Environmental groups petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to address groundwater contamination in eight southeastern Minnesota counties. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency must report on their work to provide safe drinking water to those with contaminated wells. At MN Ag Expo, Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said there is no overnight fix for the nitrate contamination. The nitrate issue extends beyond the southeast corner of the state. “Up to St. Cloud, up into that Verndale area, up into Ottertail and then southwest Minnesota down to towns like Adrian,” explained Petersen. “These are issues we’ve been working on for a long time, but we have to respond to the petition right now and that’s what we’re working on.” MDA has released its vulnerable groundwater area map.
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