Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Pollution Health Advisory for the southern two-thirds of Minnesota (including the Metro area) starting later today (Friday, Feb. 22) and running through next Monday. Air quality is expected to improve as weather conditions bring winds early next week.

Unusual dry and warm weather conditions last summer caused excessive algae blooms on many lakes in the metro area, as well as central and southern Minnesota. Most of the algae blooms were harmless, but some of them produced toxins that led to unpleasant lake conditions and four known dog deaths. This spring, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and area partners are offering workshops to help educate local officials and water planners about harmful algal blooms and how to respond if a bloom happens in your lake.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will hold a public information meeting on Feb. 26, 2008, to explain future cleanup plans for affected Highway 96 Dump Superfund Site properties located on the west side of Gilfillian Lake in North Oaks, Minn.

Flueger Construction Company of Red Wing, a corporation that primarily performs excavation and grading work, has paid more that $12,700 for alleged solid waste violations.

When Glenn Skuta's family moved to the Oakdale area in 1996, they wanted to take advantage of nearby Tanner's Lake for a summer swim. But after arriving at the lake, the Skuta family noticed it was scummy with algae and not too inviting for swimming. At the time, Glenn was working as a water quality planner at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking public comment on a proposed plan to clean up contamination related to perfluorochemicals (PFCs) and other contaminants at the closed Washington County Landfill in Lake Elmo, Minn. The public comment period for the proposed plan ends March 15, 2008.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the proposed to make improvements to portion of the sewer system in Edina and Richfield. Known as the Edina-Richfield Interceptor Improvements Project, the public is invited to comment on this EAW until March 12, 2008.

More than 2,000 people are scheduled to attend the Minnesota Pollutions Control Agency's (MPCA) annual Minnesota Air, Water, and Waste Environmental Conference (MAWWEC) Feb. 26-28, at the Sheraton Hotel in Bloomington. Sponsored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the three-day event brings together professionals from various backgrounds to discuss the challenges that affect Minnesota's environmental policy and protection.

The American Iron and Steel Company has agreed to pay a $26,700 civil penalty to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for alleged air quality violations at its metal shredding facility in St. Cloud, Minn.

Eco Finishing Company, a full-service metal finisher in Fridley, has agreed to pay the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) $25,000 in civil penalties for alleged hazardous waste and air quality violations. In addition, the company has agreed to pay $100,000 toward Supplemental Environmental Projects that will reduce the potential impacts of hazardous waste and wastewater generated by the company.

For generations, Minnesotans, particularly in rural areas, have been burning their household trash. While many people now have their garbage picked up by a waste hauler or take it to a local drop-off site, nearly half of rural residents still burn their trash in burn barrels, fire pits, heaters and stoves - and that doesn't include the unknown number of city residents who still burn their trash.

The city of Willmar and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and will hold a public information meeting at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, to discuss the city's proposed stormwater pollution prevention program (SWPPP).

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Pollution Health Advisory for the southern half of Minnesota for today (Monday), Tuesday and possibly through Wednesday. Air quality is expected to improve as weather conditions bring winds on Wednesday.

Turtle Creek Estates Inc, a residential property development company in Austin and Niles-Wiese Construction Inc. in Medford will pay $32,000 for alleged stormwater permit violations. In addition, the companies will make changes to operating practices so that similar problems do not occur in the future.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will present information about the second five-year review of Duluth's St. Louis River Superfund site at a public information meeting on Jan. 30, 2008.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) concluded 67 enforcement cases totaling $644,692 in penalties during the fourth quarter of 2007. The cases occurred at facilities in 36 counties throughout Minnesota.

United States Steel Corporation recently paid a $68,250 civil penalty for alleged air quality violations at its Keewatin Taconite (Keetac) facility. The company also has made operations upgrades and paid an additional $60,000 to fund a new city street sweeper, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced today.

The Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Great River Energy, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Metropolitan Council and Xcel Energy are among the first 55 organizations nationwide to join The Climate Registry, a body that measures and reports greenhouse gas emissions in North America. MPCA Commissioner Brad Moore is encouraging other Minnesota companies and government agencies to follow suit.

The owners of Metals Reduction Company LLC, a scrap metal recycling business located at 355 East University Ave. in St. Paul, have agreed to pay $27,000 for alleged hazardous and solid waste, aboveground storage tank, water quality and stormwater permit violations. The violations were discovered during Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Ramsey County Department of Public Health staff inspections of the company in 2005.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) seeks comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) prepared for the New Sweden Dairy expansion project in Nicollet County.

State and federal agencies, in cooperation with the city of Minneapolis, will again flush a storm sewer with more water in an effort to keep gasoline from polluting the Mississippi River. The gasoline flowed into the storm sewer when a tanker trailer rolled over Wednesday morning at Interstate 94 and Interstate 394 in Minneapolis.

Badger Foundry Company, a gray iron foundry in Winona, has paid $70,000 for alleged violations of the facility's air emissions permit. In addition, the company has made several changes in its operation to ensure future compliance with environmental regulations.

Through state and federal Clean Water Act program funding, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recently awarded more than $3 million for projects addressing water pollution. The MPCA received 28 proposals and 10 projects were chosen to receive grant funds, totaling $1,892,444. Four projects also received loan funding to supplement implementation projects, totaling $1,170,000.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railway Company reached an agreement recently that resolved the company's past failure to comply with state aboveground storage tank rules at four area locations. The settlement also included alleged state hazardous waste violations at one of the company's facilities. As a result, the DM&IR will pay an $80,770 civil penalty.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has approved a request by the Clay County Board of Commissioners to transfer the oversight of feedlot operations in the county to the Clay County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). The Minnesota County Feedlot Program allows the MPCA to transfer feedlot oversight duties to counties. Larger feedlots, those that require federal permits, are still regulated by the MPCA. Effective Dec. 1, 2007, Clay became the 55th county to be delegated in the feedlot program. There are 120 feedlots in Clay County.