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The MPCA studies, monitors, and regulates water pollutants to protect human health and the environment. Minnesota water quality standards strives to protect water for use, measures health of waters, and guides limits on what regulated facilities can discharge to surface waters.
Minnesota continues to reduce industrial and transportation air pollutants that have the highest potential health risks. Investment in clean air for all Minnesotans is a top priority for the MPCA and Governor Walz.
One of the most basic forms of air pollution, haze reduces visibility in many cities and scenic areas within the United States. Haze-causing pollutants come from a variety of sources, both natural and man-made, including motor vehicles, electricity generation, industrial facilities, agriculture, and wildfires.
Image Climate change continues to have a destructive impact on Minnesota’s infrastructure, presenting a direct threat to our homes, businesses, roads…
Increasing organics collection and processing infrastructure is necessary to meet statewide recycling goals
The MPCA has started a study intended to understand and document the variation in naturally occurring sulfate levels across the state.
From January through March 2025, MPCA air monitoring data showed elevated lead levels that exceeded national ambient air quality standards near the facility. An MPCA inspection of Gopher Resource in spring 2025 confirmed that the source of the elevated lead levels was addressed.
Protecting and restoring water quality is one of the MPCA's core areas of focus.
Removing of an old dam and restoring a creek's curves are improving habitat and water quality in the Pomme de Terre River Watershed.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency places members with host sites throughout Minnesota each year. Members serve full-time for 11 months (Sept. 2026 through Aug. 20227) at environmental nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions.
Information about the work to clean up the pollution from over 100 years of unregulated development and industrial practices.
The Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) employs skilled, retired professionals to provide facility assessments to small businesses, institutions, and city and county governments in Minnesota.
Minnesota’s extended producer responsibility bill for packaging, food packaging, and paper products requires a producer responsibility organization to reduce the environmental and human health impacts of these materials.
If you're new to the septic system world at the county level, or even if you've been in the job for a while, MPCA offers videos and companion documents to provide valuable background and insights.
Create an editable spreadsheet of details about your facility to make calculations of emissions.
Volunteers across Minnesota’s 87 counties have been collecting pine needles from coniferous trees in their neighborhoods to help the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency better understand how to protect Minnesotans from PFAS pollution.
When people think of sources of air pollution, they typically think about buildings with big smokestacks like power plants and factories. Only about a quarter of the air pollution in Minnesota comes…
Hot mix asphalt plants in Minnesota must follow federal and state air standards.
Improving water quality in Lake George has required treating phosphorus in the water and filtering pollutants out of urban stormwater.
To reduce the pollution that causes climate change, Minnesota has set goals to cut our collective greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and track progress.