Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media contact: Forrest Peterson, (320) 214-3789 Technical contact: Randy Hukriede, (218) 828-6076 Detroit Lakes, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for a swine production facility proposed in southwestern Stevens County. The EAW, which describes potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality, is open for public review and comment through July 19, 2006. Randy Koehl, managing partner of Moore Lean LLP, plans to build two barns for gestation and farrowing of swine about eight miles south of Chokio near the intersection of County Roads 8 and 15 in Stevens Township. The gestation barn will house 2,768 swine of more than 300 pounds, and the farrowing barn will house 482 swine of more than 300 pounds, for a total of 1,300 animal units. Both will be total confinement barns and have underfloor reinforced concrete manure storage. An estimated 4.7 million gallons of liquid manure will be generated annually and injected into cropland at agronomic rates. The facility will have 1,099 acres available for manure injection, exceeding a 740-acre requirement. An on-site compost facility will handle animal mortalities. The EAW provides basic information on how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. During the 30-day period it is open to public review and comment. Comments on the Moore Lean EAW should be submitted to the MPCA in writing by 4:30 p.m. on July 19, 2006 to Randy Hukriede, MPCA, 7678 College Road, Suite 105, Baxter, MN 56425, or by fax to (218) 828-2594. The MPCA will use these comments to evaluate the potential for significant environmental effects from the project, and to decide if an Environmental Impact Statement (a more comprehensive environmental review) is needed. Copies of the Moore Lean EAW are available for review at:
· The MPCA's St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Rd. N.
· The MPCA's Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/news/eaw/index.html
· MPCA Detroit Lakes Office, 714 Lake Avenue
· Hancock Community Library, 662 Sixth Street
· Morris Public Library, 102 East Sixth Street
Copies may also be requested directly from the MPCA by calling or (651) 297-8510. Questions about the project should be directed to Randy Hukriede at (218) 828-6076, or (800) 657-3864 (toll free/TTY).