Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Dan Olson, 218-846-7390 Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 Detroit Lakes, Minn. - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has recently completed an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and draft permit for a proposed wastewater treatment facility in Douglas County. The Central Lakes Regional Sanitary District (CLRSD) would serve residents around Lake Miltona and Lake Irene in Miltona, Carols, and Leaf Valley Townships. It would also provide the capacity neededd to meet the future needs of two nearby towns, Carlos and Miltona. Comment on the proposal will be accepted through March 26. Homes in the project area are currently served by individual septic systems, and Douglas County officals have identified a number of problems associated with them. Some are discharging directly to surface waters, some are believed to be overloaded as dwellings have been enlarged or occupied for longer periods of time. Other systems do not comply with current requirements such as setbacks. These problems threaten to pollute lakes Miltona and Irene with up to 1,800 pounds of phosphorous a year. The proposed treatment plant would have the capacity to treat about 340,000 gallons of wastewater per day, and discharge to the Long Prairie River. The nearby cities of Carlos and Miltona have signed resolutions of intent to route all, or a portion, of the wastwater from their current facility to the proposed new system, which would provide an increased level of treatment. The county also estimates the population in the area will grow by 40 percent in the next 20 years. The proposed collection and treatment system would provide a long-term solution to current and future needs. The EAW is a preliminary environmental review of how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. It also helps the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency determine if an Environmental Impact Statement, a more in-depth environmental review, is needed. A public review and comment period for the EAW and draft permit runs through March 26. The MPCA may change the permit based on input received. Comments on both the EAW and draft permit should be submitted in writing by March 26. Comments on the EAW should be sent to Barbara Jean Conti, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155, or by e-mail to barbara.conti@pca.state.mn.us. A copy of the EAW is available at www.pca.state.mn.us/news/eaw/index.html#open-eaw. Comments on the draft permit shoud be submitted to Holly Christensen, MPCA, 714 Lake Ave. Suite 220, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501, or by e-mail to holly.christensen@pca.state.mn.us. A copy of the draft permit is available at www.pca.state.mn.us/news/data/index.cfm?PN=1.