Join MPCA's Sustainability Team
Want to help the agency maintain and improve our sustainability? Consider joining the Sustainability Team. You will help organize events, share stories, and write educational materials for all staff, manage recycling and reuse programs, pursue improvement ideas and more!
The Sustainability Team meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m. Contact Carla Inderrieden for the link.
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Sign up is now open for volunteering at the Eco Experience. But what if dealing with crowds is not your thing? You can still help out before the fair opens and after it closes. This year the Eco Experience team is looking for help setting up and tearing down the displays.
You'll find more information on how to sign-up on the Lorax's Eco Experience page. Contact Jeff Stuhr or Chloe Surdell with questions.
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Food trucks are coming tomorrow!
 Food trucks will continue throughout the summer/fall on Tuesdays: July 26, August 9 & 23, September 6 & 20, and October 4. Cash and credit cards accepted.
Job opening
Research scientist 3: A lead expert that will advance the science, development, and use of water quality decision support tools and water quality models among state agencies and local water managers. This vital member of the watershed team will successfully develop, lead, and manage applied research projects for the benefit of the watershed approach and nonpoint source pollution control. Job ID: 57552. Location: Various. Closing date: August 9.
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Shelly Siewert retiring
On September 4, 1984, Shelly Siewert started her career at the MPCA writing rules for waste tire facilities. Now, almost 38 years later, she will retire on August 2.
Shelly adds, "It has been a wonderful career. And I am thankful for the many opportunities I’ve had at the MPCA. Most of all I am thankful for those I have worked with during the years. They have made this a remarkable journey! Thank you."
Please join Shelly for a happy hour to celebrate her retirement on Thursday, August 4, 4-8 p.m. at the 3rd Act Brewery in Woodbury. (4120 Radio Drive, Woodbury).
Read more about Shelly's career on the Lorax.
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Water Gremlin air permit now on public notice
The MPCA has placed the major amendment to the Water Gremlin air permit on a 30-day public notice and public comment period. The public can review the draft permit and provide any comments they may have until 4:30 p.m. on August 20.
The MPCA’s Water Gremlin web page provides information about the permit, the upcoming public informational meeting, where you can review the permit, and how to provide comments online, via Smart Comment.
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Equity Experience events
Equity Experience events offer a variety of ways to “experience” equity, so we can hold ourselves accountable to learning, growing, and engaging with this important work and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. In order to receive an IDEA credit for attending an Equity Experience event, you will be required to report what you learned, thought, experienced, etc. to your team. Check out the event list on the Lorax.
Air issues seminar: GreenCorps air pollutant reduction projects
Wednesday, July 27, 2-3 p.m.
Join us to learn about the awesome projects GreenCorps members have been working on this year to reduce air pollution. Tim Brackett (Bicycle Alliance of MN), Ethan Kehrberg (City of Golden Valley), Julia Wells (City of Minnetonka), Abby Hornberger (Great Plains Institute), Rachel Schauer (University of St. Thomas), and Kallan Sandahl (West Central Initiative) will share successes, challenges, and lessons learned from their projects.
Join Teams meeting.
Water issues seminar: Celebrating water stories with We Are Water MN
Thursday, July 28, 9-10 a.m.
Megan Reich, a 2021-2022 Minnesota GreenCorps member serving with the We Are Water MN program, will speak on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and inclusive story sharing for expanding the capacity of communities to engage in water stewardship. Megan will describe We Are Water MN’s mission and accomplishments as a traveling exhibit that strengthens relationships between people and water, and will share about her experience facilitating workshops, coordinating events, and creating multimedia content over past year for We Are Water MN.
Join WebEx meeting.
Leadership forum event: Youth panel on climate anxiety
Friday, July 29, 10-11:30 a.m.
Images of burning trees, apocalyptic themes, protests, and more all have a major impact on the mental health of youth. How can the agency incorporate meaningful yet mindful conversations with youth? How does the work you do combat climate anxiety? Join environmental justice and engagement intern Alyssia Bell as she hosts a panel of four youth on climate anxiety. Join this open space conversation co-sponsored by the Leadership Forum.
Join Teams meeting.
in-person R training
August 2, 3, and 4, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. St. Paul office
Got data? The R User group is offering an in-person R training. Please submit your intent to attend this training by spending about five minutes to fill out this form: https://forms.office.com/g/aSPFZnN4Y3. You are welcome to attend be you an R Padawan or Jedi Master or anywhere in between! We will go through the basic data processing functions in dplyr, ggplot2 and leaflet plotting, and developing dynamic reports with R Markdown.
Cloquet receives $106K to update stormwater plan
The City of Cloquet received a grant for $106,000 to expand the city's stormwater management plan and identify infrastructure upgrades to safeguard the community. The announcement was made by Katrina Kessler, commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, during a press conference Tuesday, July 19, at Cloquet City Hall. Kessler said the funds are intended to build a community resilient to climate change. "Minnesota's climate is becoming warmer and wetter," she said. "These impacts and others pose destructive challenges to communities across Minnesota."
Minnesota Supreme Court backs City of Osakis in wastewater treatment dispute
The City of Osakis received another favorable court ruling in its dispute with the MPCA over requiring a more strict permit limit on the city’s wastewater treatment facility. The dispute, however, isn’t over yet, according to Darin Broton, director of communications for the MPCA. “While the MPCA and the City of Osakis now take their perspectives to an administrative law judge, Lake Osakis remains impaired with excessive nutrients,” Broton said in a statement. — Echo Press
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Last week in social media at the MPCA
As always, be sure to like and share with your networks!
We want to hear from you about potential environmental impacts related to the planned Epitome Energy soybean processing facility in Crookston. Our draft assessment looks at ways the new facility could affect nearby geology, soils, groundwater, surface water, and other resources. Please review and comment online: https://bit.ly/3cuBkyN Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Since discovering Water Gremlin’s violations, the MPCA has held them accountable. The agency is now in the process of updating their air permit, and we want to hear from you.
We're hosting a community meeting on Thursday, July 28, from 6 -9 pm. Our staff will be available to answer questions one-on-one, followed by a brief presentation. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3Izh1vH Facebook | Twitter
Our DERA grants help owners replace and upgrade diesel eligible equipment—improving air quality and public health at the same time! Learn more about the grant: https://bit.ly/3w9Nwer Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
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