DNR offers lake service provider training

WILLMAR - To help businesses get ready for the open water season, required lake service provider training will be offered locally by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
In an effort to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species, Minnesota laws require lake service providers to attend a training session and obtain a permit prior to working in state waters.
Lake service providers are individuals or businesses that get paid to install, decontaminate, lease, rent or remove water-related equipment in or from public waters.
This training is for commercial lake service providers such as dock and lift companies, marinas, resorts, boat hauling and storage companies, outfitters and irrigators - not the public.
It will be offered at Ridgewater College 1 to
4 p.m. Feb. 26 in Will-mar. It will also be offered at Ridgwater Colleg’s Hutchinson campus
9 a.m. to noon March 12.
“Although about 550 businesses have registered for training, there are at least 350 that still haven’t registered,” said April Rust, AIS training coordinator.
“I want to make sure they register soon, so they don’t miss out on trainings in their part of the state.”
Anyone interested in attending the training will need to register for an account online, apply for a service provider permit and submit payment of $50.
Before a permit is issued, a lake service provider must apply for a permit, pay the application fee, attend a training session and pass a written exam.
The permit is valid for three years and service providers must have the permit in their possession while providing services.
Employees working under the supervision of a permitted lake service provider only need to complete a free, online lake service employee training course.
For more information, go to www.mndnr.gov/lsp .