MPCA News Release - 8/20

The environmental review of a wastewater treatment project for the cities of Avoca and Iona in Murray County is now available for public inspection and comment. An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) prepared by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is available at several locations and on the Internet. People are invited to comment on this EAW through Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002.

The communities plan to build a combined wastewater treatment facility on a 30-acre site about 1-1/2 miles south of Avoca. It will consist of three ponds covering a total of 10 acres. It is designed to handle an average wet weather flow of 74,303 gallons per day. This exceeds the current daily flow from both communities, and includes capacity for some community development. Each community will build its own collection system.

The new system will replace individual on-site septic systems, many of which are failing, discharging untreated sewage into area lakes. The area's water quality will improve when the sewage is adequately treated before being discharged. Treated wastewater would enter Lime Creek south of Lime Lake. The creek flows into the Des Moines River.

Construction on the $2.8 million project could begin this fall or next spring, depending on financing and approval of several permits. The communities have applied for financial assistance from the Rural Development Authority and a Small Cities Development Grant.

The EAW provides basic information on how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. During the 30-day period it is open to public review and comment. Comments on the Avoca-Iona EAW should be submitted to the MPCA in writing by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, to Barbara Conti, MPCA, Regional Environmental Management, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155-4194, or by fax to (651) 296-7782.

The MPCA will use these comments to evaluate the potential for significant environmental effects from the project, and to decide if an Environmental Impact Statement (a more comprehensive environmental review) is needed.

Copies of the Avoca-Iona EAW are available for review at: 7 The MPCA's St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Rd. N. 7 The MPCA's web site at: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/news/eaw/index.html 7 MPCA Marshall office, 1420 E.College Dr., Suite 900. 7 Slayton Public Library, 2451 Broadway Ave. 7 Fulda Public Library, 101-3rd St. NE.