Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Dan McLean, 651-757-2563 Sartell, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requests input on a draft hazardous waste permit for the city of Sartell's hazardous-waste landfill, Lagoon Number 3, located south of 12th Street North and west of 4th Ave. West in Sartell, Minn. Sartell and SPX Corporation are co-permittees because the city owns the hazardous waste landfill and SPX is the operator for post-closure care of Lagoon Number 3. Lagoon Number 3 was constructed within the boundaries of the Sartell Solid Waste Landfill in 1978 and contains sludge that was generated by the DeZurik Corporation. When operational, the lagoon was used by what was then the DeZurik Corporation for removing water from sludges between 1978 and 1983. Today, the lagoon contains both solid and hazardous waste. The lagoon was closed in 1987. The Sartell/SPX hazardous-waste permit was last issued July 23, 2002. The MPCA recommends it be re-issued, but comments on the draft permit are welcome until the public notice period ends on Nov. 23, 2009. MPCA's draft permit, related documents, and instructions are available for review on the MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/news, and selecting, "Public Notices." Under state and federal regulations, activity at the site requires a hazardous waste permit. The permit deals with the facility's operations, including authorized wastes, maintenance and post-closure care, inspections, security, emergency prevention and response procedures, and groundwater monitoring. Permit conditions require operation and maintenance of the facility in a manner protective of human health and the environment. To ensure facility compliance, the MPCA regularly inspects facilities and takes appropriate action if a facility is found violating its permit. Before permits are issued, modified or reissued, the MPCA places draft permits on public notice and seeks comments from interested citizens. Under MPCA rules, a written comment must include a statement of the writer's interest in the proposed permit, a statement of the action the MPCA is requested to take, including specific references to the draft permit language to be changed, and reasons supporting the writer's position. After the public comment period, all comments and requests are evaluated. If a meeting or hearing request is denied, the MPCA decides whether to reissue the permit. If a meeting or hearing is held, the permit decision is made after the meeting or hearing. In either case, each person submitting written comments receives a formal response summary of the MPCA's final permit decision. A copy of the permit application, draft permit and public notice are available to interested citizens at the St. Cloud Public Library at 1300 St. Germain Street West. The MPCA will also mail a copy of the draft permit and a fact sheet to any interested person. For more information, contact Kathy Gedde of the MPCA at 651-757-2382 or toll-free at 1-800-657-3864), or write to: Kathy Gedde
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Industrial Division
520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155-4194
Citizens may also contact Daniel McGrade, SPX Corporation at 704-752-4430 or Brad Borders with the city of Sartell at 320-253-2171.