MDA Schedules Informational Meetings
on Groundwater Protection Rule
St. Paul, MN: The
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has scheduled a series of public informational
meetings throughout the state during May and June to present information about
the proposed Groundwater Protection Rule (GPR) and the rulemaking process. The
public is invited to attend these meetings. It is important to note that these
meetings are informational only; they are not part of the official rulemaking
process.
The informational meeting schedule is as follows:
Thief River Falls Wednesday, May 30 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Northland Community and Technical College 1101 Highway One East Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Fergus Falls Wednesday, May 30 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Minnesota State College Fergus Falls 1414 College Way Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Little Falls Thursday, May 31 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Initiative Foundation 405 1st Street SE Little Falls, MN 56345
Red Wing Tuesday, June 5 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Minnesota State College Southeast 308 Pioneer Road Red Wing, MN 55066
Kasson Wednesday, June 6 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Kasson-Mantorville High School 101 16th Street NE Kasson, MN 55944
Pipestone Monday, June 18 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Minnesota West Community and Technical College 1314 North Hiawatha Avenue Pipestone, MN 56164
Hutchinson Tuesday, June 19 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Ridgewater College 2 Century Avenue SE Hutchinson, MN 55350
St. Paul Thursday, June 28 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Orville L. Freeman Building 625 Robert Street North St. Paul, MN 55155
The process to submit formal comments and testimony that
will become part of the rulemaking record is a separate process from the
informational meetings. Members of the public wishing to make formal comments
about the rule can do so by submitting comments online and/or by providing testimony at one of the Administrative
Law Judge Hearings to be held this summer. More information about the formal
comment process is here www.mda.state.mn.us/gwprhearingnotice.
The goal of the Groundwater Protection Rule is to work with local
farmers to reduce elevated nitrate levels in groundwater and ensure Minnesota
residents have clean, safe, and reliable drinking water supplies. Nitrate is
one of the most common contaminants in Minnesota's groundwater; elevated nitrate levels in drinking water can pose serious
health concerns for humans. The proposed rule, which is based on the input of the
farmers and landowners who the rule would apply to, as well as other interested
persons, would regulate the use of nitrogen fertilizer in areas of the state
where soils are prone to leaching and where drinking water supplies are
threatened.
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