Minnesota River not endangered by Big Stone II
Mercury emissions will be reduced and 30-year-old pumping restrictions will remain in place
Editor, West Central Tribune -
Your April 17, 2008, edition carried a story (“Minnesota River back on ‘most endangered’ list”) describing recent action by American Rivers, a non-profit group based in Washington, D.C. American Rivers has placed the Minnesota River on its “America’s Most Endangered Rivers” list. The story also quoted Patrick Moore, with CURE.
Because American Rivers and CURE blame plans for Big Stone II for the Minnesota River being “endangered,” I want to give your readers our thoughts on the two issues raised: mercury and Big Stone Lake level.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, most mercury deposited locally comes from global circulation. Foreign – not local – sources are responsible for the lion’s share of mercury in our soil and water. However, by reducing local emissions, we can reduce our contribution to the global mercury cycle.
In 2006, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Mercury Emissions Reduction Act, which requires large coal-fired power plants to use technology by 2015 that will most likely remove at least 90 percent of mercury emissions. The Big Stone II participants have agreed to conform to the Act. So, mercury emissions from the existing plant and the proposed Big Stone II plant will be reduced annually from the current 189 pounds to a total of 70-90 pounds – while more than doubling the site’s electrical output.
American Rivers also overstated the drawdown of Big Stone Lake. The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued a water permit allowing both plants to use Big Stone Lake water. When the lake surface elevation falls below 967 feet, only limited pumping can occur. This restriction has been in place for more than 30 years with the existing Big Stone Plant; it will continue with the addition of Big Stone II.
Withdrawals from Big Stone Lake, to meet the needs of the power plants, would draw down the lake level on average of approximately 1.7 inches. Our modeling shows that Big Stone II will cause no noticeable change in the flow rate of the Minnesota River or adverse impact on downstream aquatic life.
Our customers critically need Big Stone II and its associated transmission. Not only will it provide the least-cost additional power; but it will also provide the transmission infrastructure that will help develop some 800-1000 megawatts of new wind energy generation.
Daniel Sharp
Communication Manager
Big Stone II Project
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