Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Cori Rude-Young, (651) 296-5965 St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) that has been prepared for proposed construction of the Lake Minnetonka Area Regional Interceptor Improvements Project. The draft EAW is open for public comment until 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 27, 2008. The proposed sanitary sewer interceptor improvements are needed to carry wastewater from communities in the Lake Minnetonka area in the future and to improve system reliability. In some cases, construction of the proposed improvements will be coordinated with other local infrastructure improvements to minimize disruption to the surrounding community. The project will consist of construction of some new segments of sewer pipelines and abandonment or replacement of other segments, along with construction, upgrade or removal of various sewer lift stations. The proposed project would improve service to residents and businesses in parts of Chanhassen, Excelsior, Greenfield, Greenwood, Independence, Laketown Township, Long Lake, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, Plymouth, St. Bonifacius, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Victoria, Waconia and Wayzata. Construction on the project is expected to occur between 2009 and 2012, with exact dates yet to be determined. The EAW, a preliminary review that looks at how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment, is open to a 30-day public review and comment period. Comments on the Lake Minnetonka Area Regional Interceptor EAW should be submitted in writing by 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 27, 2008, to Jessica Ebertz, MPCA Regional Division, 520 Lafayette Road N., Saint Paul, MN 55155-4194, or be sent to her by fax at (651) 297-2343. The MPCA will use these comments to evaluate the potential for significant environmental effects from the project and decide whether an Environmental Impact Statement (a more comprehensive environmental review) is needed. The Lake Minnetonka Area Regional Interceptor Improvement Project EAW is available for review at the MPCA's St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Road. N., as well as on the MPCA's Web site at/news/eaw/index.html. A copy of the EAW may be obtained from the MPCA by calling (651) 296-8011. Questions about the project should be directed to Jessica Ebertz at (651) 296-8011 or (800) 657-3864 (toll free/TTY).