State wants public input on environment

The state is organizing a series of forums to give citizens the chance to share with top officials their priorities regarding the environment.

Ellen Anderson, a senior advisor to Gov. Mark Dayton, said the input will help the administration plan its work on the environment, both now and in the future.

"We need to know what priorities for action people across the state have, because you can't do everything at once," Anderson said. "We also want to know how, how they want us to take action, how it affects their quality of life."

It's important to get as much input as possible, Anderson said.

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"We really want people with all different perspectives to show up and tell us what they think," she said. "It should be a relaxing, informal gathering, I hope."

The state has also prepared a report card evaluating the condition of Minnesota's water, land, air, energy and climate. It's available on the state website, along with an opportunity to comment online.

Forums begin next week in Rochester and Bloomington, and continue in Duluth, Worthington, St. Cloud, and Moorhead.

They lead up to a statewide Environmental Congress in March.