DNR seeks comment on Solid Bottom Creek Restoration Project

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comment on an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) prepared for the Solid Bottom Creek Restoration Project in Becker County.

Solid Bottom Creek is a trout stream in Becker County that is eroding a steep hillside, contributing sediment to the stream and Elbow Lake. The DNR is proposing to move the stream away from the hillside to reduce erosion and improve habitat conditions for brook trout and other species. The agency will take comments during a 30-day public review from July 6 to Aug. 5.
A copy of the EAW is available online at www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/index.html. Under “Environmental Review,” select “Solid Bottom Creek Restoration Project” from the scroll-down list. A hard copy may be requested by calling 651-259-5082.
The EAW is available for public review at:

• DNR Library, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul.
• DNR Northwest Region, 2220 Bemidji Ave. Bemidji, MN 56601.
• Minneapolis Central Library, Government Documents, 2nd Floor, 300 Nicollet Mall.

The EAW notice will be published in the July 6 EQB Monitor. Written comments must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, to the attention of Kate Frantz, EAW project manager, Environmental Policy and Review Unit, Ecological and Water Resources Division, DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4025.

Electronic or email comments may be sent to environmentalrev.dnr@state.mn.us with “Solid Bottom Creek Restoration Project EAW” in the subject line. If submitting comments electronically, include name and mailing address. Written comments may also be sent by fax to 651-296-1811.

‘Cabin close-up’ a time to inspect boats and water equipment for invasive species

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources asks every cabin and lakeshore owner to watch for aquatic invasive species (AIS) when removing docks, boat lifts, swim rafts and other equipment from the water.

“Since those items have been in the water for several months, now is the ideal time to spot invasive species that may be attached to them,” said Heidi Wolf, DNR invasive species unit supervisor. “Carefully inspect everything you remove from the water to see if there are invasive species attached. Your observations will provide invaluable information to the DNR in tracking the distribution of AIS – and give us a chance to rapidly respond if new infestations are found.”

People should look on the posts, wheels and underwater support bars of docks and lifts, as well as any parts of boats, pontoons and rafts that may have been submerged in water for an extended period. In newly infested waters, adult zebra mussels may not be abundant and there may only be a few mussels on a piece of equipment. On a smooth surface, juvenile mussels feel gritty, like sandpaper.
If a new infestation of zebra mussels, faucet snails or other aquatic invasive species is suspected, the exact location should be noted, a photo taken and a specimen should be kept for positive identification.

Call 888-646-6367 or contact a local DNR AIS specialist or a fisheries office. Responding quickly to new AIS infestations is critical to help curb the spread into other water bodies.

There are also specific legal requirements for cabin owners and boaters when removing and storing watercraft and equipment for the winter – or hiring someone to handle it:

Transporting and storing watercraft

• When hauling boats or other watercraft to a storage facility away from the shoreline property, make sure there are no invasive species attached. It is illegal to transport watercraft with invasive species attached.
• A list of permitted lake services providers is on the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov/lakeserviceproviders.
• The form should be downloaded, completed, signed and kept in possession during transport. Zebra mussels and other invasive plants and animals must be removed before transporting the watercraft back to a lake or other water body.

Transporting and storing docks, lifts and equipment

• It is legal to remove a dock, boat lift, dock, weed roller, swim raft, or irrigation equipment from infested waters and place it on the adjacent shoreline property – even if there are zebra mussels or other prohibited invasive species attached. A permit is not required to place equipment on the shoreline. Contact a DNR AIS specialist if an invasive plant or animal is found that has not been sighted on the lake before. 
• However, if someone wants to transport equipment from infested waters to another location for storage, cleaning or repair, they must have an authorization form to transport equipment to legally move it to another location.
• If equipment is to be installed in another water body, all aquatic plants and animals such as zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil, must be removed – and equipment must be dried for 21 days before placing in other waters.

Hiring a business or individual to remove boats and equipment from any water body

• Any business or individual in Minnesota paid to decontaminate, install, or remove boats, docks or water-related equipment is legally required to complete AIS training and obtain a permit before working in state waters.
• Anyone hired to remove a boat or dock must have a current DNR permitted service provider sticker on their windshield. If they work for a lake service provider business, ask to see an employee certificate.
• A list of permitted lake services providers is on the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov/lakeserviceproviders.

Learn more about Minnesota’s aquatic invasive species rules and regulations, and the DNR’s lake service provider program at www.mndnr.gov/AIS.

NDSU Center to Hold Nutrient Management Day

The North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center's annual Nutrient Management Day will be held Aug. 13.

