Bill Would Scrap Plan To Protect Mississippi River

A plan two years in the making to protect the 72-mile portion of the Mississippi River that runs through the Twin Cities could be scrapped if a legislative proposal is green-lighted.

The Department of Natural Resources worked with interest groups and local governments to draft new rules guiding development along the river. That includes the height and distance buildings must be from the river and requirements for controlling runoff and land clearing, Minnesota Public Radio reports.

But that work stopped in January when it hit a deadline. Legislators want to keep it that way by stripping the DNR of its rulemaking authority. The bill has passed in the Senate and has yet to have a hearing in the House.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)