Contact: Stephen Mikkelson, 218-316-38
Brainerd, Minn. ― The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for a proposed expansion and upgrade of the city of Long Prairie’s wastewater-treatment facility (WWTF). This expansion and upgrade will accommodate additional flows and loadings from industrial sources, and meet the waste load allocations set by the Long Prairie Watershed Total Maximum Daily Load study, which was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2005. Citizens are invited to comment on this EAW in writing until May 18, 2011.
The existing municipal WWTF has an average wet weather design flow capacity of 0.92 million gallons per day and discharges to the Long Prairie River. The design flow of the expanded facility would be 1.83 million gallons per day. The project will provide enhanced wastewater treatment and eliminate the direct discharges from the Long Prairie Packing Co. and Central Bi-Products to the Long Prairie River.
The EAW is a preliminary environmental review looking at how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. Written comments on the EAW should be submitted by 4:30 p.m., on May 18, 2011, to Debra Moynihan, MPCA, Environmental Review, 520 Lafayette Road N., Saint Paul, MN 55155-4194; email to debra.moynihan@state.mn.us, or fax to 651-297-2343.
The MPCA will use the comments on the EAW to evaluate the potential for significant environmental effects from the project and to determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement (a more comprehensive environmental review) is needed.
Copies of the EAW are available for review at the MPCA St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Rd. N., and on the MPCA Website at /news/eaw/index.html.
