Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Pat Engelking, (651) 297-3847 Toll-free: (800) 657-3864 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A new report issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) shows that most key environmental indicators are holding steady or improving despite increasing pressure from population growth during the past two decades. The report, titled "Minnesota's Environment 2005: How are we doing?," provides a broad overview of the status and trends of eight environmental indicators related to air quality, water quality and waste generation. "Considering Minnesota has experienced more than a 20 percent growth in population in the past two decades, these environmental trends are encouraging," Mike Sandusky, director of the agency's Environmental Analysis and Outcomes Division, said. "But given the projections for the state's population growth in the next 20 years, there is much that needs to be done just to maintain the status quo -- and even more to improve Minnesota's air, water and land." Many indicators present a mixed picture of both successes as well as ongoing and future challenges. For example, Minnesota's recycling efforts have been successful, with nearly 40 percent of our waste being recycled each year. However, the state's recycling rate that has not grown since the mid-1990s, and waste generation has increased by more than 30 percent during the past 10 years. As a result, Minnesota may need to build new landfills and other waste disposal infrastructure sooner than anticipated. Similarly, the status of Minnesota's surface waters is a mixture of positives and negatives. In many instances, the condition of Minnesota's lakes, rivers and streams is better than in other parts of the country. But only a small percentage of our surface waters have been fully assessed, and many of those show signs of declining aquatic habitat or are not safe for swimming and other forms of recreation. Many lakes and streams also have advisories limiting fish consumption because of high mercury levels. In terms of Minnesota's air quality, one area of particular concern is a steady increase in the emission of greenhouse gases. Emissions of these gases, primarily carbon dioxide, have risen by 37 percent since 1985, despite the increases in energy efficiency of Minnesota's economy. The bulk of this increase comes from energy production and emissions from motor vehicles. Energy consumption has risen 41 percent and vehicle miles traveled have risen 67 percent in the past 20 years. The status and trends report is available on the MPCA Web site at hhref="/publications/reports/mne-2005.html. Print copies of the report or an executive summary are available by calling Pat Engelking at (651) 297-3847 or toll-free at (800) 657-3864.