Andy Driscoll raises some important issues regarding environmental review.
EAWs and EISs are usually prepared by consultants hired by the public or
private enitities that have a vested economic or political interest in
completing of the project being studied--an airport, road, landfill, power
plant, etc... These statements, without public critique, analysis, or
involvement are limited in mitigating environmental impacts and rarely stop
projects.
In the General Mills/Bassett Creek case, however, environmental review does
present some important avenues to raise public awareness, and create change.
At yesterday's meeting of the Metropolitan Council's Livable Communities
Committee, Council staff presented an excellent and cogent critique of the
EAW and requested that the City of Golden Valley conduct an EIS. Issues
concerning drawing down of water in the Prairie Du Chien aquafir, the impacts
of chemical dischages into Bassett Creek, and the overall wisdom of the need
for this project should be questioned and critiqued by the public at
hearings, in the media, and in meetings with public officials. The role of an
organized public in stopping the MACs dewatering plan last summer offers a
good example how environmental review provided an important mecahanism for
citizen involvement.
This is an important issue for Minneapolis as Bassett Creek flows through
several urban neighborhoods and into the Mississippi. Communities surrounding
Golden Valley including St.Louis Park, Minnetonka and Plymouth use
groundwater from the aquifir for their drinking supply, which make this a
vital regional concern.
Between now and February 6, (the date of the public hearing on the EAW)
elected officials in Mpls and the impacted communities need to hear from the
public about the local and regional impacts of the General Mills plan. Kudos
to Dave Stack, the Mpls Park Board and others who are working to raise
awareness of this critical issue!
Frank Hornstein, Linden Hills
Metropolitan Council Member, District 6
SW Mpls, St.Louis Park, Golden Valley
