Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Nancy Miller, (507) 280-3590 Rochester, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) seeks comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) prepared for a proposed expansion to the Evers Dairy in Wabasha County. Comments will be accepted through Aug. 27, 2008. Wayne Evers proposes to expand his facility located in Section 10 of Highland Township. The proposed expansion includes construction of one 112-foot by 234-foot total confinement barn housing up to 400 cows and modification of an existing 112-foot by 592-foot barn to increase its 690-cow capacity by 160 cows. After construction, the facility would house a total of 1,753 animal units. The EAW provides basic information about how the proposed project could potentially affect the environment and helps determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement, a more comprehensive environmental review, is needed. Interested parties may comment on the EAW during the public notice period from July 28 to Aug. 27, 2008. Written comments must be received at the MPCA St. Paul office by 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 27. Copies of the Evers Dairy Expansion EAW are available at the MPCA Rochester office, 18 Wood Lake Drive S.E.; the MPCA St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Road N.; and on the MPCA Web site at/news/eaw/index.html. Send questions and comments on the Evers Dairy Expansion to Nancy Drach, Environmental Review and Operations, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Rd. N., Saint Paul, MN 55155. Drach can be reached by phone at (651) 297-8236, by fax at (651) 297-2343 or by e-mail at nancy.drach@pca.state.mn.us.