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3M: Hutchinson, Minnesota

3M: Letter from Congressman David Minge to EPA Administrator Carol Browner

David Minge
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
20 District, Minnesota

July 23, 1996

Administrator Carol Browner
Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460


Dear Administrator Browner:

I write to convey my serious disappointment with your Agency's recent negative response to the Minnesota XL Permit and Final Project Agreement for the 3M facility located in Hutchinson, Minnesota.

Many months of constructive cooperation between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), 3M, and Hutchinson community members culminated in the Project XL Permit and Final Project Agreement. 3M executives, as well as community members, have consistently praised EPA's willingness to enact Project XL at the Hutchinson facility. Members of my staff attended a Hutchinson community meeting just this past month where your Region 5 staff member, Marilou Martin, spoke directly to the EPA's desire to support and enact Project XL.

To be sure, all parties understand additional work needs to be done for the project to be a success. However, six pages of additional requirements seem onerous -- and in fact -- crippling of the project. A lack of reasonable flexibility on the part of the EPA seems completely contrary to "reinventing government" and most definitely insures that this (or any other Project XL) will not go forward.

I greatly appreciate your Administration's initiation and support of the Project XL. The successful completion of the Hutchinson project will prove beneficial to all. Environmental protection will be greatly improved, potentially thousands of jobs will be preserved, and an exemplary company will be a stronger competitor in the global marketplace.

With that in mind, I would ask your personal review of these EPA comments, as well as any assistance you could lend to the issuance of the first Project XL permit. I thank you for your good work, and look forward to hearing from you on this matter.

Sincerely,

 

DAVID MINGE
Member of Congress

DM:raj


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