Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Information officer: Nancy Miller, (507) 280-3590 Technical contact: Dana Vanderbosch, (651) 297-1796 ROCHESTER, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) prepared for the proposed Minnesota River Valley Public Utilities Commission Wastewater Treatment Facility in Le Sueur, Minn. Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the EAW from April 24 through May 24, 2006. The Minnesota River Valley Public Utilities Commission (MRVPUC) proposes construction of a new, mechanical treatment facility. The cities of Le Sueur and Henderson formed the MRVPUC through a joint power agreement in 2005. The MRVPUC's proposed facility would have the capacity to treat 1.84 million gallons of wastewater a day. This capacity is sufficient to treat the existing combined wastewater streams from both cities and to accommodate expected future growth. The city of Le Sueur currently operates a three-cell stabilization pond in Henderson Township in Sibley County. The city of Henderson operates an activated sludge facility in Henderson, also in Sibley County. These facilities would be decommissioned once the proposed MRVPUC facility is operational. The EAW provides basic information about how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. It helps determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement, a more comprehensive environmental review, is needed. Interested parties may comment on the EAW during the 30-day public notice period, which runs from April 24 through May 24, 2006. Written comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24. Copies of the MRVPUC Wastewater Treatment Facility EAW are available at these locations:
· MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul;
· MPCA, 18 Wood Lake Drive S.E., Rochester;
· MPCA, 1230 S. Victory Drive, Mankato;
· Le Sueur Public Library, 118 E. Ferry St., Le Sueur;
· Henderson Public Library, 110 S. Sixth St., Henderson; and
· Blue Earth County Library, 100 E. Main St., Mankato.
The EAW is available also on the MPCA Web site, http://www.pca.state.mn.us. Questions and comments on the MNVPUC Wastewater Treatment Facility EAW should be sent to: Dana Vanderbosch, project manager, Environmental Review and Operations Section, Regional Division, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road N., Saint Paul, MN 55155-4194. Phone (651) 297-1796; fax (651) 297-2343; e-mail dana.vanderbosch@pca.state.mn.us.