EPA Adds 30 Minnesota Wild Rice Waters Exceeding Sulfate Standards to Impaired Waters List
30 additional waters impaired for sulfate have been included on Minnesota’s Clean Water Act (CWA) Impaired Waters List.
On Apr. 29, 2021 the U.S. EPA announced a public comment period for 30 days regarding the inclusion of 30 additional waters impaired for sulfate on Minnesota’s Clean Water Act (CWA) Impaired Waters List.
The Impaired Waters List is a state’s list of impaired and threatened waters requiring a total maximum daily load.
30 rivers and lakes throughout Minnesota that grow wild rice have sulfate levels beyond the state s 10 milligram per liter limit for wild rice waters, reported The Duluth News Tribune.
EPA identifies 30 Minnesota wild rice waters exceeding sulfate standards
State law bars the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency from adding them to its impaired-waters list or enforcing existing sulfate standards. 6:34 pm, Apr. 29, 2021 ×
Wild rice. (Tyler Schank / 2019 file / News Tribune)
Federal pollution regulators have identified water bodies in Minnesota that grow wild rice but have sulfate levels that exceed the state s limit.
In a letter to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said 30 rivers and lakes throughout the state that grow wild rice have sulfate levels beyond the state s 10 milligram per liter limit for wild rice waters.