Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Technical contact: Eric Kilberg, 651-296-8643 Media contact: Barbara Skoglund, 651-296-6706 Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 St. Paul, Minn. -- An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for a proposal to construct a segment of sanitary sewer interceptor line that will eventually serve the cities of Elko and New Market is available for public review and comment Jan. 31 through March 2, 2005. Metropolitan Council Environmental Services proposes to construct the two-mile segment in conjunction with Scott County's reconstruction of County Road 2 between County Road 91 and I-35 to minimize disruption to the environment and local residents. Construction is expected to begin summer 2005 and be completed in 2006. This project is the first phase of interceptor line development needed to provide wastewater collection service to the fast growing cities of Elko, New Market and New Market Township. After construction, the pipe will be temporarily plugged until later construction of the entire interceptor. A separate EAW prepared on the entire interceptor will address increases in flow and other service conditions. The Elko-New Market interceptor is expected to begin sending wastewater to the Empire wastewater treatment facility in 2010. It will replace service currently provided by the Elko-New Market wastewater treatment facility. The Metropolitan Council operates the Metropolitan Disposal System, which includes approximately 550 miles of sewers in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The interceptor system collects wastewater at major points in the communities served and conveys it to one of nine regional facilities for treatment and discharge. An EAW prepared by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency describes potential impacts on land, water and air quality. Citizens can review and offer comments on the EAW during the 30-day comment period. The MPCA uses these comments to evaluate further the potential for significant environmental effects and to decide if an Environmental Impact Statement (a more comprehensive environmental review) is needed. Submit written comments on this EAW to the MPCA by 4:30 p.m. on March 2, 2005 to Eric Kilberg, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155-4194, or by fax to (651) 296-7782. Copies of the EAW are available for review at: 7 MPCA St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul 7 MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/news/eaw/index.html 7 New Market Branch Library, 50 Church St., New Market 7 Scott County Library, 13090 Alabama Ave. S., Savage Call Mary Nelson at (651) 296-3516 to request a copy of the EAW. More information about the project is available from Eric Kilberg at (651) 296-7782, or toll-free/TTY at (800) 657-3864.