The program, formerly known as Compost Day, will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Topics to be covered and the presenters are:

* Containment pond management technologies available to North Dakota producers - E.J. Habrook, K-Line Irrigation Systems of North America, and Lori Frank, Barnes County 319 Watershed program

* Composting mortalities - Mary Berg, livestock environmental management specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center

* Manure composting demonstration - Emily Kline, livestock environmental management specialist at the center

* Using manure and compost as a fertilizer for crops - Chris Augustin, soil health specialist at NDSU's North Central Research Extension Center

* Microbiology of manure and compost, and the role of microbes in converting manure to composted material - Ann-Marie Fortuna, NDSU soil health assistant professor

Registration is not required but is suggested by Aug. 9 to provide the event's organizers with the number of people attending lunch. The cost of lunch is $9 person. Water will be provided to participants. Morning activities will take place outside, so dress accordingly.

To register or for more information, contact Berg or Kline at (701) 652-2951 or mary.berg@ndsu.edu or emily.m.kline@ndsu.edu. More information also is available at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/lem.

The Carrington Research Extension Center is 3.5 miles north of Carrington on U.S. Highway 281.

MPCA invites public comment

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is inviting public comment on proposed changes to Minnesota’s Superfund list.

The two Twin Cities Metro Area sites the M-P-C-A proposes to delete from the state Superfund list are the Former Northwest Refinery in New Brighton and the Kennedy Building Site in Minneapolis. The agency says these sites do not pose a threat to public health or welfare or to the environment. If necessary, appropriate institutional controls as determined by the M-P-C-A will be in place before final deletion from the state Superfund list. In both cases, all appropriate response actions have been completed and long-term monitoring indicates that each site does not pose a threat to public health or welfare or the environment.

The M-P-C-A proposes to add two Saint Louis County sites to the state Superfund list. They are the Poplar Hill Solvent Plume Site in Hibbing and Main Street Solvent Plume Site in Biwabik. These sites are being proposed for addition to the state Superfund list because state Superfund resources will likely be necessary to complete appropriate investigations and response actions.

Details about the sites and actions taken at them are included in the announcement the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency published on page 15 of the July 1 issue of the Minnesota State Register.

There are currently 74 sites listed on the Minnesota’s Superfund list.

Groundwater Awareness Week is good time to test

Private well owners: Do you know what's in your water?

More than 1 million people in Minnesota rely on private wells as their source of drinking water, but too many of them are not tested on a regular basis for things that can make people sick, such as bacteria, arsenic, or nitrate. While wells can provide high quality drinking water, state health officials estimate that at any given time as many as 25 percent of private wells in Minnesota have detectable levels of total coliform bacteria, an indication that surface contamination has entered the well or water system.

National Groundwater Awareness Week was established more than two decades ago to bring attention to the important role that groundwater plays in the health and well-being of people. Properly maintaining wells that tap into groundwater is critical for protecting personal health and the health of the resource. This year's observance, March 10-16, is a good time for well owners to test their water, say state well management specialists.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends that private wells be tested once a year for total coliform bacteria. Testing for nitrate is recommended every two to three years - more often if nitrate has been detected previously in the well or if an infant under the age of six months will be consuming the water. In addition, MDH recommends that every well be tested for arsenic at least once.

Testing your well is up to you. Getting your well tested is a relatively simple process. Your local county health department may provide or arrange for testing services. Commercial (or private) laboratories providing water testing services are usually listed in the Yellow Pages under "Laboratories - Testing." You should check to make sure the laboratory is certified to perform tests that you want. The laboratory will provide directions for collecting and submitting water samples for testing. The costs for analysis are usually in the range of $20 to $40 per test, depending on what is tested. More information on well testing can be found at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/waterquality/test.html.

People with questions about well water contaminants – or other well-related issues – can obtain advice from MDH, their local health department, or local MDH-licensed well contractors. Well specialists are available to answer questions at MDH district offices in Bemidji (218-308-2100), Duluth (218-302-6166), Fergus Falls (218-332-5150), Marshall (507-537-7151), Rochester (507-206-2700), St. Cloud (320-223-7300), and the Twin Cities (651-201-4600).

Recycling Dumpsters in Ada to relocate

Norman County Environmental Services would like to inform residents that the recycling dumpsters located behind the Ada Body Shop and at the Norman County Highway Department in Ada are moving. They will be moved just west of the New County Salt Shed and North of the Valley Square building within a fenced in area. They will be moved on January 30^th.

Please help us keep our sites clean when you bring your recyclables to the drop off bins located within Ada and the neighboring communities. When you bring your cardboard to the recycling bins, please flatten your boxes to maximize the use of the recycling bins.

Also since the bins are emptied every two weeks, if you come and the bins are full, don’t throw your recyclables on top of the bins or on the ground. And remember only cardboard, paper, glass containers, plastic containers, and tin and aluminum cans are allowed to be placed into the recycling bins. Closing the lids after you have made your deposit will also help to keep our disposal sites clean. Thank you for your continued cooperation.

