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Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport Environmental Activities and the MPCA

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) works closely with the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport tenants to ensure that environmental issues associated with the airport are dealt with effectively.

A multimedia (air, land and water) team of MPCA staff meets routinely to make sure agency awareness and understanding of environmental activities at the airport are coordinated. This team has prepared a general fact sheet about airport environmental operations, and provides other MPCA documents regarding the facility. Also provided are links to other sites (including the airport) for additional information.

Air Monitoring near Minneapolis/St.Paul International Airport

The MPCA has been monitoring air toxics and fine particles near the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport since 2002. In the summer of 2005, additional monitoring sites near MSP airport were added at Wenonah School in Minneapolis and at Richfield Intermediate School. For the first six months of monitoring, concentrations of air pollutants near MSP airport were similar to those seen at other Twin Cities locations. This report details these monitoring results.

• Update on Air Monitoring near the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport, May 2006
  

Recent Enforcement Actions

The MPCA has negotiated an enforcement document with Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport interests including the MAC, the Minneapolis Fuel Committee (MFC), and Aircraft Service International, Inc. (ASII). The alleged violations for this stipulation agreement (a negotiated agreement between the MPCA and regulated parties) are related to aircraft fuel leaks at the Lindbergh Terminal. This is a copy of the signed agreement between the MPCA and the regulated parties listed here. The agreement was terminated in November 2007.

• Stipulation Agreement between MPCA and the Metropolitan Airports Commission, Minneapolis Fuel Committee, Aircraft Service International, Inc., March 14, 2005

The MPCA negotiated a stipulation agreement with ASII for alleged violations at the Humphrey Terminal related to aircraft fuel leaks. This is a copy of the signed agreement between the MPCA and ASII. The MAC is not part of this agreement.

• Stipulation Agreement between MPCA and Aircraft Service International, Inc., March 14, 2005

In November 2004, the MAC signed a stipulation agreement with the MPCA for alleged violations related to deicing chemicals and petroleum-contaminated water draining of the airport’s property and into the Minnesota River, Snelling Lake and Mother Lake. MAC paid a $34,538 penalty and was required to partially fund an environmental study of the Lower Minnesota River at a cost of $34,538.

• Water Quality Violations to Cost Metropolitan Airports Commission $69,076 - MPCA News Release, November 11, 2004
• Stipulation Agreement between MPCA and the Metropolitan Airports Commission, August 24, 2004

Fact Sheets

Mpls/St. Paul Internationall Airport Environmental Fact Sheet, March 2005

Permit Information

• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System (NPDES/SDS) Modified Water Quality Permit (MN 0002101) for the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, effective date October 1, 2004.  (File size = 7 MB)
  
  
• NPDES/SDS Water Quality Permit (MN 0065404) for Light-Rail Transit South Portal Construction and Related Airport Expansion Dewatering Projects, issue date December 19, 2000.  (File size = 3.9 MB)
  
  
• NPDES/SDS Water Quality Permit for the U.S. Air Force Reserve/934th Airlift Wing, May 2003
  • Permit cover letter
  • Permit “shell” with basic information
  • Permit text
  • Permit requirements and limits
    
    
• Above-ground Storage Tank (AST) permit for the storage of liquid substances at a major above-ground storage-tank facility, issued January 15, 2002 to the Metropolitan Airports Commission for the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.
  • Cover letter and Permit for Storage of Liquid Substances at a Major Aboveground Storage Tank Facility
  • Summary of Design, Construction and Operation of Fueling System Project (file size = 3.4 MB)

Links

• Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport
• Air Emissions at Airports (General)
• Airport Deicing Study (General)

More Information

For more information about MPCA’s involvement with airport environmental activities, contact Jim McCann at 651-757-2159.