Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Hibbing Public Utilities Commission (Hibbing PUC) recently reached an enforcement settlement that resolved the company's past failure to comply with state air quality rules and permit conditions. The settlement addresses violations of carbon-monoxide and fugitive-dust emissions and visible emissions limits that occurred in 2007 during operation of Hibbing PUC's new, wood-fired boiler. As a result, Hibbing PUC has paid a $44,500 penalty and has taken actions to correct identified problems.

Driving onto the Schroeder family dairy farm near Courtland on Highway 14 between New Ulm and Mankato, you see what appears to be a typical small dairy farm -- a big farm house, a red barn surrounded by black-and-white Holstein cows, fifth and sixth generation family members working the farm. Some things haven't changed.

Since March, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has been using an innovative hydraulic barrier to contain a plume of ground water contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) at the Baytown Superfund site in Lake Elmo. The barrier includes ground-breaking technology for discharging the clean, treated water underground through horizontal boreholes.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has extended the public comment period on the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the proposed MinnErgy ethanol facility at Eyota, Minn. The extended comment period will end on Aug. 1, 2008 at 3:30 p.m.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the proposed changes to the state's water-quality standards.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on a water quality improvement report for Burandt Lake in Carver County. The report, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), focuses on pollution caused by excess nutrients. A public comment period begins June 16, 2008 and continues through July 16, 2008.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) prepared for a proposed expansion to the John Perschbacher Hog Farm in Freeborn County. Comments will be accepted through July 16, 2008.

As the Minnesota Electronics Recycling Act approaches its first anniversary, retailers of video display devices (monitors, laptops and TVs) are nearing their first reporting deadline. Retailers who sell to households in Minnesota have until July 1, 2008 to report to each manufacturer the number of video display devices they sold during the previous program year (July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008).

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for a proposed upgrade and expansion of the city of Zimmerman's wastewater-treatment facility. Citizens are invited to comment on this EAW until July 30, 2008.

Northshore Mining Co. recently paid a $37,287 civil penalty for four alleged landfill leachate discharge violations and is in the process of amending its permit to construct a new discharge system, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced today. Northshore will also be required to pay a penalty of $10,000 per event should leachate overflows occur in the future.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking public comment from now through July 30, 2008 on its draft ballast water general permit. This state permit would help protect Minnesota waters of Lake Superior from potential environmental and economic harm caused by aquatic invasive species carried in the ballast water of ships.

When the summer sun beats down and temperatures climb, conditions are ripe for Minnesota lakes to produce dangerous algal blooms. Toxic blue-green algae can harm pets, livestock and even people, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

The 2008 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) List of Minnesota's polluted lakes and stream segments has been finalized. After undergoing extensive public review, the list was approved last week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The list, which is updated every two years, has 1,475 impairments on 336 rivers and 510 lakes. There are 150 new listings for river reaches and 147 new listings for lakes.

Fireworks around the fourth of July have become as common as mosquitoes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. And like mosquitoes, a few are okay, but too many may cause problems.

The State of Minnesota is accepting applications and nominations for its Governor's Award Program for Pollution Prevention. Projects that reduce waste and pollution at its source, conserve natural resources, protect groundwater, save energy and practice sustainability are eligible for the award. Applications will be accepted until noon on Aug. 1, 2008.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) prepared for a proposed installation of relief sanitary sewer in Rochester. Citizens are invited to comment on the EAW until July 30, 2008.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) feedlot program has scheduled meetings to receive input from livestock producers about proposed changes in the next five-year (2011-2016) general operating permit for large feedlots, or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is starting its five-year review of the Brainerd/Baxter, Minn., Burlington Northern Railroad Tie Plant Superfund site cleanup. Community input in this review is particularly helpful in two areas: observations of the site over time and ways the cleanup may have helped the area.

A public comment period will begin July 21 and continue through Aug. 20, 2008 on a report addressing water pollution in the High Island Creek and Rush River Watersheds in south-central Minnesota. The report, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study, focuses on pollution caused by fecal coliform bacteria.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has penalized United Health Group $13,200 for alleged air quality and air permit violations at its Plymouth and Elk River facilities.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has awarded Owatonna a $500,000 flood-relief grant to support low-impact-development projects. The grant will assist the city with development of stormwater-management infrastructure designed to reduce the volume and rate of runoff and ultimately improve water quality. This and other Program Development and Implementation Technical Assistance Grants specifically allocate funds to low-impact-development projects.

Darling International Inc., a rendering facility located in Blue Earth, has paid $12,650 to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for alleged violations of the facility's wastewater discharge permit. In addition, the company has made several changes in its operation to ensure future compliance with environmental regulations.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) concluded 37 enforcement cases totaling $321,352 in penalties during the second quarter of 2008. The cases occurred at facilities in 26 counties throughout Minnesota.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking public comment on a proposed plan to clean up contamination related to perfluorochemicals (PFCs) at the 3M Woodbury Disposal site in Woodbury, Minn. The public comment period for the proposed plan will end Aug. 22, 2008.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air pollution health advisory for the southern two-thirds of the state, including the Twin Cities, Rochester, St. Cloud, Duluth and the Brainerd lakes area, effective today Monday July 28th through Saturday August 2nd. Hot sunny weather, light winds and building humidity are creating favorable conditions for high-end moderate ozone and fine particle pollution.