Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Nancy Miller, 507-280-3590 Rochester, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) seeks comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) prepared for the New Sweden Dairy expansion project in Nicollet County. The proposed site is located in the NE ¼ of Section 36 of New Sweden Township. Davis Family Farms LLC proposes to expand an existing 600 dairy facility. The expanded facility would house 3,050 milking dairy cows, 731 dry cows, 905 dairy heifers preparing to calve and 425 newborn to two-month-old dairy heifer calves. An additional earthen manure storage basin, with an impermeable cover, would be constructed as well. Gas produced under the cover would be collected and burned off. The expanded site would also include holding facilities, a milking parlor, dairy offices and an educational facility. The educational facility would be part of the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine and would provide student housing for formal training as well as continuing education activities. 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, which begins Monday, Jan. 14. Written comments must be received at the MPCA St. Paul office by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. Copies of the New Sweden Dairy expansion project EAW are available at:
· MPCA St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Road N.
· MPCA Rochester office, 18 Wood Lake Drive S.E.
· MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us Send questions and comments on the New Sweden Dairy expansion project EAW to Jim Sullivan, Environmental Review and Operations, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road N., Saint Paul, MN 55155. Sullivan can also be reached by phone at 651-297-1788, fax at 651-297-2343 or by e-mail at jim.sullivan@pca.state.mn.us.