PROJECT TITLE: Minnesota Foundational Environmental Laws Oral History Project
NARRATOR NAME: Peter Gove
DATE OF INTERVIEW: 10/25/2016
INTERVIEWER NAME: Stephanie Hemphill
DATE and LOCATION OF INTERVIEW: Office of Friends of the Mississippi River, downtown St. Paul
LENGTH OF INTERVIEW (hrs): 1 hour
Served in Wendell Anderson administration, appointed MPCA director at age 27. In 1973 DFL gained majority in legislature, Anderson gave environmental message and advocated 20+ bills including MEPA, many were passed. Much more bipartisan support, national mood to protect the environment.There may be too many EAWs and too few EISs, but even EAWs can improve projects. Minnesota does better than most states; California and Michigan may do better. Agencies need more funding. Citizen involvement on EQB and MPCA boards is useful, seldom divisive. Related issues: history of Allen S. King and Sherco power plants, St. Croix River protection. Recent cases on White Bear Lake water management and BWCAW cellphone tower were both MERA case