Public Comment Form

Commenting open: April 29, 2025 12:00AM CT - May 29, 2025 11:59PM CT.

DENCO II LLC - Wastewater Permit

We invite you to comment on the draft industrial wastewater permit for DENCO II’s ethanol facility in Morris.


DENCO II operates a dry mill ethanol production facility with a capacity to produce 30 million gallons per year of undenatured ethanol in Morris.


The facility discharges industrial stormwater to an 8.1-acre wetland complex that eventually flows to the Pomme de Terre Reservoir. DENCO II also applies wash water from semi-annual equipment cleanings to nearby fields. This wash water contains low concentrations of syrup and distillers dried grain with solubles.


The draft industrial wastewater permit requires increased monitoring for ethanol and gasoline-range organics to obtain more representative sampling. The permit also adds annual monitoring for 40 PFAS compounds because the EPA and MPCA have identified ethanol manufacturers as facilities with a higher likelihood of releasing PFAS into the environment. The draft permit removes a wastewater discharge (and related monitoring) that was no longer in use.


Water quality permits - or National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits - establish specific limits and requirements to protect Minnesota's surface and groundwater quality. Permits are regularly reviewed and updated as they expire, allowing the MPCA to incorporate new information about the impacts of pollutants on the environment in future permits. Permits are enforced through a combination of self-reporting and compliance monitoring.


Wastewater from industrial and commercial sources may contain pollutants at levels that could adversely affect the water quality in area wetlands, streams, rivers, and lakes. Water quality permits - or National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits - establish specific limits and requirements to protect Minnesota's surface and groundwater quality. All wastewater must be treated before it goes into surface water to protect human health and aquatic life. Permits are regularly reviewed and updated as they expire, allowing the MPCA to incorporate new information about the impacts of pollutants on the environment in future permits.



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Thank you for providing feedback on this project. We value your comments and will use them to assess this project further. Please submit your comments and feedback before the end of the comment period.


If you want to submit a letter, you can upload the letter on this website or submit it via US Mail to the following address:


Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
c/o Sarah Starr
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road N
St. Paul, MN 55155




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