The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requests proposals from qualified Contractors/Researchers (Contractors), to design and conduct scientific research, collect field data, and provide data interpretation and modeling to assess the impacts of sulfate and other substances on the growth of wild rice. Multiple Contractors are being sought to conduct the tasks and complete the activities outlined in the Wild Rice Standards Study RFP. The MPCA is currently striving to clarify current and future implementation of the wild rice sulfate standard, which recently has come under increased questioning and contention. Based on a review of available studies and information, MPCA believes that additional wild rice plant toxicity studies are needed to evaluate the effects of sulfate and other variables on wild rice, across the full life cycle of the plant, before a revision to the numeric standard can be considered. No additional specifications were given.
