Riverview Dairy must be required to complete a full environmental impact statement. This facility would be nearly twice the size of any other dairy operation in Minnesota, and the potential damage to our environment is too serious to ignore. Here is what we already know.

Water use: Riverview plans to pump up to 226 million gallons of water per year from an off-site well. To put that in perspective, the entire City of Morris with over 5,000 residents is permitted to use 300 million gallons per year.

Waste production: The facility would produce roughly 202.7 million gallons of liquid manure and wastewater every year, along with 26,400 tons of solid manure.
Groundwater risks: The DNR has not yet completed a hydrologic survey or the County Geologic Atlas for Stevens County, meaning we do not have a clear picture of local aquifers and groundwater. Approving large water withdrawals before that work is done is a serious gamble.

Already-struggling waterways: This project sits within the Pomme de Terre watershed, which is already designated as sensitive. Both the Pomme de Terre River and a nearby unnamed creek are currently listed as impaired. Adding this facility would likely make things worse.

Moving forward with permits before we fully understand the risks to groundwater and water quality is reckless. The MPCA must require a complete Environmental Impact Statement before this project goes any further.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Sincerely,
Wendy P