Comments invited on proposed landfill expansion in Red Wing

For release: March 19, 2012

Contact:  Cathy Rofshus, 507-206-2608

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Comments invited on proposed landfill expansion in Red Wing

St. Paul, Minn.-- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) invites comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) prepared for Xcel Energy’s proposed ash landfill expansion in Red Wing, Minnesota. Comments must be in writing and will be accepted by the MPCA until 4:30 p.m. on April 18, 2012.

Xcel currently operates a landfill at 1502 Bench St. in Red Wing, where it buries ash produced by its Red Wing Generating Plant. Xcel has proposed explanding its landfill capacity by filling in between two existing areas where ash is currently buried. This expansion would add about 20 years of use to the landfill. Without the expansion, the landfill would have less than five years of remaining site life.

The Xcel landfill property totals about 138 acres in size. This expansion would use 7.2 acres of the property. The landfill facility is surrounded by land zoned for agriculture, homes and commercial development. 

The EAW provides basic information about how a proposed project could affect the environment and helps to determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement, a more comprehensive environmental review, is needed.  The EAW examines many factors, including the following: 

• Rain and snowmelt runoff from the facility drain to Hay Creek, located about one-half mile east of the landfill. This designated trout stream provides fishing and other recreational opportunities. Under state law, the landfill facility must treat this runoff and take steps to prevent the runoff from polluting downstream waters.
• Historic water quality data show no significant impacts to groundwater from the landfill activities.
• A rare plant species, bladder pod, grows near the proposed expansion site. The landfill facility already follows a plan to protect this species.

Interested parties may send questions and comments on the Xcel Expansion EAW to Steve Sommer, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul MN 55155. Sommer can also be reached by phone at 651-757-2746 or email at steve.sommer@state.mn.us. Copies of the EAW are available on the MPCA website at www.pca.state.mn.us/oxpg691, or, upon request, from Sommer.

In addition to the EAW, this project requires a Solid Waste Permit from the MPCA, which will also be on public comment. Comments on the permit, which must be in writing, should be sent to the attention of Robert Criswell at the MPCA address above. He can be reached by phone at 651-757-2296 or email at robert.criswell@state.mn.us.

 

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