MPCA “Too Slow” on Alexandria Lakes Cleanup

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A lawsuit alleges the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is allowing a sewage treatment plant to pollute a chain of recreational lakes in the Alexandria area in violation of state and federal laws.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Ramsey County by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.

Kevin Reuther, an attorney for the group, tells reporters the continuing pollution of Lake Winona and lakes downstream from it is particularly egregious because the MPCA had promised to have a clean-up plan in place by 2009. Instead, he says, phosphorus and chloride discharges from the Alexandria sewage treatment plant have continued unabated.

Shannon Lotthammer, manager of water assessment for the MPCA, says she hasn't seen the lawsuit yet, but disputed the claim that the agency hasn't made adequate progress.

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