Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Stephen Mikkelson, 218-855-5001 Brainerd, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a proposed expansion of the Clear Lake/Clearwater Sewer Authority's wastewater treatment facility. The facility is located in Sherburne County, between the cities of Clear Lake and Clearwater. Citizens are invited to comment on this EAW until June 4, 2008. The sewer authority is proposing to expand and upgrade its existing wastewater treatment facility in two phases. The first phase, proposed for construction in 2008, would increase the facility's capacity from the current 240,000 gallons of water per day to 484,000 gallons per day. The second phase, proposed for construction in 2015 or later, would increase the total capacity to more than 1.3 million gallons per day. Both phases would be constructed at the facility's current location and would discharge through the existing outfall into the Mississippi River. The EAW is a preliminary environmental review looking at how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. Comments on the EAW should be submitted in writing by 4:30 p.m., on June 4, 2008, to Nancy Drach, MPCA Environmental Review Section, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155-4194, by e-mail to nancy.drach@pca.state.mn.us or by fax to 651-297-2343. The MPCA will use the comments on the EAW to evaluate the potential for significant environmental effects from the project and determine if an Environmental Impact Statement, a more comprehensive environmental review, is needed. Copies of the EAW are available for review at:
-- MPCA St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Rd. N.
-- MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/news/eaw/index.html