1995-07-20_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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GRASS LAKE WATER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION AGENDA ITEM Date: 7/20/95 Prepared by: Karl P. Keel Item: D-2 Consultant report Item Description: MPCA proposed guidelines controlling stormwater discharges to wetlands The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (NIPCA) has completed a draft document entitled "Guidance for Evaluating Urban Stormwater and Snow Melt Run-off Impacts to Wetlands." This document, prepared by the MPCA with input from a number of federal, state, and local agencies, proposes guidelines to be considered whenever stormwater is discharged to wetlands. While the contents of this report are currently only guidelines, it is likely that they will eventually be adopted as requirements either by the MPCA or some other governing agency. Generally speaking, the document suggests different requirements for different types of wetlands. The general rationale is that less valuable wetlands should not be protected to the extent that high quality wetlands should. These proposed guidelines have raised a great deal of concern among professional organizations. Some feel that because the guidelines are quite stringent, and because they will likely become requirements rather than guidelines, that this document should be careiuily reviewed and receive the same public input as formal rule changes. Concern has been expressed that this document has not.been adequately publicly scrutinized. The MPCA is holding an informal public information meeting on July 20, 1995. Marty Rye from. SEH will attend this meeting and report to the Board at Thursday night's meeting. A copy of a transmittal letter from MPCA as well as the introductory and summary sections of the report are attached. Please contact me if you would like a copy of the entire document.