After delaying a decision on a plan to reduce haze over northern Minnesota, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s citizen’s board will attempt to approve the plan today.
Minnesota Public Radio has the story HERE.
The plan is meant to address the level of haze over Voyageurs and Isle Royale National Parks and the the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which the Clean Air Act stipulates should have the cleanest air in the country.
Nine of 11 parties testifying at the board’s hearing last month voiced opposition to the MPCA’s plan which impacts power plants and taconite facilities, the prime contributors of the pollution. Environmental groups called it too lenient while Cliffs Natural Resources, which operates three taconite plants in the region, said it would have problems complying with the proposed rules.
According to the MPR story, MPCA staffers have made changes to the plan to address Cliffs Natural Resources’ concerns. The National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service oppose the plan presented last month.