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News releases

MPCA completes 39 enforcement cases in third quarter of 2018 — Thursday, October 18, 2018

Penalties from all 39 cases totaled just over $203,000.

Comment period extended for environmental review and permit for dairy expansion in Winona County — Friday, October 12, 2018

The agency extended the public comment period by two weeks due to requests from many citizens.

Dairy proposing major expansion in Winona County — Monday, October 1, 2018

The proposal would increase the dairy herd from 1,728 cows and calves to 4,628 total.

Open for comment: Proposal to remove the fish impairment from the St Louis River Area of Concern — Wednesday, September 26, 2018

The St. Louis River AOC will have seven remaining impairments to address before the entire St Louis River AOC can be delisted.

MPCA reaches settlement with Hastings flour company on air quality violations — Monday, September 24, 2018

The company agreed to correct the violations and will pay a $32,485 civil penalty.

MPCA invites comment on proposed swine expansion in Freeborn County — Tuesday, September 11, 2018

The proposer plans to build a new 2,500-head swine finishing facility about 2 miles southwest of Alden.

MPCA postpones decision on proposed feedlot in Fillmore County — Wednesday, September 5, 2018

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is postponing its decision on whether to order an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed swine facility in Fillmore County.

Dairy proposing major expansion in Wabasha County — Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Scotch Prairie Farms in Wabasha County, about seven miles southeast of Lake City, is proposing to triple its dairy operation, according to an Environmental Assessment Worksheet prepared by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

Air quality alert issued due to wildfire smoke for Monday, August 20, into Tuesday, August 21 — Monday, August 20, 2018

The affected area includes the Ely, Hibbing, Duluth, Brainerd, Alexandria, St. Cloud, Marshall, and Mankato, and the tribal nations of Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Fond du Lac, and Mille Lacs.

Air quality alert issued for southern half of Minnesota due to wildfire smoke from Friday, Aug. 17 into Sunday, Aug. 19 — Friday, August 17, 2018

This is in addition to the air quality alert already in effect for the northern half of the state and the affected area now includes the Twin Cities metro area, Mankato, Rochester, and St. Cloud and the tribal nations of Upper Sioux and Prairie Island.  

Air quality alert issued due to wildfire smoke for Thursday, Aug. 16 into Sunday, Aug. 19 — Thursday, August 16, 2018

The affected area includes Brainerd, Bemidji, Duluth, Ely, and Moorhead and the tribal nations of Mille Lacs, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, and Red Lake.

Land stewardship changes could spark water quality improvements in Lower Red — Thursday, August 16, 2018

Excessive levels of bacteria, sediment, a pesticide called chlorpyrifos, and chloride, along with stressors causing poor fish and aquatic insect communities, contribute to impairments in this northwest Minnesota watershed.

Air quality alert issued due to wildfire smoke for Friday, August 10 into Sunday, August 12 — Friday, August 10, 2018

Smoke from wildfires in western Canada will continue to affect Minnesota Friday afternoon and evening and will spread eastward across northern Minnesota Friday evening, making air quality unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Air quality alert issued due to wildfire smoke for Thursday, August 9 into Saturday, August 11 — Thursday, August 9, 2018

The affected area includes the cities of Worthington, Marshall, Ortonville, Alexandria, Moorhead, East Grand Forks, Roseau and Bemidji, and the tribal nations of Red Lake, Leech Lake, and Upper Sioux.

Air quality alert issued due to wildfire smoke for Wednesday, August 8 into Thursday, August 9 — Wednesday, August 8, 2018

The affected area includes the cities of Roseau, International Falls, East Grand Forks, Bemidji and Moorhead and the tribal nations of Red Lake and Leech Lake.

MPCA completes 52 enforcement cases in second quarter of 2018 — Thursday, July 26, 2018

Penalties from all 52 cases totaled just over $366,000.

Holdingford truck trailer manufacturing facility penalized for hazardous waste and wastewater pollution — Wednesday, July 25, 2018

In addition to paying a $49,325 penalty, the company is working to complete a series of actions to correct identified problems.

Scott Equipment takes actions to reduce air pollution, better manage hazardous waste — Monday, July 16, 2018

The company has also paid a $30,000 penalty to the MPCA as part of the agreement to bring the company into compliance with environmental laws.

China recycling shift an opportunity for Minnesota — Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Focusing on local use of recycled materials in manufacturing wherever possible has created economic development opportunities around the state.

Ethanol summit getting industry, environmental regulators on same page — Thursday, June 28, 2018

The 20 ethanol plants in Minnesota produce more than one billion gallons of clean biofuel annually providing a market for more than 400 million bushels of corn.

Water quality impairments, solutions offered in draft Thief River watershed reports — Monday, June 25, 2018

Two new studies by the MPCA and local watershed partners recommend Thief River watershed landowners promote voluntary practices to reduce water pollution and improve water quality. The draft reports are available for comment through July 25, 2018, at 4:30 p.m. 

Livestock farms in southern Minnesota respond to heavy rains causing manure storage overflows — Friday, June 22, 2018

If manure-storage facilities overflow, if manure enters surface waters, or if a storage structure is inundated by floodwaters, farmers must call the Minnesota Duty Officer immediately at 800-422-0789.

Public comments sought for proposed Pipestone County swine feedlot — Monday, June 18, 2018

CJ Swine, LLC proposes to build a swine finishing feedlot about three miles west of Pipestone in Sweet Township. The public may submit written comments on the proposal until 4:30 p.m. on July 18, 2018.

Comment period for proposed dairy farm near Tintah in Grant County ends July 18 — Monday, June 18, 2018

Riverview, LLP is proposing to develop an 11,000-head Jersey dairy farm  just east of Tintah in Grant County in the Bois de Sioux watershed. MPCA is accepting comments on the project’s environmental review through July 18, 2018. 

Good news, better news in Lake Superior-North watershed draft reports — Monday, June 18, 2018

Only one of 67 streams and 152 lakes evaluated for water quality standards along Lake Superior’s far North Shore does not meet the state’s criteria, according to two draft reports open for public comment through July 19, 2018.