Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media contact: Forrest Peterson, (320) 214-3789 Technical contact: Kevin Kain, (651) 296-7432 Toll-free: (800) 657-3864 Willmar, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a demolition landfill at the Spruce Ridge Resource Management Facility in McLeod County. The EAW, which describes potential impacts on land use, water quality and air quality, is open for public review and comment through Dec. 21, 2005. Spruce Ridge plans to build a lined construction and demolition debris disposal area. It will also be approved for industrial waste. The disposal area will be located north of the existing municipal solid waste landfill about four miles northwest of Glencoe. It will handle a growing volume of demolition debris in phases, with 14 cells eventually covering 101.5 acres. The proposed design includes a liner and leachate collection system. (Leachate it formed when rain and snowmelt percolate down through landfill waste, picking up pollutants along the way.) Collected leachate will be managed by the existing facility. When the facility becomes full after an estimated 40 to 50 years, it will be developed as a mixed-use recreational area. The EAW provides basic information on how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment. During the 30-day period it is open to public review and comment. Comments on the Spruce Ridge EAW should be submitted to the MPCA in writing by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005 to Kevin Kain, MPCA Regional Division, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155-4194, or by fax to (651) 297-2343. The MPCA will use these comments to evaluate the potential for significant environmental effects from the project, and to decide if an Environmental Impact Statement (a more comprehensive environmental review) is needed. Copies of the Spruce Ridge EAW are available for review at:
· MPCA St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Rd. N.
· MPCA Web site at hhref="/news/eaw/index.html
· MPCA Willmar office, 201 28th Ave. S.W.
· Glencoe City Library, 719 13th St E.
Copies may also be requested directly from the MPCA by calling (320) 214-3786, or (651) 297-8611. Questions about the project should be directed to Kevin Kain at (651) 296-7432, or (800) 657-3864 (toll free/TTY).