Callaway, Minn.-based Toxic Taters Thursday filed a petition with the state to conduct an environmental study on potato grower R.D. Offutt's expansion of cropland in north-central Minnesota.
In September, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and farming corporation R.D. Offutt announced an agreement whereby the company voluntarily withdrew all but five of its applications for new irrigation wells in the Pineland Sands area spread across Becker, Cass, Hubbard, and Wadena counties. In return, the DNR withdrew the threat of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet, a study that could have delayed the wells for a year.
Toxic Taters issued a press release Thursday that announced its petition for an EAW on the project, and dubbed the agreement between the DNR and RDO a "mistake." Toxic Taters also called for the DNR "to hold a public hearing in the impacted region regarding the project."
"Until this point, no state agency has solicited public comments on the issue, and no plans have been announced to request input from the public," Toxic Taters said.
The DNR did not immediately fulfill a request from the Dispatch for a response.
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ZACH KAYSER may be reached at 218-855-5860 or Zach.Kayser@brainerddispatch.com . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ZWKayser .
