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Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of a group of highly reactive gases known as nitrogen oxides. NO2 reacts with other chemicals in the air to form other pollutants, such as ozone, particulate matter,…
The MPCA gave an environmental award to the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, which sold land so it could become a watershed wetland in Baxter. The project is being finalized in summer 2024.
We have some suggestions for avoiding disposable items, excessive packaging, and single-use plastics when shopping for your everyday needs.
Application forms and instructions for applying for wastewater permits.
Some pollutants attach to suspended particles in the water and subsequently settle out to the bottom sediment. At elevated concentrations, contaminated sediments can contribute to fish…
Water scientists from the MPCA published four watershed reports in 2025, updating the data we need to keep Minnesota’s waters clean and protected.
Plastic can be recycled, but it’s often not, a situation the MPCA aims to resolve with grants to develop markets for recycled plastic.
Any facility that is engaged in a narrative activity or a primary SIC code, as listed in the Multi-Sector General Permit, needs to apply for industrial stormwater permit coverage or certify for No Exposure.
Permit applications must include detailed emissions calculations to help determine which permit type or permit amendment is needed.
AccessibilityThe Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is committed to accessibility on its website. As part of that commitment, the MPCA makes every effort to comply with the State of Minnesota…
The MPCA completed 78 enforcement cases for water quality, air quality, waste, stormwater, and wastewater violations in the second half of 2025, for a total of 146 for the year.
Determine what type(s) of water quality permit is required at facilities that mine construction sand and gravel; industrial sand; quarry limestone, granite or dimension stone; operate hot mix asphalt production areas; produce concrete block, brick and other products; and/or produce ready-mix concrete.
Heavy metals are an ill-defined group of inorganic chemical hazards that include lead, chromium, arsenic, and cadmium. They may leach into soil and water from industrial sites, mines or…
Ground-level ozone is a secondary pollutant formed through chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Ozone can irritate the eyes, nose and throat,…
Sulfur dioxide (SO2), a foul-smelling toxic gas, is part of a larger group of chemicals called sulfur oxides. These gases, especially SO2, are emitted by the burning of fossil fuels or other…
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of more than 100 chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline, and are also present in products made from fossil fuels, such as…