The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is holding a public hearing June 27 in Avon. This hearing is in regard to the chloride variance that Avon is getting as a part of its NPDES permit renewal. This is the first draft chloride variance that has been issued in Minnesota, and as such, we are taking extra caution to monitor it carefully. MESERB is in the process of developing comments to submit before the public comment process closes on July 5.
If you wish to attend the hearing, it is being held this Thursday, June 27, 2019 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Avon City Hall: 140 Stratford Street East Avon, MN 56310. Anyone who is interested in the chloride variance process should seriously consider attending to learn more about it.
The hearing will entail a brief summary presentation, an opportunity to ask clarifying questions, and a period to make verbal comments regarding the preliminary variance decision. Forms to submit written comments will also be available. A link to the public notice page is here. As mentioned above, you can also submit comments via mail or email until 4:30 PM on Friday, July 5, and submit them to the following MPCA staff:
MPCA permit contact person:
Holly Kvittem
MPCA Municipal Division
714 Lake Avenue, Suite 220
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Email: holly.kvittem@state.mn.us
MPCA variance contact person:
Elise M. Doucette
MPCA Environmental Analysis and Outcomes Division
520 Lafayette Road North
Saint Paul, MN 55155
Email: elise.doucette@state.mn.us
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact MESERB attorneys Daniel Marx at dmmarx@flaherty-hood.com or Gretel Lee at gllee@flaherty-hood.com.