The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) appreciates the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) review and decision to deny the recent petition for rulemaking related to the regulation of public drainage system by classifying public drainage projects as a State Disposal System. MPCA’s determination reaffirms the long-standing statutory framework under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 103E, which recognizes the essential role counties and watershed districts play in managing Minnesota’s drainage infrastructure.
We are encouraged that MPCA acknowledged both legislative intent and historical practice, confirming that changes to the regulation of drainage needs to be done by the legislative process and not through rulemaking.
ADMC looks forward to working with state agencies, watershed districts, landowners, and other stakeholders to advance the priorities outlined in our response letter, including:
- Increasing funding for multi-purpose drainage management (MDM) to meet needs and growing demand
- Supporting expanded eligibility for engineered conservation solutions
- Aligning project funding timelines with the realities of large-scale drainage system planning
- Strengthening interagency and local partnerships that accelerate implementation
ADMC remains committed to advancing solutions to improve environmental and economical outcomes in the state of Minnesota.