2002-03-18 MPCA Issues Wet Sedimentation BasinsMinnesota
March 18, 2002
Mr. Peter J. Carlson
City Engineer for Albertville
Short Elliot Hendrickson, Inc
1200 - 25th Avenue South
P. O. Box 1304
St. Cloud, MN 56302-1717
RE: Commercial Park, Albertville, Wright County
Dear Mr. Carlson:
This letter is a follow-up to the telephone conversation Lawrence Zdon and I had with you on
March 12, 2002, regarding issues the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has with the
wet sedimentation basins for the proposed Commercial Park in the City of Albertville.
As we discussed, the MPCA has three major concerns regarding the wet sedimentation ponds
shown on the August 1, 2001, Grading and Erosion Control Plan.
1. The two wet sedimentation ponds for the Commercial Park appear to be within the
mitigated Type H wetlands that serve as the replacement wetlands for those to be
filled by the project. Minnesota Rule 7050.0186 Subp. 1 states "It is the policy of the
state to protect wetlands from significant adverse impacts on wetland designated uses.
Wetland mitigation maintains nondegradation of wetland designated uses.
2. It appears from the drawings that the two sedimentation ponds do not have outlet
structures. In Appendix B of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES)/State Disposal System (SDS) General Storm Water Permit for Construction
Activity under Sediment Control it discusses the need for outlets and how they must
be designed to meet the discharge criteria.
3. A third area of concern is the design of wet detention ponds to meet the storm water
treatment needs of the entire Commercial Park as built. The storm water permit states
that "if a project is less than five (5) acres, but is part of a larger plan of development
or sale (where multiple separate and distinct construction activities may be taking
place at different times on different schedules but under one plan) it is defined as
"five (5) acres or more of total land area." Therefore, the City of Albertville must
look at all potential impervious and size the wet detention ponds accordingly.
The MPCA storm water staff would like to meet with you at the City of Albertville's Offices on
March 26, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. to discuss storm water management at the Commercial Park. If
this will not work please advise.
520 Lafayette Rd. N.; St. Paul, MN 55155-4194; (651) 296-6300 (Voice); (651) 282-5332 (TTY)
St. Paul ®Brainerd * Detroit Lakes • Duluth ® Mankato ® Marshall • Rochester • Willmar; www.pca.state.mn.us
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Mr. Peter J. Carlson
Page 2
If you have qu ' ons please feel free to contact me at (651) 296-6945.
Sin rely,
Keith L. Cherryholmes, Ph.D.
Senior Engineering Specialist
Metro Region
Regional Environmental Management Division
KLC:kr
cc: Linda Goeb, Administrator, City of Albertville
John A. Olson, Mayor, City of Albertville
Gary Elftmann, Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District
Linda Peterson, BWSR
Kerry Saxton, Manager, Wright County SWCD