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Planting trees, measures to protect state’s helium resources included in environment package that clears House

By Margaret Stevens
Rep. Rick Hansen presents the environment and natural resources supplemental budget bill on the House Floor May 1. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)
Rep. Rick Hansen presents the environment and natural resources supplemental budget bill on the House Floor May 1. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)

More than once Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) has shared the adage that the best time to plant trees is 20 years ago. The next best time is today.

“It’s another great day to plant trees,” Hansen said Wednesday in introducing HF3911, the environment and natural resources supplemental policy and finance bill that would provide approximately $19 million from various funds to plant trees in communities, state parks, along trails and at the zoo.

The House passed the bill, as amended, 68-63 and sent it to the Senate.

Besides trees, Hansen offered another reason to support the bill: helium. Following discovery of a huge and valuable helium reserve in Northern Minnesota, lawmakers proposed setting a regulatory framework for exploration and extraction of the gas.
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Planting trees, measures to protect state’s helium resources included in environment package that clears House
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