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M.L. 2009 Proposal & Funding Process - Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

M.L. 2009 Proposal & Funding Process

M.L. 2009 Project Appropriations

The 2009 LCCMR recommendations were adopted by the legislature on May 17, 2009. On May 22, the Governor signed the bill into law (M.L. 2009, Chapter 143), with the exception of two projects that were line-item vetoed. $25.7 million*, primarily from Minnesota's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, has been appropriated to 63 individual projects around the state (*All of the $418,000 that had been allocated for the two vetoed projects will now remain within the Trust Fund). Pending work program approval by the LCCMR in June, funding becomes available to projects on July 1, 2009.

Project Appropriations Table of all appropriations
SUMMARY OF EXPECTED PROJECT OUTCOMES
  • Natural Resource Inventory and Planning: Approximately $7.9 million in inventory and planning efforts to obtain critical information and guide relevant decisions and efforts over time. This includes acceleration of MN County Biological Survey, MN County Geologic Atlas program, MN Soil Survey, inventorying of restorable wetlands in MN, mapping and measurement of springsheds, identification and prioritization of critical lands, and plans for conservation and natural resource management.
  • Land and Habitat Acquisition: Approximately $9 million in land and habitat acquisition to protect forests, wetlands, shoreline, prairie, and other habitat for both human and animal benefit. The estimated acreage to be acquired in a combination of fee title and easements is 2,000 acres.
  • Land and Habitat Restoration: Approximately $2.2 million in land and habitat restoration. Activities performed will include soil preparation, native vegetation installation, structural improvements, and exotic and invasive species removal. Restoration activities will occur on an estimated 5,100 acres.
  • Natural Resource Research and Analysis: Approximately $2.7 million in research and analysis projects that will advance our knowledge about and provide recommendations for addressing problems relating to ballast water treatment, endocrine disruptors, invasive species movement, artificial drainage, energy production, climate change, and resource management.
  • Environmental Education and Outreach: Approximately $2.5 million in environmental education and outreach efforts that will assist communities with local conservation efforts and develop and pilot programs to increase residential energy efficiency statewide.
  • Administration: Approximately $1.4 million for FY 2010-2011 LCCMR administration ($1,254,000) and DNR project contract management ($158,000).

2009 Proposals Received

Over the course of two phases, 146 individual proposals requesting a total of approximately $105.3 million were received. Approximately $26.1 million was available for 2009 funding ($25.6 million - Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund; $66,000 - Great Lakes Protection Account; $400,000 - Land and Water Conservation Fund) - thus requests exceeded dollars available by a ratio of more than 4:1. After full consideration of all proposals received, on 12/10/08 the LCCMR made funding recommendations for 32 appropriations containing 65 individual projects. These recommendations ranged from full funding for the full project and dollar amount requested to partial funding for specific project elements and partial dollar amount requested.

Phase 1 Proposals Received Phase 2 Proposals Received

2009 Request for Proposal (RFP)

The 2009 RFP was issued in two phases:

2009 RFP - Phase 1 2009 RFP - Phase 2

2009 Process Timeline

The proposal and funding process timeline for the 2009 RFP is detailed below.

DATES ACTIVITY or EVENT
June 11, 2008 Phase 1 funding priorities were determined and Phase 1 RFP was adopted
July 18, 2008 Phase 2 funding priorities were determined and Phase 2 RFP was adopted
August 25, 2008 Proposal deadline for Phase 1 proposals
56* proposals requesting a total of $49,840,654 were received
(*19 proposals plus 2 partnership proposals made up of a total of 37 sub-proposals: 19+37=56)
Proposals were distributed to LCCMR members for review and evaluation
September 23-24, 2008 Phase 1 proposals were presented before the LCCMR.
All Phase 1 proposers were invited ongoing projects that had received previous support from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund
and all were provided the opportunity to present before the Commission.
October 1, 2008 Proposal deadline for Phase 2 proposals. 89 proposals requesting a total of $54,039,047 were received.
Proposals were distributed to LCCMR members for review, evaluation, and ranking
November 21, 2008 A selection of high-ranking Phase 2 proposals were chosen to present before the LCCMR.
34 of the 89 Phase 2 proposals received were selected
December 2 & 9, 2008 Selected Phase 2 proposals presented before the LCCMR
December 10, 2008 A package of Phase 1 and Phase 2 proposals were selected to receive a funding recommendation to the legislature.
Out of the total 146 proposals received, 65 proposals were chosen to be recommended to receive some portion of the $26.1 million available
($25.6 million - Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund; $66,000 Great Lakes Protection Account; $400,000 - Land and Water Conservation Fund).
These 65 proposals were combined and incorporated into 32* distinct projects (*30 projects plus 2 partnership projects made up of a total of 35 sub-projects: 30+35=65) for presentation to the legislature.
January 9 & 16, 2009 Funding recommendations in legislative bill format were reviewed and adopted for submission to the Legislature
January 2009 LCCMR recommendations presented to the legislature for consideration via introduction as S.F. 1012 and in the House as H.F. 2049.
January-April, 2009 Research projects recommended for funding underwent peer review
May 17, 2009 2009 LCCMR recommendations bill was adopted by the Minnesota House and Senate
May 22, 2009 2009 LCCMR recommendations bill signed into law by Minnesota Governor, with the exception of two projects that were line item vetoed
April-May, 2009 Recommended projects requested to prepare and submit detailed work programs for their project
June 16 & 24, 2009 LCCMR approves work programs for projects funded
July 1, 2009 Money from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund becomes available for expenditure and 2009 projects can begin
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