|
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is
taking legal steps to stop operations at Northern Metal Recycling. The unusual
legal steps are underway because MPCA officials say Northern Metals provided
misleading information in the process of getting its air quality permit in
2012, and as a result is polluting the air in north Minneapolis.
The facility, which operates a metal shredder at the site,
is believed to be a primary source of particulate emissions that have repeatedly
violated state air quality standards near the site since 2014, when the MPCA
began operating air monitors near the facility.
In another legal step the MPCA filed a motion for temporary
injunction in Ramsey County District Court to immediately stop the activities
at the site that are believed to be contributing to the violations. If the court grants the injunction the
company must cease shredding operations at the site, located at 2800 Pacific St., Minneapolis.
“Based on our investigations and discussions with the
company over the last year, we believe either the company did not truthfully
disclose its emissions from this facility when it was last permitted, or that
it has added or changed emission sources since the permit was issued without
informing us, or both,” said MPCA Assistant Commissioner David Thornton.
“Either of these conditions is a serious violation of state
and federal air quality laws and cause for permit revocation,” Thornton
said. “The revocation process takes some
time to play out, so while that’s underway we are also asking the court to
enjoin Northern Metals from further operations. The violations of air quality standards that
have been occurring in this area must be stopped.”
“We use many strategies in our efforts to make permitted
facilities comply with the environmental protections we’re charged to enforce,”
Thornton said. “Moving to close a
facility and revoke their permit is a very rare step for the MPCA.”
Thornton said if the permit is revoked, the company would be
free to reapply for another one but that a new permit would have to properly
account for and control emissions.
The MPCA began monitoring air quality near Northern Metals
after the permit was issued in 2012. The
monitors began detecting elevated particulates almost immediately, at levels
that have frequently exceeded state standards.
Analysis of a year’s worth of data the MPCA recently completed also
found that levels of airborne heavy metals near the site are near or above
health benchmarks.
Thornton said the MPCA has tried to negotiate with the
company and has been in and out of court with them for more than a year, but
the company has been uncooperative in addressing the problems.
Broadcast version
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has started the
process of revoking the air quality permit of a controversial Minneapolis metal
shredder that the agency believes is emitting high levels of particles and
metals.
The MPCA said Northern Metal Recycling in north Minneapolis
did not truthfully disclose its emissions when it got its air quality permit in
2012 and has added new, unpermitted emissions sources since then.
The MPCA also filed a request for temporary injunction
against the company in Ramsey County District Court.
###
The mission of the MPCA is to protect and improve the environment and enhance human health.
St. Paul • Brainerd • Detroit Lakes • Duluth • Mankato • Marshall • Rochester • Willmar
www.pca.state.mn.us • Toll-free and TDD 800-657-3864
| 
