Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has developed a plan to help improve water quality in the lower Minnesota River by increasing dissolved oxygen during low flow periods. A draft implementation plan is available for public review and comment through Monday, Oct. 3, 2005.

Three more Minnesota companies have been recognized for their environmental excellence by being named to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Track partnership program, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced today.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has completed an Environmental Assessment Worksheet on a proposed 14,000-head dairy feedlot 12 miles northeast of Wheaton, Minn., in Traverse County. The public comment period for the EAW ends Oct. 12.

Environmental review of a proposed expansion of existing trunk sanitary sewer system by the city of Ramsey in Anoka County is open for public review and comment from Sept. 12 to Oct. 12, 2005. An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) prepared by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) describes potential impacts on land use and water quality.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency requests public comments on the draft Revised Regional Total Maximum Daily Load Evaluation of Fecal Coliform Impairments in the Lower Mississippi River Basin in Minnesota. The report, known as a TMDL, is on public notice until Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has prepared Environmental Assessment Worksheets for two proposed swine feedlots southwest of Worthington in Nobles County. The EAWs, which describe potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality, are open for public review and comment through Sept. 27, 2005.

Centex Homes, a Minnetonka-based residential developer, has agreed to pay a $40,000 penalty to resolve violations of state rules governing treatment of stormwater runoff at a housing development in Inver Grove Heights, Minn. in 2002.

Lake Superior basin residents in Two Harbors can exchange one mercury-bearing home thermostat for a free, non-mercury alternative and may also exchange a burn barrel for a rain barrel on Wednesday, Aug. 31. Duluth-area basin residents can participate in the home thermostat exchange in September, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced today.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will appeal an Aug. 9 decision by the Minnesota Court of Appeals that denied a wastewater permit for Annandale and Maple Lake, two fast-growing communities in Wright County, to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The case has far-reaching impact for communities and businesses looking to grow in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced today that Lance Bennett, doing business as Bennett Septic Service, has agreed to discontinue the septage-pumping portion of the business due to alleged environmental violations. When the alleged violations occurred, Bennett was a licensed Individual Sewage Treatment System (ISTS) inspection and pumping service provider located in Winthrop, Minn.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet prepared for a proposed addition to Rochester's sanitary sewer system. The EAW is open for public comment until Aug. 31, 2005.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a swine feedlot expansion proposed near Lamberton in Redwood County. The EAW, which describes potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality, is open for public review and comment through Aug. 31, 2005.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a proposed swine feedlot expansion in Watonwan County. The EAW is open for public review and comment through Sept. 14, 2005.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a large dairy proposed in Dublin Township, Swift County. The EAW, which describes potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality, is open for public review and comment through Sept. 14, 2005.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) that has been prepared for a proposed expansion to the city of Ramsey's sanitary sewer system.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is proposing to update the Permanent List of Priorities (PLP, also known as the state Superfund list). The MPCA seeks public comment on the proposed changes through Aug. 25, 2005.

The stretch of hot, sultry weather from mid-summer into September, often called the "dog days," takes its name from ancient Roman mythology. But lately it's been getting a new meaning in Minnesota. The dog days are also when some lakes and rivers turn green and soupy with algae, and some of those algae can be harmful to animals and humans. In fact, several dogs died last summer from contact with toxic algae blooms.

In late July, regular monitoring of Bayport's municipal drinking-water wells by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) showed the concentration of trichloroethylene (TCE) in Bayport Municipal Well No. 2 had increased to 5.8 micrograms/liter (5g/L). A recent follow-up sample confirmed this result.

Bay Side Recycling Corporation of Duluth, Minn., has agreed to pay a $20,000 penalty as part of an agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to resolve alleged violations of hazardous waste, solid waste and stormwater rules. In addition, the company will complete two environmental projects with a total value of $42,000.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) that has been prepared for a proposed expansion of a portion of the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Division's wastewater treatment system in St. Paul.

Talk about recycling, for thousands of years agriculture has made good use of livestock manure as fertilizer for crops.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) concluded 28 enforcement cases totaling nearly $900,000 in penalties during the second quarter of 2005. The cases occurred at facilities in 20 counties throughout Minnesota.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the proposed expansion of a cattle feedlot located about four miles north of Luverne in Rock County. The EAW, which describes potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality is open for public review and comment through Aug. 31, 2005.

The FilmTec Corporation of Edina, Minn., has paid a $16,000 penalty as part of an agreement to resolve an alleged air quality violation.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) that has been prepared for the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Division's proposed Dayton-Hassan extension of the Elm Creek wastewater interceptor.