Which organization is responsible for issuing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in Minnesota?

The organization responsible for issuing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in Minnesota is the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). This agency administers the NPDES program at the state level, ensuring that water quality is monitored and protected in compliance with both state and federal regulations. The NPDES permit is essential for controlling the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States, and the MPCA evaluates applications, issues permits, and monitors compliance with the conditions of these permits.

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is involved in overseeing and guiding the NPDES program nationally, the specific implementation and management of these permits in Minnesota falls under the jurisdiction of the MPCA. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Agriculture play important roles in environmental protection and agricultural practices, respectively, but they do not issue NPDES permits. Therefore, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is the correct organization for this responsibility.