The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has recently published various newsletters and announcements relating to stormwater and wastewater including an edition of MN Stormwater News, an announcement about the the Draft PFAS monitoring plan for wastewater, and an edition of the On Point newsletter.

MN Stormwater News

MN Stormwater News is a quarterly newsletter published by the MPCA. The Fall 2021 edition of MN Stormwater News was published on November 29th and includes information about climate resilience grants, BMPs, and more.

Below are the articles in this edition of the newsletter:

• Make your community more climate resilient
• Green infrastructure operation and maintenance
• MPCS staff interview with Mark Maloney, City of Shoreview, on their experience installing and maintaining permeable pavers
• Use plastic free, biodegradable BMPs
• Events

Click here to read the newsletter.

Draft PFAS Monitoring Plan for Wastewater

We recently posted about the Draft PFAS monitoring plan that was published on November 16th. Following this release, there are various program-specific meetings for interested parties to participate in. On Thursday, December 9th, 2021 from 11 am to noon there will be a presentation on the draft plan for wastewater. This presentation will focus on major elements of the wastewater component of the draft plan, as currently written. Click here for the virtual meeting link.

More information on the multi-sector draft plan can be found on the MPCA’s website, including a comment form for providing feedback. Feedback will be accepted until December 20th.

On Point Newsletter

Earlier this month, the November/December 2021 edition of the On Point newsletter was released. The MPCA On Point newsletter includes news and updates for wastewater discharge permit holders, and is typically sent out every couple of months. This edition contains a lot of valuable information including information on wastewater and drought, lots of learning and training opportunities, conference announcements, and important reporting reminders!

Below is everything covered in the November/December 2021 edition of the newsletter:

• Katrina Kessler appointed MPCA commissioner
• New basin-wide approach underway to reduce phosphorous in Red River, Lake Winnipeg
• MPCA looking forward to seeing you in ’22
  • Webinar series offers opportunities to question and learn
  • Listening sessions seek your views on operating challenges
• Wastewater and drought
  • MPCA conducting rare monitoring study of the Lower Minnesota River
  • Addressing pond operational concerns during drought years
• Operations awards
  • Review period for award October 2020 through September 2021
  • Review process for industrial facilities changed for 2021
• Reporting/compliance
  • Reminder: Annual biosolids report due to MPCA and EPA
  • State reports must be submitted electronically
  • Compliance tips
  • Pond optimization: Lower operational costs and increase environmental protection
• Operations reserve funding
  • New LSTS plan requirement driven by many systems nearing end of their design life
• Wastewater operator training/exams
  • 2022 Wastewater Training Calendar now available
  • Collection System Conference set for March 21-23, 2022
  • Wastewater Operations Conference set for March 23-25, 2022
  • Upcoming training/exam sessions
• Smart salting update
  • Sign up to receive new MPCA smart salting newsletter
  • MPCA offering grant for chloride reduction from water softening activities
• C&E staff coverage areas for industrial and municipal facilities
• eDMR news
• MPCA in the news

Click here to read the newsletter.