Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Forrest Peterson, 320-214-3789 Willmar, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) seeks comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and a draft air emissions permit prepared for Bushmills Ethanol plant near Atwater. Bushmills Ethanol proposes expanding its existing ethanol plant, increasing the output of 200-proof ethanol from 49 million to 65 million gallons per year. The amount of corn processed at the plant would increase from 17.25 million to 25 million bushels per year. The EAW provides basic information about how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment, and helps determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement, a more comprehensive environmental review, is needed. Interested parties may comment on the EAW during the public notice period, from April 9 to May 9, 2007, and the draft air emissions permit during the public notice period, from April 9 to May 9, 2007. Written comments must be received at the MPCA St. Paul office for the EAW and the MPCA Detroit Lakes office for the air permit by 4:30 p.m. on the final day of the notice period. Copies of the Bushmills Ethanol facility expansion EAW and draft air emissions permit are available at the following locations:
· MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul;
· MPCA, 714 Lake Ave. Suite 220, Detroit Lakes;
· Willmar Public Library, 410 5th St. SW;
· MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us.
Send questions and comments on the Bushmills Ethanol facility expansion EAW to Mike Rafferty, Ethanol Sector, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road N., Saint Paul, MN 55155. Rafferty can also be reached by phone at 651-297-7173, fax at 651-297-2343 or by e-mail at michael.rafferty@pca.state.mn.us. Comments and questions on the draft air emissions permit should be sent to Jim Robin, MPCA, 714 Lake Ave., Suite 220, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501. Robin can be reached by phone at 218-846-0748, fax at 218-846-0719 or e-mail at jim.robin@pca.state.mn.us.