A proposal by Empire Building Investments, the real estate division of Progressive Rail of Lakeville, to export water from MN to the US Southwest has apparently been denied by the Minnesota DNR. According to media reports, DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen has stated that she knew of virtually no scenario for approval of such a permit request, which aimed to remove up to 500 million gallons from the Mt. Simon-Hinckley aquifer for export to the drought-stricken regions along the Colorado River, in the Southwest U.S. Strommen directed the DNR on Friday to send a letter to Empire Building’s chief executive, David Fellon, advising him that he wasn’t likely to get approval. Empire Building filed its preliminary permit application with the DNR last month. The plan called for drilling two wells in Randolph, near Lake Byllesby and Cannon Falls.
