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Image Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI category in north central, northwest, central, and west central Minnesota, which is unhealthy for…
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for north and central Minnesota. The alert runs until 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30. Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across north central, northwest, northeast, and east central Minnesota, and the orange AQI category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across central, east central, west central, north central, and northwest Minnesota.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for west central, north central, northwest, and central Minnesota. The alert takes effect at 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 31 and runs until 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 1. Air quality is expected to reach the red AQI category which is unhealthy for everyone.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has extended an air quality alert for southeast and northern Minnesota. The alert is now in effect until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, for southeast Minnesota and until 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13 for northern Minnesota. Fine particle levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
DENCO II LLC failed a stack test in April, 2024, that showed that the facility exceeded its permit limit for particulate matter by more than 170%.
Central Bi-Products emitted higher levels of hydrogen sulfide than is allowed, causing odor complaints in the community of Long Prairie and resulting in a $3 million fine. Central Bi-Products has agreed to spend a minimum of $4.4 million on a supplemental environmental project that will improve its wastewater treatment.
Heartland Corn Products failed emission stack tests in November 2021 and February 2022 for volatile organic compounds and particulates at its ethanol production facility in Winthrop, Minn.
The MPCA completed 68 enforcement cases for water quality, air quality, hazardous waste, stormwater, and wastewater violations in the first half of 2025.
Failed emissions performance stack tests on two boilers in the fall of 2023 at its sugar beet processing facility in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Residential wood burning has been increasing in Minnesota, both for home heating and recreation.
Particulate matter (PM) refers to various air particles, including dust, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets that range in size from less than 0.1 microns in diameter (smaller than a single bacterium)…
Does it seems like the number of alerts due to wildfires has increased in the past few years? We’ve had 46 air-quality alerts since 2015—34 of those due to wildfire smoke.
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 this spring confirms that the source of the elevated lead levels has been addressed.
The northeast region of Minnesota is home to the state’s metallic mining industry. The "Iron Range" has a history of iron ore (“ferrous”) mining dating back to the late 1800s and includes the large…
Roundup of key environmental justice laws passed by the Legislature in 2023
During the 2023 legislative session, Minnesota invested over $100 million to fund grant programs that support investment in climate resilience. Each initiative supports MPCA’s implementation of Minnesota’s Climate Action Framework.
Nearly nine in 10 Minnesota communities have reported experiencing the impact of at least one weather trend caused by climate change, and few cities have defined plans to address it.
The MPCA had approximately $135,000 in grant funding to help Minnesota businesses and organizations purchase bicycles and electric-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) for commercial use.
Cumulative impacts are the combined effects of current and past pollution and other stressors and how they impact the health, well-being, and quality of life of residents in those communities. The cumulative effects process is how we in Minnesota account for and begin to correct environmental injustices.
Smith Foundry has ceased operations at its East Phillips facility after an investigation and settlement with the U.S. EPA that the MPCA supported.