INFORMATION 10-14-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minnesota Pollution Control Agency October 4, 2002 The Honorable Stephanie A. Klinzing Mayor, City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330-5600 ZOOZ 0 130 Dear Mayor Klinzing: Commissioner Studders asked me to respond to your letter dated September 4, 2002. I would like to thank you for expressing your concerns about the fecal coliform found in Lake Orono and the Elk River this summer. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) was made aware of this issue in Sherbume County on August 1, 2002, through information provided by the Lake Orono Lake Association and the Sherburne County Zoning Administration. In response, the MPCA staff initiated feedlot compliance inspections on September 5, 2002, at an individual site in Becker Township, and are planning inspections at additional sites in the following five townships: Elk River, Big Lake, Becker (North and South), Clear Lake (East), and Palmer (Sites). This area encompasses the Elk River watershed in Sherbume County, including its tributaries from Elk Lake in Clear Lake Township to Lake Orono in Elk River Township. A total of 21 Sites are registered with the State of Minnesota (State) within the project area that will be visited by the MPCA staff. Not all of the Sites in the project area are located adjacent to the Elk River or its tributaries; however, it is the MPCA's intent that all Sites will be investigated. Also, a survey of the project area will be conducted to locate any Sites that did not register with the State. If discovered, those Sites will be required to register with the State and.undergo a compliance inspection. These compliance inspections will determine if the sites are in compliance with Minn. R. ch. 7020 (Feedl°t Rules) and Minn. R. ch. 7050 (Water Quality Standards). If not in compliance, the site(s) will be required to obtain an Interim Permit or enroll in the Open Lot Certification Program, tools that are designed to bring feedlot operations back into compliance with State rules. If any direct discharges are discovered, immediate abatement and clean up action will be required. The MPCA's goal for completing these compliance inspections is the end of calendar year 2003. Because fecal coliform contamination often originates from multiple sources, the MPCA is interested in scheduling a meeting to discuss the water quality issues and land use impacts that have led to the closing of the Lake Orono Beach this past summer. The MPCA Feedlot and Water Quality staff would like to initially meet with Mr. Stephen Rohlf, Elk River Building and Zoning Administrator, and Liesch Associates, Inc., to review the data that has been collected. After this initial meeting, the MPCA will propose to meet with representatives from the city of Elk River, as well as the Sherburne County Zoning Administration and the Lake Orono 520 Lafayette Rd. N.; St. Paul, MN 55155-4194; (651) 296-6300 (Voice); (651) 282-5332 (TTY) St. Paul · Brainerd · Detroit Lakes · Duluth · Mankato · Marshall · Rochester · Willmar; www. pca.state.mn.us Equal Opportunity Employer · Printed on recycled paper containing at least 20% fibers from paper recycled by consumers.