Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Project Manager: Debra Moynihan 651-296-8420 Information Officer: Nancy Miller 507-280-3590 Rochester, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System (NPDES/SDS) Permit prepared for the proposed expansion and upgrade of the Whitewater River Regional Wastewater Facility in St. Charles Township, Winona County. Interested parties may submit comments on the EAW and NPDES/SDS Permit until July 5, 2006. The Dover-Eyota-St. Charles Area Sanitary District proposes an expansion and upgrade of its existing Whitewater River Regional Wastewater Facility. The current proposal incorporates Phases II and III of a four-part plan to upgrade and expand the treatment system. Phase II of the plan proposes to increase the facility's wastewater treatment capacity to 2.184 million gallons per day, approximately one million gallons more than the existing facility. The new capacity would be sufficient to treat the existing combined wastewater streams from all three cities and accommodate expected future growth in these communities. Phase III of the plan would not increase capacity, but would improve biosolids processing and removal operations. Phase I, completed May 2003, included the addition of a new preliminary treatment building for influent sampling, flow monitoring, screening and grit removal. Phase IV is anticipated in 2015 and would increase the treatment capacity at the facility to 2.54 million gallons per day. The EAW provides basic information about how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. The EAW helps determine if an Environmental Impact Statement, a more comprehensive environmental review, is needed. Interested parties may comment on the EAW and the draft NPDES/SDS permit during the 30-day public notice period from June 5 to July 5, 2006. Written comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5. Copies of the Whitewater River Regional Wastewater Facility EAW and NPDES/SDS Permit are available at the following locations:
· MPCA St. Paul Office, 520 Lafayette Road N, St. Paul
· MPCA Rochester Office, 18 Wood Lake Drive SE, Rochester
· Winona Public Library, 151 West 5th Street, Winona
· St. Charles Public Library, 125 West 11th Street, St. Charles
· MPCA Web site: http://www.pca.state.mn.us
Forward specific questions and comments on the Whitewater River Regional Wastewater Facility EAW to:
Debra Moynihan, Project Manager
Environmental Review and Operations
Regional Division
MPCA
520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155
Ph: 651-296-8420; Fax: 651-297-2343
E-mail: debra.moynihan@pca.state.mn.us
Questions and comments relating to the facility NPDES/SDS Permit may be directed to:
Melanie Miland, Project Manager
Municipal Wastewater Section
Municipal Division
MPCA
18 Wood Lake Drive SE
Rochester, MN 55904
Ph: 507-285-7151; Fax: 507-280-5513
E-mail: melanie.miland@pca.state.mn.us