Iron Oak Sand LLC - Kasota - Wastewater Permit

We invite you to comment on the draft wastewater permit for the Iron Oak Sand LLC site in Kasota.

Iron Oak Sand LLC operates an open pit quarry facility that mines and processes sandstone into industrial silica sand at 35496 468th Street in Kasota. Wastewater from this facility is created in the mining, washing, classifying and screening of industrial sand. Wastewater from the process and stormwater from the facility are both treated on site and diverted to a reservoir pond. After treatment this facility discharges wastewater to an unnamed tributary of the Minnesota River. The facility is designed to treat at maximum 20 million gallons per day.

The draft water quality permit includes additional effluent monitoring for sulfate. The change was made to better protect downstream water quality.

Wastewater from industrial and commercial sources may contain pollutants at levels that could adversely affect the water quality in area wetlands, streams, rivers, and lakes. Water quality permits - or National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits - establish specific limits and requirements to protect Minnesota's surface and groundwater quality.

All wastewater must be treated before it goes into surface water to protect human health and aquatic life. Permits are regularly reviewed and updated as they expire, allowing the MPCA to incorporate new information about the impacts of pollutants on the environment in future permits.