Public comment periods are an important tool for citizens to be able to weigh in on permits and policy. A press release from Clean Up The River Environment (CURE) comes our way that reveals a gap in this tool in Greater Minnesota, where small newspapers are often the only venue for local news.
To sustain themselves, these papers often charge for announcements and notices, since the advertising base is so small. Unfortunately, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency isn't paying for notices about the reissuance of an irrigation permit for the Beardsley Wastewater Treatment Facility in Big Stone County.
Beardsley's a tiny town of 222 northwest of Ortonville; it's known for The One More, a semi-dive bar that serves great steaks.
Looking over the documents online--public notice here; draft permit here; and, statement of basis here--the permit application appears reasonable. Unfortunately, without local notice, there doesn't seem to be any way for people in Beardsley and greater Big Stone County to learn about the pending permit and comment about it.
It's one way greater Minnesotans are left out of the loop--and makes us wonder what might happen were a facility, public or private, being vetted that were not so seemingly benign (and how would most Big Stonians learn about the public comment period at hand).
Here's the CURE press release:
Recently CURE (Clean Up the River Environment) was contacted by an interested party wanting to share information about the reissuance of an irrigation permit for the Beardsley Wastewater Treatment Facility in Big Stone County by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
The MPCA gave notice that a preliminary determination has been made to reissue a Class D Facility Discharge permit to allow the Beardsley Wastewater Treatment Facility to discharge wastewater through spray irrigation. This ten-year permit would allow spray irrigation at a 29.5-acre irrigation site.
The preliminary determination includes an opportunity for the public to comment on whether or not the permit should be reissued. Citizens have the right to submit written comments or petitions to the MPCA through mail or email between June 15, 2017 and July 17, 2017. Citizens also have the right to request a public informational meeting to allow interested parties to ask questions concerning the permit and facility. MPCA staff would be present to provide information at the requested meeting.
Additionally, citizens can request a contested case hearing before an administrative law judge. For more information and to access the draft permit, please visit http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publicnotices or contact Ashley Wahl with the MPCA by phone (507) 476-4264 or email [email protected].
The MPCA has notified Big Stone County newspapers of this public comment period, noting that they can publish the information in the newspaper, but that the agency would not approve payment of the publication.
We at CURE believe in transparency and we think the public has the right to be informed. We think that state government should encourage citizen involvement in the public process and therefore encourage you to take a look at this permit and submit comments to the permitting agency as it impacts the quality of water, health of the land, and human health.
CURE was founded by concerned citizens in the Minnesota River Basin in 1992 to combat river pollution by advocating for improved land use practices. As an organization long rooted in the movement for rural social justice CURE’s program areas have evolved to include not only watershed ecosystems but also the greater health of the rural communities they embrace. Today, CURE’s mission is to protect and restore resilient rural landscapes by harnessing the power of citizens who care about them.
To learn more about all of the programs that CURE has to offer visit www.cureriver.org.
Photo: Main Street in Beardsley, Minnesota, some time ago.
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