Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

The Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railroad Company (DM & IR) recently paid a $58,000 civil penalty for alleged air quality violations, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced today. The company will also make required air pollution control upgrades to lessen dust emissions.

Lakeside Foods, an Owatonna food-processing company, has paid $25,000 for alleged water-quality violations. In addition, the company will upgrade parts of its wastewater treatment system so that similar problems do not occur in the future, and contribute $10,000 to the Cannon River Watershed Partnership for use on local environmental projects.

Fall signals the end of the risk for ozone air alerts in Minnesota, but air alerts from elevated levels of microscopic fine particles found in wood smoke, emissions from vehicles, industry and power plants can occur at any time of the year.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) offers four ways to create more memories - and less waste! - this holiday season.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the expansion of an existing finishing hog facility north of Lake Wilson in Chanarambie Township, Murray County. The EAW, which describes potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality, is open for public review and comment Dec. 4 through Jan. 3, 2007.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency requests applications for financial assistance in the development of projects that reduce backyard garbage burning. Both public and private agencies, companies, organizations and partnerships are eligible. Applications are due Dec. 8, 2006.

The public is invited to a meeting at 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 1, in the Clearbrook Community Center, to learn about a new study investigating sources of pollution in the Clearwater River. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has awarded the Red Lake Watershed District $100,000 to study the sources of pollution in the river and recommend strategies to improve its water quality.

On Nov. 29 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is hosting an open house for the new Learning Resource Center and Library located on the first floor of its St. Paul office at 520 Lafayette Road North. The Learning Resource Center and Library is open to the public and provides information and assistance on a variety of environmental issues.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) seeks comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) prepared for a proposed expansion of the Rucker Hog Feedlot near Oronoco, Minn.

In an effort to encourage increased public participation in the environmental permitting process, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will hold its second open house and informational meeting regarding wastewater management and permitting issues at U.S. Steel Minntac's proposed project in Mountain Iron, Minn. A similar meeting was held in Virginia, Minn. last April.

St. Cloud-based Langford Inc. trucking and the Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) were among 23 firms honored in late October for their leadership roles in reducing diesel emissions through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) seeks comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and a draft air emissions permit prepared for Al-Corn Clean Fuel near Claremont, Minn.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requests public comments on a draft report about water pollution in Carter, Bevens and Silver creeks. The report, titled,"Total Maximum Daily Load Evaluation of Fecal Coliform in Carver, Bevens and Silver Creeks," is on public notice until Dec. 6, 2006.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requests public comments on a draft report about fecal coliform bacteria pollution in several streams within the Blue Earth River Basin. The report, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study, is on public notice Nov. 6 through Dec. 6, 2006.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requests public comments on a draft report about turbidity pollution in the lower Cannon River. The report, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), is on public notice Nov. 6 through Dec. 6, 2006. Turbidity refers to the "cloudiness" of the water due to sediment and algae.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) seeks comments on the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposal by Olmsted County Public Works. The county proposes building a third municipal solid waste combustor at its Olmsted Waste-to-Energy facility in Rochester. The third combustor, with a planned capacity of 200 tons per day, would operate in conjunction with the two existing 100 ton-per-day combustors.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet and draft permit for proposed improvements to the city of Menahga's wastewater treatment system. The EAW and draft permit are open for public review and comment through Nov. 21, 2006.

Metalmasters and J.R.S. Enterprises have agreed to investigate and cleanup contamination, and pay a $14,000 civil penalty to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for alleged hazardous waste violations at their former facility in Plymouth.

Overflows from manure storage basins at two large dairies on the same day in central Minnesota resulted in corrective requirements and a $17,000 penalty for each facility. Separate overflows occurred Oct. 5, 2005 at Westland Dairy near Richmond, and at Alpha Foods near Litchfield.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has listed an 8.2 mile segment or "reach" in the Lower Otter Tail River, from Breckenridge Lake to the confluence with the Bois de Sioux River, as impaired because it does not meet the water quality standard for turbidity. A draft report about this pollution problem is currently available for review, and interested parties are invited to submit comments on it by Nov. 29, 2006.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requests public comments on a draft report about fecal coliform pollution in the north branch of the Sunrise River. The report, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load study, or TMDL, is on public notice until Nov. 29, 2006.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requests public comments on a draft report about water pollution in Lake Independence. The report, titled, "Total Maximum Daily Load Evaluation of Excess Nutrients in Lake Independence," is on public notice until Nov. 29, 2006.

LSP in Cottage Grove has agreed to modify its procedures, donate $5,000 for the purchase of community spill response equipment and pay a $25,000 civil penalty to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for alleged hazardous waste violations at their power plant.

For farms with livestock, the fall work doesn't end with the crop harvest. After the crops come off the fields, many livestock farmers begin pumping out manure from storage pits and spreading or injecting it on fields. Proper land application captures the value of manure without runoff into streams and lakes.

The federal Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis has agreed to modify its procedures and pay a $45,655 civil penalty to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for alleged hazardous waste violations.