Description

Join us for an informative webinar on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) implementation of the wild rice sulfate standard and its far-reaching implications for municipal wastewater treatment facilities in Greater Minnesota. As the MPCA continues to move forward with the implementation of Minnesota’s 10 mg/L sulfate standard, it’s more important than ever to understand how this standard will affect your community. 

Municipal wastewater treatment facilities across Minnesota face significant challenges in meeting the 10 mg/L sulfate standard. Compliance is technologically and economically infeasible for most municipalities, and sulfate source reduction strategies are often not viable. MESERB and the CGMC have been advocating for the MPCA to implement the standards using a multi-discharger variance and site-specific standards—especially for the hundreds of cities located upstream of the Lower Mississippi River Pools—where existing data show healthy wild rice stands despite elevated sulfate levels. Our aim is to avoid making major state and local expenditures on sulfate reductions unless they are feasible and necessary to protect wild rice. 

During this webinar, we will discuss: the current status of the MPCA’s sulfate standard implementation and enforcement; the potential benefits of a multi-discharger variance; why site-specific standards for Mississippi River Pools 3–8 are necessary and how they could save communities significant costs; practical strategies for municipalities to navigate compliance challenges and advocate for reasonable regulatory approaches; and ongoing legal and policy advocacy efforts to support cost-effective and science-based standards.