Now, we get to the truth!

Yesterday, we expressed concerns about the probable objectivity of any legislative hearing regarding the MPCA and EPA roles in crafting a wastewater discharge permit for the PolyMet NorthMet project. Today, we learned (see press release below and this link) that:

1. Rep. Hansen, chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division, does not plan on calling any hearings in his committee on this issue.


2. Rep. Hansen is also Chair of the Legislative Audit Commission.


3. Rep. Hansen has called on the Office of the Legislative Auditor to review concerns surrounding MPCA's decision-making on the PolyMet permit.


4. The Legislative auditor will proceed with a thorough review immediately.

We cannot begin to express sufficient gratitude to Representative Hansen and the Office of the Legislative Auditor for their efforts on this matter. While we're at it, we also want to thank:

• WaterLegacy,


• Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, and


• the Timberjay newspaper

for their continuing efforts to protect Minnesota's environment and present Minnesotans with the truth about those who endeavor to do otherwise.

We are not foolish enough to believe that our posting yesterday had anything to do with Rep. Hansen's decision. We are pleased that a number of those whose opinions we respect did decide that a response similar to what we proposed seems appropriate to the circumstances. There's an old saying about "even a blind hog (that would be us) can find acorns every once in awhile." Today the world doesn't seem quite as screwed up as it did yesterday. Think we might start a trend here?

The Truth About the Present

John Lane

after Bei Dao

when rivers are intoxicated
with dioxide you gather lotus shoots
to pick their pockets is
the clock of the age

when the last songbird
shivers with undue cold like wires overhead
to handle harsh metals is
the clock of the age

when your keyboard dissolves
in the pit of nations
to write in echoes is
the clock of the age

when you forge transparencies
in the foundries upstream
the bridges are blocked by karaoke
their digital sand is
the clock of the age

the cell phone's face is always
time-dependent on fingers somewhere
today opens to the nearby delta 
and tomorrow 
is the clock of the age

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