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**Leech Lake Air Quality Permit Notifications**

Learn about air quality permits in Leech Lake Reservation, Minnesota. Understand tribal concerns and EPA involvement. Stay informed. Contact Brandy Toft, Air Quality Specialist.

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**Leech Lake Air Quality Permit Notifications**

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  1. Minnesota TribePermitNotifications Brandy Toft Air QualitySpecialist Minor NSR Workshop

  2. Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe • Leech Lake Reservation rural area located in North Central Minnesota • 864,158 acres, over half is water/wetlands • 260 miles of rivers/streams • 270 fishable lakes • 40 Wildrice lakes • Serving 12,000 in 17 communities • Part of the 1855 Ceded Territory

  3. Leech Lake Title V Permits and area sources of Concern 3 Area of concern 19 Title V’s Wood products Wood Products 2 Great Lakes Compression Station Paper mill Waste incinerator Coal EGU 2 Largest MN Coal EGU Waste EGU Over 250 area sources within the Reservation Boundaries Title V facilities of concern to the LLAP 19 clustered Title V facilities of concern

  4. TAS forLeech Lake • LL attained 2007 • Wanted concrete input and involvement in permit commenting • Wanted lower percentage on 105 funding • Wanted to build capacity for Leech Lake • It was the “next” step for LL Air

  5. State of Minnesota and TAS • Did not talk with State before hand… sovereignty • State had opportunity to comment during comment period – tried to nit pick • EPA backed up Tribe • State not “pleased” to see Tribes receive TAS, concerned on their role and responsibilities • State dropped main comments, LL has indisputable boundaries

  6. Set up Minnesota pseudo TAS • Tribes asked for advance permit commenting – 30 days not enough and at end of process • Tribes with TAS had a greater voice • Discussions with State continued – year plus • State of Minnesota felt it would be easier to treat all Tribes equally • Negotiated timeframes and notification process Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Guidance On Air Quality Permit Consultation with Indian Tribal Governments

  7. State Process • Early notification by State engineer via email/phone when permit application is submitted to State • Continued conversations as new info is presented – dependent on engineer • Conf calls with multiple Tribes if needed • Early viewing and involvement: • Permit application, • draft permit, • EIS, • EAW

  8. WI and MI Tribes? • WI Tribes have sent representatives to our MNTECH meetings to gain insight to our process and relationship with State of MN • Shared guidance documents with WI & MI Tribes

  9. MN to Region V EPA • With precedence set in MN – want equal notification from R5 • Formulated a list for R5 for air, water, mining, and environmental contacts • Updated every six months • Have yet to be contacted by EPA for a state permit in review… yet…

  10. Inspector Credentials • 2003 went through full 3 course training • EPA didn’t know how to credential LL • Currently stalled, Tribe in need of more info • Potential process at EPA now, Just need time to retake the courses

  11. Discussion???~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brandy Toft Air Quality SpecialistLeech Lake Band of Ojibwe 218-335-7429 air@lldrm.org

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