Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Lakeview Memorial Hospital in Stillwater, Minnesota, was fined $15,000 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for improperly disposing of infectious waste containing liquid blood and blood-contaminated items. The hospital failed to separate, label, and store the waste correctly, leading to rejection by the waste management facility. The MPCA reported 8,419 enforcement actions totaling over $24 million since 2019, and the hospital has submitted a plan to address procedural changes.

Air quality in Minnesota has deteriorated to hazardous levels due to wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota, leading to canceled outdoor activities and health risks. Minneapolis was ranked the most polluted major city globally, with experts predicting recurring smoke and ozone alerts. The article highlights the impact on public health and the need for pollution reduction efforts.

An air quality alert due to wildfire smoke is in effect for parts of Minnesota, including east central, southeast, south central, and northeast regions. The alert, issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, warns of unhealthy air conditions causing symptoms like irritated eyes, coughing, and shortness of breath. Affected areas include cities like Rochester, Duluth, and Tribal Nations such as Prairie Island and Fond du Lac.

Wildfires in northern Minnesota, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, have triggered an air quality alert due to heavy smoke. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency attributes the fires to recent hot weather and lightning, with Canadian wildfires also contributing to smoky conditions. Minnesota has seen an increase in wildfire-related air quality alerts in recent years due to hotter and drier conditions.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency expanded a hazardous air quality alert for wildfire smoke across multiple regions, including the Twin Cities metro area and several tribal nations, advising everyone to avoid outdoor activities until 11 a.m. on Friday. The alert, issued due to fine particle levels reaching the 'maroon' (hazardous) category, affects 13 regions in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for parts of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, due to wildfires in northern Minnesota and Canada. The alert warns of health risks for vulnerable groups, with hazardous smoke expected in areas like Two Harbors and Grant Portage. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was closed indefinitely as wildfires caused by lightning and dry air led to evacuations and 17 rescues.

Half of Minnesota is under an air quality alert due to wildfires in northern Minnesota and a heat wave. Thick smoke is expected to spread across the state, with hazardous conditions for everyone and closures of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The alert is scheduled to end Friday at 11 a.m.

Wildfires in Northern Minnesota, including those in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, have triggered evacuations in Lake County and 'very unhealthy' air quality alerts for multiple counties. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued alerts, and there are 20 active fires in the Superior National Forest. A solar energy project and construction plans in Minneapolis are also highlighted.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency maintains a list of impaired waters in Minnesota, available on their website. The article references this list and its availability on KSTP.com.

Xcel Energy and McGough Construction were fined by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for failing to report multiple stormwater discharges in St. Paul and not conducting required stormwater management inspections for most of 2025.

Minnesota's 2026 water quality assessment identified 37 new mercury-impaired water bodies and 75 new wild rice protection sites, primarily in southern Minnesota. The report highlights mercury and PFOS as key pollutants, with efforts underway to address impairments and protect wild rice through sulfate level monitoring.

Minnesota's 2026 draft list under the Clean Water Act identifies 2,979 impaired water bodies, with efforts like the watershed approach and successful restoration of Riley Lake. Impairments stem from pollutants like phosphorus, nitrogen, mercury, and bacteria.

A new study claims hundreds of millions of dollars are needed to clean up PFAS-contaminated water in the east metro, according to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency report. The plan includes pumping and treating contaminated water for distribution to cities and an aquifer, while other news includes Google’s data center proposal and an election judge’s sentencing.

In August 1995, students in Le Sueur County discovered deformed northern leopard frogs at Ney Pond, prompting an investigation by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Judy Helgen and her team documented high rates of deformities, leading to nationwide reports and scientific research into potential causes like pesticides, UV radiation, and parasites.