The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has the job of overseeing convservation of the state’s natural resources. This includes state parks, state forests, recreational trails, as well as minerals, wildlife, lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands.
The Minnesota Environmental Rights Act restricts the state from allowing permits for projects that will cause pollution, impairment, or destruction of the environment. As such, the DNR is involved with implementing environmental reviews of permits having to do with mining, public waters, water appropriation, and more. There are many opportunities for public input as the DNR reviews permits. Get involved!