October 2, 1975 - Organic farmer Earl Cunningham equates natural soil "with the Creator" and chemically treated soil as "prostituted." He takes John Gostivitch, an agricultural economist from the University of Minnesota; and Charles Reinhardt, a citizen member of the state's pesticide task force, on a tour of his crops.
October 9, 1975 - Heyerdahl speaks as part of a fundraiser for Concordia College in Moorhead. He says the main trouble is what we?re doing to the world ocean, destroying the possibility of living on this planet. We have maintained the vision of the ocean that existed at the time of Columbus; the ocean is not bottomless, not endless. It is much smaller when you climb on a few logs like he did in Kon-Tiki and step off 4000 miles later. If you move the buildings from Manhattan and set them on the bottom of the North Sea all the big buildings will come high above the surface. We see the big rivers draining into the ocean and still it doesn?t raise an inch. We forget about evaporation, what evaporates is the clean water, what remains is all the pollution that modern man has started to send in the last two decades or so. There's not a river in the world with any clean drinkable water going into the ocean anymore. It?s all polluted by chemicals in ever greater concentration; just a matter of time before we kill the plankton which is not only the food for the fish but is the main producer of oxygen that we need.
October 10, 1975 - Professor Fremling talked with reporter Dan Olson and described how he became interested in the Mississippi. Fremling, a biology professor at Winona State College in Southeastern Minnesota, has explored and researched the Mississippi, and his firsthand knowledge of the waterway has made him a respected commentator on the life and health of the river.
October 10, 1975 - Minnesota and North Dakota differ on possible Red River pollution from the Garrison Diversion irrigation project. Minnesota has threatened a lawsuit and moratium of the project?s construction, in effect killing the project. North Dakota suggests the experiences of similar river projects around the country may provide adequate data to prevent a moratorium, but Minnesota is concerned these may not be applicable to this project. North Dakota Attorney General Allen Olson and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency director Peter Gove met to discuss concerns of each state about the project. The meeting ended without a real solution. The concern for Minnesota is that North Dakota may curtail electricty it supplies to Minnesota if Minnesota blocks this project. There?s a concern this issue might build an Iron Curtain between the states. Political considerations rather than legal may end up resolving the issue. When an upcoming Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is issued in the next year MPCA will evaluate the situation and make a decision on whether to go forward with legal action.
October 11, 1975 - John Milhone, Minnesota Energy Agency director, is skeptical of the president?s energy proposal including a subsidy for crash construction of synthetic fuels by 1976. He says while there?s a need for additional capital for the development of energy sources we?ve learned that programs announced with a with a fanfare and big dollar tag are not necessarily effective. This reminds him of Project Independence, a plan to have the nation energy independent by 1980. That?s impossible and it will be difficult to be even partially independent by 1985. Splashy big investment programs are not a good substitute for a more realistic look at energy use and supply. We need to look at more effective conservation programs, such as a need to get better efficiency out of automobiles. We should spend funds on alternative transportation methods and mass transit programs. The railroads don?t get support they need. With retrofitting insulation in homes, business and industry for less money you could get more energy savings. It?s possible to consider conservation programs as economic investments in fuel. With limited public funds in the energy area more could be achieved by conservation than new supply development projects.
October 15, 1975 - MPR’s Dick Daly interviews U.S. Representative Jim Oberstar about his proposed idea to expand the Boundary Waters Canoe Area that would comprise both a wilderness and a national recreation area by act of Congress.
October 16, 1975 - MPR’s Tom Steward reports on Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar's proposed bill prohibiting the removal of natural resources in BWCA, including logging. It also states no snowmobiling except in designated areas. A similar bill was submitted by Representative Doug Johnson.
October 16, 1975 - A presidential primary bill passed the House but did not receive a hearing in the Senate. It would have set April 6 as a primary date. Rick Scott says a primary comes too early, but the caucus system works well. Senator Skip Humphrey offered a bill to create a "regional" primary, grouping Minnesota with WI, the Dakotas and Iowa. Also in capitol news, a bill was passed restricting commercial development in the BWCA.
October 30, 1975 - Environmental Impact Statement discussed, relating to the Reserve Mining Company's Taconite Discharge site at Lake Superior and its need to be relocated to another locale. Tom Steward and Dick Daly discuss issues brought up by the report.
October 30, 1975 - Reserve Mining Company's hopes to relocate its taconite discharge site gets boost from environmental impact statement. Hearings to continue to determine best alternative, including Embarrass or Mile Seven.