Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

For immediate release: Nov. 30, 2007 Contact: Nancy Miller, 507-280-3590 Rochester, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has reissued a permit that allows Steele County to continue the operation and development of its sanitary landfill in Blooming Prairie. The reissued permit is valid for five years and covers the facility's 21-acre municipal solid waste (MSW) and seven-acre demolition debris disposal areas. The reissued permit allows an additional 469,000 cubic yards of new MSW capacity, bringing the total facility capacity to 2,112,443 cubic yards. The facility's total demolition debris capacity is 581,940 cubic yards. The reissued permit allows no additional demolition debris capacity. The facility received its original MPCA permit on Oct. 5, 1973. Since that date, permit modifications have ensured appropriate environmental operation and development of the facility. Under the authority of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets environmental standards to be met by MSW landfills. The MPCA has the authority to issue permits and specify limits, perform compliance monitoring and enforce federal standards. For additional information about the landfill program, visit the MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/cleanup/landfills.html.