The impasse over habitat definitions guiding expenditures from the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) appears to be closing.

The OHF was formed after approval by voters in 2008 of the Legacy Amendment.

Key House and Senate conferees worked much of the day Tuesday attempting to find a resolution to differences over definitions of terms such as "protect" and "restore."

Last year the Legislature amended the definitions to include words such as "ecosystem," and conservation groups, as well as the Department of Natural Resources and other resource professionals protested.

They preferred definitions as advanced traditionally by the scientific community and by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, which recommends habitat projects to the Legislature to be funded by the OHF.

This session, the Senate overwhelmingly voted to rescind the definitions passed a year ago. But the House has been a holdout.

Now, in recent days, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher is taking an active role in finding a resolution that is acceptable to the DNR, to conservation groups and to environmentalists.

Word late Tuesday evening from the Capitol is that the definition impasse has been solved to conservationists' satisfaction. Most policy language differences stemming from the House bill passed this session also have been addressed.

Only one more conference committee meeting should be necessary to get this thing behind everyone and to the House floor, and on to the Senate.

It's possible that meeting might yet be held Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. More likely the House-Senate panel will meet during the day Wednesday for a final time.