MPCA invites comments on proposed modification of permit for Alliant Techsystems Proving Grounds in St. Francis

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency sent this bulletin at 06/09/2011 02:05 PM CDT

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For release:  June 9, 2011

Contact:  Sam Brungardt, 651-757-2249

MPCA invites comments on proposed modification of permit for Alliant Techsystems Proving Grounds in St. Francis

St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is inviting public comments on a proposed Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit modification for the Alliant Techsystems Proving Grounds.  The facility is located at 23100 Sugarbush Road in St. Francis.  The public comment period runs from June 10, 2011, to July 25, 2011.

The MPCA Commissioner and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator have made the preliminary determination that, because Alliant Techsystems Proving Grounds is in compliance with applicable state and federal hazardous waste rules, the RCRA permit should be reissued.  The permit authorizes and requires Alliant Techsystems to properly store and treat ignitable, reactive and explosive waste through open burning and disassembly.  It also establishes the requirements for site security, personnel training, facility inspections, emergency prevention and response, record-keeping and reporting, financial assurance, liability coverage, groundwater monitoring, and air emission standards for containers used to store organic substances.

Minnesota is authorized to administer its own hazardous waste program (in place of the federal program), excluding standards promulgated by the EPA for organic air emissions.

The draft RCRA permit and application may be seen at the St. Francis Branch of the Anoka County Public Library, 3519 Bridge St. NW.  These documents may also be reviewed from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through July 25 at the MPCA’s St. Paul office.  To obtain a copy of the draft permit and fact sheet, write to Sandra Johnson, MPCA Industrial Division, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155-4194, or call Johnson at 651-757-2469 or toll-free 800-657-3864.  The draft permit and related documents are also available online at www.pca.state.mn.us/news.

Through July 25, 2011, persons may submit written comments on the draft permit modification to the MPCA at the above address, request a public meeting, or request a contested case hearing.  Written comments must include (1) a statement of the person's interest in the permit modification; (2) a statement of the action the person wishes the MPCA to take, including specific references to sections of the draft permit modification that the person believes should be changed; and (3) the reasons supporting the person's position, stated with sufficient specificity as to allow the MPCA to investigate the merits of those positions.

The EPA will also issue a draft federal permit to address items not authorized by the state of Minnesota, such as organic air emissions from containers.  For information on the federal permit, or to submit comments on the draft federal permit, contact Jim Blough toll-free at 800-621-8431 or 312-886-3781, or write to James Blough -- LR-8J, U.S. EPA Region 5, Waste Management Div., 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-3590.  The draft EPA federal permit and related documents are available at www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/permits.  The EPA will accept written comments through July 25, 2011.


Broadcast version
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency are seeking comments on the proposed modification to a permit held by Alliant Techsystems Proving Grounds in St. Francis.  The permit requires Alliant Techsystems to properly store and treat ignitable, reactive and explosive waste, and sets requirements for security, training, inspections and emergency prevention and response.  Comments will be accepted at the MPCA from June 10 to July 25, 2011.  The draft permit and related documents are available for review online.  Visit www.pca.state.mn.us.



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