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.

The following draft reports have been issued for the listed watersheds, followed by the MESERB member cities we believe may be impacted by the reports:

• Red Lake River TMDL and WRAPS Reports (open through Aug. 14, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.)
  • Crookston
  • East Grand Forks
  • Thief River Falls

• Mississippi River – Grand Rapids Watershed WRAPS and TMDL Reports (open through Aug. 14, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.)
  • Grand Rapids

• Lower Minnesota River Major WRAPS and TMDL Reports (open through Sept. 20, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.)
  • Lake Crystal
  • Mankato
  • New Ulm
  • Redwood Falls

• Minnesota River – Mankato Major Watershed TMDL and WRAPS Reports (open through Sept. 20, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.)
  • LeSueur (MRVPUC)
  • Mankato
  • New Prague
  • New Ulm
  • Redwood Falls

• Minnesota River, Blue Earth, LeSueur, Watonwan Total Suspended Solids TMDL (open through Sept. 20, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.)
  • Granite Falls
  • LeSueur (MRVPUC)
  • Lake Crystal
  • Mankato
  • Marshall
  • New Prague
  • New Ulm
  • Olivia
  • Redwood Falls
  • Waseca
  • Willmar
• Watonwan River WRAPS and TMDL Reports (open through Sept. 20, 2019 at 4:30 PM)

All of the public notices for the listed reports are on the MPCA’s Public Notices Page.