MPCA Announces Water Permit Application Fee Increases Effective Immediately

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced it will be raising water and air permit fees on August 1, 2025. The increase to general feedlot permit fees will raise construction and operating permit fees by $350, a 56% increase, going from $620 to $970, effective immediately.

 

This is a very disappointing development as the Minnesota Pork Producers Association continues to forge a better working relationship with the MPCA to better communicate and collaborate when appropriate. Meaningful engagement and proactive communication were absent in this announcement.

 

“Unfortunately, this sends the wrong message to Minnesota’s family farmers that raise livestock,” Todd Selvik, MPPA president, says. “We’ve been working to build a productive working relationship with the agency and have successfully advocated and held off fee increase attempts in the past. This dramatic increase comes at a time when pig farmers are just starting to dig out of the worst two-year economic downturn in the pork market ever.”

 

Virtually no notice was given prior to the fee increase, which came on the heels of the renewal of the NPDES and SDS permits earlier this year. Additionally, no mention of potential fee increases was made during the public comment period on the current 7020 Feedlot Rule review process, which included 13 community meetings across the state.

 

MPPA continues to raise awareness of how the steep fee increases will impact farmers with the agency and elected officials. Minnesota’s livestock fee structure already far outpaces those on feedlots in Minnesota’s neighboring states.

 

Tight margins across the agriculture economy mean these increases will have a direct impact on Minnesota’s family farmers and other agribusinesses that contribute significantly to the rural and state economy.

 

According to the MPCA, the air and water permit application fees will be updated every two years from now on. In addition to the feedlot program, all air, municipal wastewater, and industrial wastewater will also see fee increases.