MPCA issues permit for landfill in Blue Earth County

For release: April 19, 2013

Contact: Cathy Rofshus, 507-206-2608

---

MPCA issues permit for landfill in Blue Earth County

Rochester, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently issued a 10-year solid waste permit for the Ponderosa Sanitary Landfill in Blue Earth County. The permit issuance follows a public comment period on the permit and an Environmental Assessment Worksheet on the landfill’s planned expansion. The agency received no citizen comments on the proposed expansion.

The agency found that the expansion, as proposed, has no potential for significant environmental effects. The Ponderosa facility may expand its capacity from 2.95 million cubic yards to 5.31 million cubic yards, and the landfill area by 12.4 acres.

Blue Earth County purchased the landfill, which is about six miles southwest of Mankato, from a private operator in 1996. It is now operated by Ponderosa Management Co. under the direction of the Blue Earth County Environmental Services Department.

The expanded disposal area will be lined and include a system to collect and treat any rainwater or snowmelt that contacts the buried waste to prevent contamination of groundwater and the nearby Blue Earth River. As with the current landfill area, the facility will use a system of wells to detect any contaminants in groundwater.

The landfill accepts about 35,600 tons of municipal solid waste and about 8,000 tons of industrial waste a year. It also takes about 2,500 tons of noncombustible material, mostly glass and rock, left over from a process that converts waste into fuel that is burned to create electricity.

The findings of fact are available on the MPCA website at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=19236 or by going to the MPCA website and searching for “ponderosa sanitary landfill blue earth.” To access the final permit, call MPCA solid waste engineer Sherri Nachtigal at 507-206-2600.

Broadcast version:

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recently issued a 10-year permit for the Ponderosa Sanitary Landfill in Blue Earth County.

The permit issuance follows a public comment period on the permit and an environmental review of the landfill’s planned expansion. The agency found that the expansion, as proposed, will have no potential for significant environmental effects.

For more information, visit the MPCA website at and search for “ponderosa sanitary landfill blue earth.”

###

The mission of the MPCA is to work with Minnesotans to protect, conserve and improve our environment and enhance our quality of life.

St. Paul • Brainerd • Detroit Lakes • Duluth • Mankato • Marshall • Rochester • Willmar
www.pca.state.mn.us • Toll-free and TDD 800-657-3864