Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Laura Bishop was in town Friday to meet with Luverne city leaders about wastewater treatment and its role in promoting economic growth.
“We’re here to see how things are progressing with the city — both with the NPDES permit as well as the growth we’re seeing,” Bishop told a group gathered in Luverne City Hall Friday morning.
In particular, Luverne’s discharge permit was up for its five-year renewal, and MPCA monitoring data revealed a need for enhanced nutrient removal, including phosphorus.
Meanwhile, the city is planning a $14 million wastewater treatment upgrade to address permit requirements and to meet industrial demands.
Premium Iowa Pork is paying for half of that upgrade — $6.7 million — in order to support that project and meet its needs when it starts processing next year.
MPCA officials and local leaders toured PIP after the meeting