Thank you for your interest and engagement in the MPCA’s wild rice sulfate implementation plan. The agency is taking numerous measures to ensure thorough communications and transparency around this plan. We have hosted two informational meetings and scheduled the final meeting for Sept. 6, 2023. We are seeking feedback on the site-specific standard framework and implementation materials, which are posted on our website. And, two upcoming virtual open houses on July 27 and Aug. 8, 2023, will allow municipalities an opportunity to engage on the standard implementation.
Site-specific standard framework available for review and feedback through July 31
We invite you to provide feedback on the MPCA's site-specific sulfate standard framework. This framework provides more clarity for the public, facilities, and tribal nations regarding the protection of wild rice by:
- Defining protection of the wild rice beneficial use.
- Establishing expectations for permittees requesting, and agency staff reviewing, a site-specific standard application.
- Identifying consistent data collection and informational needs used to review a thorough site-specific sulfate standard application.
The expectation is that the MPCA will require a demonstration that the waterbody has, and will maintain, a wild rice population that is self-sustaining and productive.
Please provide feedback on the site-specific framework by noon on July 31 via the MPCA’s public comment web page.
Permitting implementation materials available for review through Aug. 15
To supplement the informational meetings, we have created a fact sheet titled, Minnesota Wild Rice Sulfate Water Quality Standard NPDES/SDS Wastewater Permit Implementation. For details about how the MPCA sets effluent limits for the sulfate standard, the agency posted a document titled, Procedures for implementing the Class 4A Wild Rice Sulfate standards in NPDES wastewater permits in Minnesota. These items are available on the MPCA’s Protecting Wild Rice web page.
We encourage you to ask questions and provide feedback on the sulfate standard implementation and guidance by Aug. 15. You can email to: Wastewater.Permitting.MPCA@state.mn.us
Recordings of May 24 and June 28 informational meetings
On May 24 and June 28, MPCA hosted informational meetings for NPDES/SDS permittees about its plan to fully implement the sulfate standard. The first meeting covered the list of waters used for the production of wild rice and how the standard would be implemented in NPDES/SDS permits via monitoring and limit setting. The second meeting covered permitting options for a facility receiving a sulfate limit and unable to comply, and what is required to submit a request for a site-specific standard. Recordings of these meetings are available on the MPCA’s Protecting Wild Rice web page.
Final informational meeting
Our final informational meeting, scheduled, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m., is an opportunity for MPCA staff to respond to questions received on why, where, and how the agency intends to address the current sulfate standard for wild rice waters through the NPDES/SDS permit program. We will also have a University of Minnesota representative present research on sulfate-reducing technologies. Please register to receive a link to the meeting. Closer to the date of the meeting, we will re-send a message with the link to register.
Virtual open houses for municipal permittees
The MPCA will be available July 27, 10-11 a.m., and Aug. 8, 1-2 p.m., to field questions from municipal permittees about the implementation of the standard.
Click here to join the July 27 from 10-11 am meeting
Click here to join the Aug. 8 from 1-2 pm meeting
Thank you again for your continued engagement on this topic.
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