From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune (Matt McKinney):
A rail company’s proposal to ship Minnesota groundwater in bulk to the Southwest appeared to die a swift death Friday when Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen said she saw “virtually no scenario” in which she would approve it [ed. emphasis mine].
Her response came amid widespread shock and concern over the water shipment plan proposed by Empire Building Investments Inc., the real estate arm of Lakeville-based Progressive Rail…
“We’re long past the days of thinking of our water supplies as infinite, and we shouldn’t be considering any activities that could leave public and private drinking water wells high and dry,” said Trevor Russell, water program director for Friends of the Mississippi River…
Hansen said Empire Building’s request may end up galvanizing legislative efforts to strengthen protections for Minnesota’s groundwater.
Strommen directed the DNR on Friday to send a letter to Empire Building’s chief executive, David Fellon, advising him that he wasn’t likely to get approval.