The thirsty potato fields carved from the forest in the state's Pineland Sands region continue to sow controversy, and a new Minnesota Court of Appeals decision isn't likely to change that.
The appeals court on Monday backed up the Department of Natural Resources' decision to skip a full environmental review of an irrigation project in north-central Minnesota, affirming a lower court's decision.
The DNR adequately evaluated the Nolte family's irrigation project in Wadena County and the agency's decision that the farm project "does not have the potential for significant environmental effects" stands, said appeals court Judge Tracy Smith, writing for the panel.
DNR officials were not available for comment Tuesday.
The ruling rankled the Environmental Working Group, part of a coalition of concerned citizens, Native American tribes and other groups, including one called Toxic Taters, who took the matter to court.
The Environmental Working Group said in a statement that it is "profoundly disappointed."
The three irrigation wells, which together pump about 100 million gallons of water a year, were originally linked to Fargo-based R.D. Offut, the country's largest potato producer, who sold the land to the Noltes.
"The people of the Pineland Sands region should not be forced to drink contaminated water so the world's biggest potato producer can sell more of its product to McDonald's," the Environmental Working Group said.