FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2015

Contact: Julie Ring, Executive Director Mobile: 651-247-9418 Email: ring@mncounties.org

Counties Call on Attorney General Swanson to Delay New Federal Water Rules In Minnesota

ST. PAUL, MINN.—The Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) is asking Attorney General Lori Swanson to

add Minnesota to the list of thirteen states challenging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) on their new Waters of the U.S. Clean Water Rule.

“The state of Minnesota, along with its local partners, has a strong history of protecting state and local water

resources,” said AMC president and Freeborn County Commissioner Christopher Shoff in a letter sent to the

attorney general Wednesday. “The new Clean Water Rule has the potential to upset this partnership.”

The state of Minnesota has nearly 11,842 lakes over ten acres in size, 6,564 natural rivers and streams that

cumulatively flow for 69,000 miles, and is home to the headwaters of the great Mississippi River. The state

landscape varies greatly from highly productive agricultural lands to highly forested areas and areas that

have retained a large amount of wetlands.

“Due to our impressive natural environment, Minnesota counties are significantly invested in rules and

regulations that could potentially impact our state's natural resources,” Shoff said. “Given our unique and

diverse natural environment, it appears the rule changes could impact waters and tributaries throughout

the nation and specifically those in and throughout Minnesota.”

The new Clean Water Rule contains many vague definitions and increases the scope of the authority of the

EPA and the Army Corps, potentially adding excessive and costly regulations to property owners and

businesses in Minnesota. Counties and other local units of government in Minnesota are responsible for

managing miles of roads, roadside ditches and bridges that will also be impacted by the Clean Water Rule.

Since the state already has robust water protection programs and regulations, a duplicative program is

unnecessary.

The letter implored the attorney general to add Minnesota to the list of states (including Alaska, Arizona,

Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South

Dakota, and Wyoming) challenging EPA’s and the Corps’ rule in a federal court of law.

“By adding Minnesota as a plaintiff, you will be protecting the right of Minnesota to protect its waters and its

citizens,” Shoff said.

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About the Association of Minnesota Counties

The Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) is a voluntary statewide organization that has assisted the

state’s 87 counties in providing effective county governance to the people of Minnesota for more than 100

years.