The MPCA s Strategic Directions Team has the primary responsibility for setting priorities and allocating resources at a statewide level. The Environmental Outcomes Division recommends new or revised statewide goals to the Strategic Directions Team based on evaluations of environmental results and program effectiveness. Setting Standards and Developing Rules With measurements in hand, the MPCA sets standards that protect the environment and develops rules based on those standards. When monitoring indicates that current rules are not effectively controlling pollution problems, or when new problems are discovered, MPCA rules are changed in response to the information. Monitoring also helps the agency set its priorities by showing where the most serious problems are.
Much environmental protection is achieved by issuing permits to potential sources of pollution.
The agency s environmental review staff examine plans for major development projects that might affect the environment in order to foresee and prevent environmental damage. Public comment is invited at several stages of the environmental review process. Citizens may also petition the state Environmental Quality Board for an environmental review if they believe a proposed project may damage the environment. Providing Technical Assistance and Training Information and training services provided by MPCA reach thousands of Minnesota s businesses, organizations and individuals each year. The MPCA helps the regulated community meet the requirements of pollution rules using written materials, workshops, informational phone lines, technical newsletters, conferences and speakers.