In a message dated 12/8/2000 11:54:48 AM Central Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes in part, on mpls-issues:
...here's the Strib's take on the Bassett Creek water dispute. Unanswered
question: Will the Minneapolis Council go on record about the arrangement?
.. http://www.startribune.com/stOnLine/cgi-bin/article?thisStory=83096626
The Mpls. City Council, representing a municipality dependent upon
Mississippi River water for it's potable supply, should support the MN DNR in
opposing General Mills' (GMs) request to expand it's annual drawdown of the
Jordan aquifer for wasteful, once-through-cooling uses.
Further, the Mpls. City Council should recommend that the MN DNR enforce
reductions in non-potable-use depletion of the Jordan aquifer in accordance
with current state law-- including the current withdrawls by General Mills
for once-through-cooling purposes. Many municipalities rely on the Jordan
aquifer for potable water supplies, and the resource should be protected,
consistent with state law. Further, many more municipalities (and
state/local elected leaders) should strive to protect this clean, underground
source of water simply as a matter of contingency planning-- to meet the
needs of growing population centers in much of MN over coming decades (esp.
those without surface water for potable supply); and as security against
unexpected- yet possible, contamination scenarios associated with current
surface waters used as potable supply sources (i.e. there is a nuclear plant
upstream using Mississippi River water as a coolant).
It should also be noted that proposed potable supply interconnections between
Mpls. and St. Paul would prove inadequate to meet total combined current
demands, given a major contamination of Mississippi River waters. What are
our potable supply options in an emergency, and at what cost? Why place
current and future drinking water supplies at jeopardy just so a
multi-million dollar corporation can save a few bucks air conditioning it's
corporate offices with antiquated, wasteful technology? Government policy
makers (in Golden Valley, Minneapolis and elsewhere) should not let GM cloud
the discussion with promises of corporate lands for parks, corporate
foundation grant funds or other non-related enticements.
This is a fundamental environmental issue that potentially affects millions
of city and state residents-- now and for decades... centuries to come. My
arguments don't even consider draw-down and aquifer re-charge rates, or
possible surface water contamination from fungicides and anti-corrosives
added to the cooling water stream prior to being dumped into Basset Creek.
Lets take the high road on this issue and force GM into compliance regarding
wasteful use of a precious groundwater resource. If they can afford to
purchase Pillsbury, they can easily afford to cleanup their act in this
matter! Politicos-- Act Accordingly!!
M. Hohmann
13th Ward
