Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media contact: Forrest Peterson, 320-214-3789 Technical contact: Randy Hukriede, 218-828-6076 Toll-free, 1-800-657-3864 Marshall, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the expansion of an existing finishing hog facility north of Lake Wilson in Chanarambie Township, Murray County. The EAW, which describes potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality, is open for public review and comment Dec. 4 through Jan. 3, 2007. Mark and Karen Hurd propose to expand an existing 2,000-head swine finishing site by building an additional 2000-head finishing barn, bringing the swine total to 4,000 head, or 1,200 animal units (one market hog is 0.3 animal units). The farm also includes 49 beef cattle. The total number of animal units at the facility will be 1,249. The new, total confinement finishing barn will measure 160- by 101-feet. It will be equipped with concrete slatted floors and a tunnel ventilation system. Manure will be collected in an eight-foot-deep, reinforced concrete pit beneath the barn. It will be pumped out in fall and injected on cropland as fertilizer. The EAW provides basic information on how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. During the 30-day period it is open to public review and comment. Comments on the EAW should be submitted to the MPCA in writing by 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2007 to Randy Hukriede, MPCA, 7678 College Road, Suite 105, Baxter, MN 56425, or by fax to 218-828-2594. The MPCA will use these comments to evaluate the potential for significant environmental effects from the project, and to decide if an Environmental Impact Statement (a more comprehensive environmental review) is needed. Copies of the Hurd EAW are available for review at:
· The MPCA's St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Rd. N.
· The MPCA's Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/news/eaw/index.html
· MPCA Marshall office, 1420 E. College Dr., Suite 900.
· Murray County Public Library, 2451 Broadway Ave., Slayton, Minn.
Copies may also be requested directly from the MPCA by calling 651-297-8510. Questions about the project should be directed to Randy Hukriede at 218-828-6076 or 1-800-657-3864 (toll free/TTY).