Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Nancy Miller, (507) 280-3590 Rochester, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) prepared for a proposed expansion to the Bissonette Partnership hog facility in Blue Earth County. Comments will be accepted through Sept. 24, 2008. The Bissonette Partnership proposes to expand an existing swine facility located in Section 16 of Sterling Township and to make conversions to an existing site in Section 22 of Sterling Township. The site in Section 16 currently has two barns, and the proposed expansion would result in construction of one additional barn. The Section 22 site currently has six barns, including nurseries, which would be converted to finishing barns. The proposed total confinement barns would feature under-barn, reinforced-concrete, manure-storage basins. Manure would be sold and land applied at agronomic rates. After the proposed expansion and conversion, the total capacity at the two sites would be 6,000 swine (1,800 animal units). 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 runs from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24, 2008. Written comments must be received at the MPCA St. Paul office by 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 24. Copies of the Bissonette Partners EAW are available at the MPCA Rochester office, 18 Wood Lake Drive S.E.; at the MPCA St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Road N.; and from the MPCA Web site at hhref="/news/eaw/index.html#bissonette. Questions and comments on the Bissonette Partnership EAW should be mailed to Laura Hysjulien, Environmental Review and Operations, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road N., Saint Paul, MN 55155-4194. Hysjulien can be reached by phone at (651) 296-9453, by fax at (651) 297-2343 or by e-mail at laura.hysjulien@pca.state.mn.us.