Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media contact: Stephen Mikkelson, (218) 855-5001 Brainerd, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for a proposed upgrade and expansion of the city of Zimmerman's wastewater-treatment facility. Citizens are invited to comment on this EAW until July 30, 2008. The city is proposing to increase the number of its liquid treatment tanks from two to four, convert an existing pond to a reed bed system for better solids processing, and add a treatment system for phosphorus removal. The project is intended to allow for compliance with more stringent discharge requirements and to accommodate future growth in Zimmerman. The project will also increase the current plant's capacity from about 452,000 gallons to 954,000 gallons of domestic wastewater per day. 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 July 30, 2008, to William Lynott, MPCA, Operations and Environmental Review Section, 520 Lafayette Rd. N., Saint Paul, MN 55155-4194, by e-mail to william.lynott@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 the MPCA office in St. Paul, 520 Lafayette Road N., or from the MPCA Web site at hhref="/news/eaw/index.html.