Manitoba Wildlands  
Hydro to Report to Minnesota Legislature 10 May 07

Manitoba Hydro logoMinnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed an amendment to Minnesota law May 8, 2007 that requires Manitoba Hydro to account for environmental and social impacts on First Nations signatory to the Northern Flood Agreement (NFA). The NFA is a treaty signed in the late 1970s by five Manitoba First Nations after extensive damage to lands and waters from the hydro project in northern Manitoba.

Chief John Miswagon of Pimicikamak was pleased with the new requirements, "Manitoba Hydro now has to report to Minnesota - which buys 40% of Hydro's power - for impacts it is causing or contributing to by operating its hydro project. We hope this will provoke Hydro to start behaving responsibly." The Pimicikamak community is located above Lake Winnipeg, with the Jenpeg dam nearby.

The new Minnesota Environment & Energy Omnibus Bill requires Manitoba Hydro to annually report to the state legislature on affected communities and the environment, specifically:
  • amount of shoreline damaged by flooding and erosion, and amount restored and cleaned
  • number of outstanding claims filed against Hydro, and number settled
  • median household income of affected communities
  • number of residents employed (full time and part time) in such communities
Manitoba Wildlands director Gaile Whelan Enns commented that, "Now information that has been unavailable to Manitobans, will be reported to Minnesota's Legislature. Our public utility is long overdue to be accountable to these communities, and to its shareholders."

View the May 9, 2007 Pimicikamak Okimawin press release (PDF)
View the May 8, 2007 Fresh Energy press release (DOC)
View May 5, 2007 article in The Drum
View Minnesota Senate 85th Legislative Session (relevant section at: 166.6 to 166.21)
View the Manitoba Wildlands Election 2007 survey, Manitoba Hydro section
View the May 3, 2007 Manitoba Wildlands news item

Sources: Pimicikamak Okimawin, Fresh Energy, The Drum


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