Contact: Cori Rude-Young, 651-757-2680
St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the proposed construction of the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) - East Bethel Facility. The EAW, which describes potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality, is open for public review and comment through Sept. 8, 2010.
MCES is proposing to construct a reclamation/wastewater treatment facility in the city of East Bethel. The facility will receive wastewater from the East Bethel collection system and will produce treated effluent suitable for reuse for various agricultural, industrial, commercial or municipal activities. The facility will use a variety of wastewater treatment technologies and will discharge the treated wastewater to two grass-covered subsurface disposal sites. The facility will have an average annual discharge of .420 million gallons per day.
The proposed project will provide centralized wastewater treatment services to the city of East Bethel. In 2006, East Bethel identified a plan for implementation of a centralized sanitary sewer system to support expected growth and attract new businesses to the area. The area is currently served by private septic systems. New residential and commercial development will be required to connect to the city system. An EAW for the East Bethel Collection System is undergoing separate but concurrent environmental review, and is also available for comment.
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 EAW should be submitted to the MPCA in writing by 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 8, 2010, to Nancy Drach, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN, 55155-4194, by e-mail to nancy.drach@state.mn.us, or by fax to 651-297-2343.
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 draft EAW and State Disposal System permit are available for review at:
-- MPCA St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Rd. N.
-- MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/news/eaw/index.html
-- Draft EAW is available from Aug. 9 - Sept. 8, 2010
-- Draft SDS permit is available from August 20 - Sept. 20, 2010
Copies of the EAW may also be requested directly from the MPCA by calling 651-296-6300. Questions about the project can be directed to Nancy Drach at 651-757-2317 or toll-free at 1-800-657-3864.
Written comments must include the following:
1. A statement of your interest in the draft EAW;
2. A statement of the action you wish the MPCA to take, including references to specific sections; and
3. Specific reasons supporting your position.
