Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

A hydrogen fuel cell-powered Workman® utility vehicle developed by The Toro Company of Bloomington, Minn., will be on display at this year's Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair. The 10-foot long utility vehicle is one of three being developed by Toro for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for use at Niagara Falls State Park, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) concluded 55 enforcement cases totaling $484,207 in penalties during the second quarter of 2007. The cases occurred at facilities in 30 counties throughout Minnesota.

Recent reports of dogs dying from blue-green algae in Minnesota lakes are drawing attention to the causes of algae blooms - the stuff that turns the water in many lakes various shades of green in the summer. Most of the 7,000 or so types of algae are not toxic, but in large amounts some forms can pollute lakes, rivers and streams.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a proposed cattle feedlot expansion about five miles west of Balaton in Lyon County. The EAW, which describes potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality, is open for public review and comment through Sept. 12, 2007.

MnDak Concrete of Grand Forks, N. D., has paid a civil penalty of $30,760 and taken steps to correct alleged environmental violations associated with the company's gravel mining operations in Sanders and Black River townships in Pennington County.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the proposed expansion of a beef feedlot in Renville County. The EAW, which describes potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality, is open for public review and comment through Sept. 12, 2007.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will hold a public information meeting on Thursday, Aug. 23, to explain the reissuance and proposed amendment to the air emission permit for the Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) Silver Lake Plant, located on West Silver Lake Drive NE in Rochester.

It can take just a minute or two to determine if a person is healthy or not by simply taking their temperature or running a blood test. But judging the ecological health of a Minnesota lake is not so easy, often requiring years of data collected by volunteer monitors. More than a 1,000 residents currently volunteer as monitors, and many more are needed to keep tabs on all the lakes in the Minnesota.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) awarded 17 environmental assistance grants totaling $524,069. The program, established by the Minnesota Legislature, encourages the development of environmentally-sustainable practices through voluntary partnerships and goal-oriented, economically-driven approaches to pollution prevention and resource conservation.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has completed an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a proposed ethanol plant near Alberta, west of Morris. The public comment period for the EAW ends Aug. 29.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a proposed swine facility about four miles southwest of Bertha in Todd County. The EAW, which describes potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality, is open for public review and comment through Aug. 29, 2007.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is extending its initial public comment period on the draft air emission permit for Minnesota Steel Industry's proposed taconite mining and steel production facility in Nashwauk, Minn. The public comment period is extended from July 30, 2007, to August 6, 2007.

A public information meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2 at the Wright County Courthouse in Buffalo about a report on pollution in the North Fork Lower Crow River. Water quality testing shows low levels of dissolved oxygen, and high levels of turbidity and fecal coliform bacteria pollution. The Crow River Organization of Water (CROW), Brown and Caldwell, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will present information leading to the development of the report.

Giles Properties Inc. of Elko and Friedges Excavating Inc. of Lakeville agreed to pay a $35,325 penalty to resolve violations of state stormwater rules, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced today. According to the agreement, the companies unlawfully discharged sediment-laden water from their Mystic Meadows Residential Development construction site in Farmington, Minn., into North Creek, a state-designated trout stream.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is proposing to adopt updated water quality standards that will help protect Minnesota's most valuable resources - its lakes, rivers and streams!

A survey of wastewater treatment plants around the state by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has found elevated levels of perfluorinated chemicals at the Brainerd municipal wastewater treatment facility. Sample results from the facility that were confirmed this week show significantly higher levels of one PFC compound, PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), than at other facilities surveyed.

A large dairy north of Cottonwood has paid a $11,212 penalty for alleged violations involving a 23-million gallon manure storage basin and other operating requirements. During an August 2006 inspection of the Lone Tree Dairy, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff observed the basin in danger of overflowing and other violations of the dairy's operating permit.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will hold a public information meeting Aug. 9, 2007, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Franklin Public Library (1314 East Franklin Ave.), to answer questions regarding a proposed energy facility in the Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis. The plant will be powered by burning wood, commonly referred to as "biomass."

The popular Eco Experience is back at the Great Minnesota Get Together!

The extreme heat of a Minnesota summer can easily convert lush spring grass to a dry and brown lawn. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) advises you to water wisely this season, especially when it's tempting to go overboard.

A new Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) water quality report on the lower Little Fork River watershed near International Falls, Minn. suggests logging practices of 80 years ago could be the cause of the river's polluted water.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet on a proposed sanitary sewer project in Chaska. This is the second part of an expansion that started in 2004. The public invited to comment on this EAW until Aug. 1, 2007.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) today released its recommended updates to the State Superfund Priority List, which includes contaminated sites that threaten or potentially threaten public health and the environment. The list is revised annually as new sites are added and old ones are cleaned up. If the proposed changes are approved, 77 sites will be on the State Superfund List. The public is invited to comment on the proposed changes through Aug. 3, 2007.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for a proposal by Rahr Malting and Koda Energy to expand an existing wastewater treatment system and construct a new power plant fueled by biomass.

The Flint Hills Resources Supplemental Environmental Projects Committee is seeking proposals for environmental projects that will benefit the environment in Dakota County. A total of $255,000 will be available for projects selected by the 12-member SEP Committee.