Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Environmental Review: Barbara Conti, 651-296-6703 Wastewater Permit: Nancy Drach, 651-296-9272 Air Permit: Jessica Forsberg, 651-282-5848 Media contact: Nancy Miller, 507-280-3590 Rochester, Minn. - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) seeks comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet and draft wastewater discharge and air emissions permits for an ethanol facility proposed by VeraSun Energy Corporation. The proposed facility would be located near Welcome in Rolling Green Township. Interested parties may submit comments on the EAW until 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 25, and on the draft permits until 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2006. VeraSun Energy Corporation proposes construction of a dry-mill corn-to-ethanol production facility. The proposed facility, VeraSun Welcome LLC, would process approximately 39 million bushels of corn per year and have a production capacity of 118 million gallons of ethanol per year. The facility would also produce approximately 510,000 tons per year of distiller's grains to be used as animal feed. The EAW provides basic information about how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. The EAW helps determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement, a more comprehensive environmental review, is needed. Interested parties may comment on the EAW and draft permits during the 30-day public notice period. The EAW is on public notice from Sept. 25 to Oct. 25. The draft wastewater discharge permit and draft air emissions permit are on public notice from Sept. 29 to Oct. 30. Written comments must be received at the MPCA St. Paul office by 4:30 p.m. on the final day of the corresponding notice period. Copies of the VeraSun Welcome LLC EAW and draft permits are available at the following locations:
· MPCA St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Road N.
· MPCA Rochester office, 18 Wood Lake Drive S.E.
· MPCA Mankato office, 1230 S. Victory Drive
· Blue Earth County Public Library, 100 E. Main Street, Mankato
· Martin County Library, 110 N. Park Street, Fairmont
· Martin County Library - Welcome Branch; 304 1st Street
· MPCA Web site at http://www.pca.state.mn.us.
Send questions and comments on the VeraSun Welcome LLC EAW to:
Barbara Conti
MPCA Environmental Review and Operations
520 Lafayette Road N.
St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: 651-296-6703
Fax: 651-297-2343
E-mail: barbara.conti@pca.state.mn.us
Send questions and comments on the draft wastewater discharge permit to:
Nancy Drach
MPCA Municipal Wastewater Section
520 Lafayette Road N.
St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: 651-296-9272,
Fax: 651-297-8683,
E-mail: nancy.drach@pca.state.mn.us
Send questions and comments on the draft air emissions permit to:
Jessica Forsberg
MPCA Air Quality Permits
520 Lafayette Road N.,
St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: 651-282-5848
Fax: 651-296-8717,
E-mail: jessica.forsberg@pca.state.mn.us