If you have any questions about the Norman County Recycling Program call Norman County Environmental Services at 784-5493

Envirothon Results

Local high schools students demonstrated their knowledge of Minnesota’s natural resources at the 18^th annual Area Envirothon, Wednesday, April 25^th, 2012 at the Rydell Refuge near Erskine.  The Norman County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) help organize the event.

24 teams from the 3 county area: Norman, West Polk, East Polk and Red Lake participated in the Rydell Refuge Envirothon.  Local teams participating were; 5 teams participated from Norman County West and 6 teams participated from Norman County East.  The top 3 teams advancing to the state from our area are Climax/Shelly, Mahnomen and Norman County West.  Norman County East placed 4^th this year. The State Envirothon will be held on May 21 at McColl Pond near Savage, Mn. The state champion will attend the Canon National Envirothon in Pennsylvania in July.  Winners of the Canon National Envirothon will receive prizes and scholarship money.

The Envirothon consists of 6 learning stations covering soils, aquatics, wildlife and forestry, as well as a learning station that changes each year (this year’s topic is non-point source pollution/low impact development). Each four – or five-member student team must also give an oral presentation on this topic.  Natural resource professionals at each station use the outdoors to test the students’ knowledge of the natural world. 

Local funding for the Envirothon is provided by the; Norman County SWCD, Gary State Bank, Halstad Telephone Co., Northwestern State Bank, Wild Rice Watershed, VFW Post 7557 - Ada, American Federal Bank, Frandsen Bank & Trust, Bennett Houglum Agency, Kelly’s Chrysler, Arvig, American Legion Post #431-Twin Valley, 1^st Financial Bank, Centrol Inc, Twin Valley Agency,

Seminar Series at UMC

CROOKSTON, Minn. – A mini-grant from the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment will help fund a series of bi-weekly, “sustainability supper seminars” designed to educate the campus and the local community on sustainability applications. In June of 2010, Chancellor Charles Casey approved an Action Plan for Climate Neutrality and Sustainability and this will be the primary focus of the seminars. The plan sets a target date of 2030 to achieve a balance between carbon released (primarily in the form of carbon dioxide) and the amount trapped or not produced; primarily by conserving energy and shifting to renewable sources.

The plan is far reaching and extends not only to energy conservation and efficiency issues directly, but also to transportation, communication, local foods, recycling, and interdisciplinary education approaches. All campuses of the University of Minnesota have or are developing such an action plan which better positions the University to not only model environmental stewardship but also save money through enhanced operation efficiencies. Numerous other campuses across the country are engaged in similar efforts.

Another over-arching goal of the seminar series is to better connect the campus to the community by creating a more functional, “Communiversity.” Hopefully, participants will reach a deeper understanding of the system dynamics approach to problem solving, sustainability and its many applications; to strive toward a more functional “learning community”; and to seek ways for better synergy in the use of common resources.

Dan Svedarsky, professor and director of the Center for Sustainability and Scott Johnson will co-lead discussions and will launch the first seminar on Thursday, March 24, 2011, at 5 p.m. Svedarsky will address, “The board brush of sustainability, global and local” and Johnson, a systems design consultant from Grand Forks, will outline the application of the systems approach to complex campus-community sustainability initiatives. The session is scheduled for Bede Ballroom on the UMC campus. A meal from the campus dining buffet line, will allow participants to spend the evening in conversation around a specific topic and engage others in the exploration of ideas relative to sustainability. Interested students, faculty and staff, community leaders, ministers, agency personnel, farmers, and business and industry representatives are welcome to participate by contacting Michael Knudson, Minnesota GreenCorps member, at 218-281-8128 (knuds0189@umn.edu) by March 22 for reservations.

Upcoming sessions will include; International dimensions of sustainability (presented by UMC international students and faculty); an Earth Week presentation on April 20 on urban ecosystems; Implementing climate neutrality plans for campuses; Peak oil implications for broad-scale planning; Energy efficiency and renewable energy perspectives; The many values of local food production; and Faith-based approaches to sustainability.


Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor’s degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology. With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree. “Small Campus. Big Degree.” To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR AGREES TO $50,000 CIVIL PENALTY AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO SETTLE ALLEGED VIOLATIONS

American Crystal Sugar Company has agreed to pay a 50,000-dollar civil penalty and take corrective actions to settle alleged violations of state environmental protection and reporting regulations at its facility in East Grand Forks, Minnesota.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, some of the alleged violations were associated with a rainstorm in May 2009 when runoff from company land application sites entered Grand Marais Creek. This led to complaints about odors and discoloration in the creek. The MPCA also alleged that the company failed to take necessary actions to minimize pollution to the creek once notified of the complaint. The company also had problems with monitoring and monitoring reports and inadequate quality assurance procedures to ensure compliance with state requirements.

In addition to agreeing to the 50,000-dollar penalty, American Crystal agreed to submit plans and update procedures to help ensure future compliance with regulations. For a comprehensive list of enforcement actions by the MPCA, go to the agency website at http://www.state.mn.us.