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MPR News is your source for environment news from Minnesota and across the country.

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Stakes high for mining projects with Dayton's DNR pick

Stakes high for mining projects with Dayton's DNR pick

Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to announce soon his choice for Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. The stakes are particularly high in Northern Minnesota where controversial new mining projects pit water quality against the promise of new jobs.
by Bob Kelleher

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MPCA taking comments on new 3M discharge permit

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is taking public comments on a new wastewater discharge permit for 3M Co.'s Cottage Grove manufacturing facility.

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Legislature critical of Minn. ground water clean-up plan

Legislature critical of Minn. ground water clean-up plan

A long-term plan to clean up Minnesota's ground water got a chilly reception at its debut at the Minnesota Legislature this morning.
by Tim Nelson

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E-waste rules tighten in some states

E-waste rules tighten in some states

Finally replacing that turntable with an MP3 player? Just upgrading your Mac? Whatever it is, you'd better check your state's books before heading to the landfill.

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DNR a tough agency to lead effectively

Gov. Mark Dayton begins his second day on the job today. But he still needs to make some key appointments to his cabinet. One critical position, that hasn't been filled, is the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. That can be a challenging job because of the wide variety of activities that the DNR regulates.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Scents latest weapons in fight against lamprey's invasion of Great Lakes

Scents latest weapons in fight against lamprey's invasion of Great Lakes

In the never-ending battle to prevent blood-sucking sea lamprey from wiping out some of the most popular fish species in the Great Lakes, biologists are developing new weapons that exploit three certainties in the eel-like parasites' lives: birth, sex and death.

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Split Rock Lighthouse State Park expands with land

The dramatic Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior is celebrating its centennial this year, and the state park is now a little bigger.
by Stephanie Hemphill

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State files lawsuit against 3M over pollution

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has filed suit against Minnesota-based industrial giant 3M for contaminating groundwater with PFCs.
by Laura Yuen

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Deer hunters group wants to catch cougars on trail cameras

The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association is asking people with trail cameras to leave them up this winter so that they might catch a picture of a predator -- especially a cougar.
by Stephanie Hemphill

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Heron Lake ethanol plant owners to pay penalty

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the owners of a southwestern Minnesota ethanol plant have agreed to pay a $66,000 penalty to resolve alleged violations of the plant's air and water quality permits.

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