Minnesota Wild Rice v. Minnesota Mining Interests and Wastewater Treatment Plants

Apparently, it is all about sulfates.  This chemical is a mining byproduct and wild rice is not partial to it (or vice versa).

Notch a win for public interest lawyer, Paula Maccabee, as she and her client, WaterLegacy, prevailed (at least for now) over the Chamber of Commerce (the “CoC”) (represented by Thad Lightfoot) in a challenge to the 10 mg/l limit under Minnesota law before Ramsey County District Judge Margaret Marrinan.

The CoC had challenged the wild rice sulfate standard but, as reported by Steve Karnowski of the Associated Press, and as celebrated by WaterLegacy, the CoC’s complaint was denied last week.