MESERB works to ensure that water quality standards that impact municipal wastewater facilities are based on open and transparent science, independently reviewed and result in meaningful benefits to water quality. Water quality standards issues that MESERB is currently focused on include:

• Wild Rice Sulfate
• Chloride (and other salty parameters)
• Total Nitrogen Standard
• Mercury
• River and Lake Euthrophication Standards
• Antidegradation

For information on current, future, and completed rulemaking projects, please visit the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Public Rulemaking Docket.

MESERB is always looking for innovate implementation methods to address water quality regulations to achieve maximum environmental benefit while responsibly utilizing state and local resources. Such activities include:

• Water Quality Trading – Working to research and develop a more flexible trading framework including point to non-point trading.
• Integrative Planning – Working to develop a framework that allows municipalities to meet regulatory obligations while optimizing infrastructure investments through prioritization and sequencing of work.
• Plant Optimization – Working with members to identify, develop and share plant optimization techniques and technologies to maximize efficiency in existing infrastructure.

• Regulatory Alert – International Red River Board Nutrient Targets –  International Red River Board is proposing total phosphorus and targets to the International Joint Commission, which oversee the management of the boundary waters between the United States and Canada. These proposals are unprecedented—especially in terms of nitrogen— as they directly conflict with Minnesota’s adopted and EPA-approved River Eutrophication Standards. The proposed targets could have a major impact on a cities within the Red River Basin, and the proposed total nitrogen target also sets a precedent that could impact cities statewide. The IJC has granted our request for a hearing and has opened a public comment period. The hearing will be held Jan. 16, 2020 from 7-9 p.m. at The Delta by Marriott in Fargo, North Dakota as a part of the Red River Basin Land & Water International Summit Conference. This will be followed by a public comment period ending Feb. 28, 2020.
• Notice of availability and request for comments on draft Upper Iowa and Mississippi River – Reno Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy and Total Maximum Daily Load Reports is open for public comment through Jan. 29, 2020. For more information, visit the MPCA Public Notices webpage.