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ANTHRAX MITIGATION PLAN FOR SCOTT COUNTY <br /> Introduction <br /> Minnesota Pipe Line Company, LLC (MPL) has developed this Anthrax Mitigation Plan to <br /> address potential risks associated with pipeline excavation activities in areas of known historical <br /> outbreaks of anthrax in livestock in Scott County. The plan provides an overview of anthrax, <br /> identifies the locations of historical outbreaks of the disease in the vicinity of the proposed <br /> pipeline route of MPL's MinnCan Project, and identifies mitigative measures to minimize the <br /> potential for grazing animals in the vicinity of the project to ingest anthrax spores and become <br /> infected with the disease. <br /> As indicated by the Minnesota Department of Health in its letter attached in Appendix A, there is <br /> little to no risk to humans of contracting anthrax as the result of soil disturbance activities. The <br /> construction workers on the project and the landowners in the vicinity of the project are not at <br /> risk for contracting the disease as the result of pipeline construction activities. Therefore, this <br /> plan addresses concerns related to animal health and not human health. <br /> Overview of Anthrax <br /> According to information provided on the Minnesota Board of Animal Health's (BAH) website <br /> (www.bah.state.mn.us/diseases/anthrax), anthrax is a naturally occurring disease caused by the <br /> bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Grazing animals such as cattle, horses, sheep, and goats are most <br /> commonly affected by the disease. Since the early 1900s, anthrax has been reported on <br /> approximately 200 Minnesota farms located primarily in the southwestern and northwestern <br /> parts of the state. <br /> Anthrax spores can occur naturally in the soil of areas with historical outbreaks of the disease <br /> and can survive for long periods of time. As indicated in the letter from the BAH attached in <br /> Appendix B, soil disturbance activities in locations where anthrax affected animals are buried <br /> may uncover spores, which could possibly be ingested by livestock grazing in these areas. The <br /> ingested spores could become active and cause the animal to become infected with anthrax. A <br /> vaccine is available to prevent livestock in high risk areas from getting infected. <br /> Locations of Historical Anthrax Outbreaks in Scott County <br /> Based on information provided by Scott County and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, <br /> several farms located in three townships in Scott County (Belle Plaine, Helena, and St. Lawrence <br /> Townships)have experienced historical outbreaks of anthrax. These outbreaks occurred between <br /> 1919 and 1953. There have been no reported anthrax cases in Scott County since 1953 despite <br /> extensive excavation activities that have occurred in the county over the years. The locations of <br /> the anthrax outbreaks in the vicinity of the pipeline route are shown on Figure 1. Most of these <br /> sites are located south of the pipeline route and only one actual burial site has been documented. <br /> The pipeline route crosses one farm at approximate milepost (MP) 251.5 that had an anthrax <br /> outbreak in 1948. The landowners do not currently raise livestock on this property, but there are <br /> two livestock operations within about 1 mile of this property(see Figure 2). <br /> 1 <br />