Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

As part of an agreement with the MPCA, Flame Metals will pay a $10,000 penalty for the violations, and will also be required to make a $90,000 investment in a new environmental project at its facility.

The work is financed through the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, which was passed by voters in 2008.

More than $1.1 million in enforcement penalties were issued from these cases, but more than $1 million of that came from two cases.

Through the Surface Water Assessment Grant program, seven Minnesota volunteer programs will receive funding for 2012-2013.

The facility violated state dust emission limits in 2010 and 2011.

The meeting is scheduled from 6:00 – 8:15 p.m. at the Good Fellowship Club at 1242 88th Avenue West, Duluth.

The Sibley County landowner burned a house and other structures in October 2011.

The 45-day comment periods for the EAW and the draft RCRA permit run from April 30 through June 15, 2012.

Comments are being accepted through May 29 on the study, which includes the Blue Earth, Le Sueur and Watonwan rivers that flow through 11 counties in south-central Minnesota.

The Bushmills facility discharges wastewater to Judicial Ditch number 17, which flows about 10 miles to the middle Fork of the Crow River.

Comments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on May 16.

A public comment period begins April 16 and continues through May 16, 2012.

The MPCA will use the results of this work and other information to further evaluate the existing sulfate standard to protect wild rice.

Recognized were 126 Minnesota wastewater treatment operators whose facilities maintained perfect records of compliance during 2011.

Due to a high level of interest, the public comment period has been extended to May 29, 2012.

As funded by the Clean Water Partnership program, agency partners across Minnesota will receive money to investigate pollutants in lakes and rivers as well as to take action to protect waters from those pollutants.

Cosmetics containing hazardous levels of mercury that were marketed as skin-lightening preparations to ethnic communities are no longer available at Twin Cities retailers.

Staff from the MPCA will be on hand to present information and take questions about the C-&-D demolition landfill, which has received a Class II permit to accept additional wastes.

Low-interest loans can help Minnesota long-haul truckers save money and reduce pollution on overnight rest stops.

The MPCA is unable to comment further on this matter until it has received further direction from the courts.

The special board meeting will be held on Monday, March 26, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Comments must be in writing and will be accepted by the MPCA until 4:30 p.m. on April 18, 2012.

Volunteers collect valuable information that is the first step in protecting lakes and streams throughout the state.

Rochester area residents are invited to join MPCA Commissioner Paul Aasen for coffee and questions Tuesday, March 20.

The MPCA plans to host events recognizing stakeholders and advisers who have participated in the development of two major water-quality projects for the South Metro Mississippi and Minnesota rivers