Contact: Cathy Rofshus, 507-206-2608
Rochester, Minn. ― The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently reissued a permit that allows Rice County to continue the operation and begin expansion of its landfill facility near Dundas, one mile east of State Highway 3, between Faribault and Northfield.
The reissued permit is valid for five years and covers the facility's mixed municipal solid waste and demolition waste disposal areas. Before the permit reissuance, the ultimate design capacity of the facility’s mixed municipal solid waste and demolition waste areas totaled 3.98 million cubic yards. The facility proposes to continue operating in the previously approved landfill areas, as well as in these two expansion areas:
- 12.83 acres for mixed municipal solid waste disposal, by filling the space between two existing solid waste disposal areas, increasing the facility’s mixed municipal solid waste capacity by 1.2 million cubic yards. Before filling begins in this area, Rice County will prepare an Environmental Assessment Worksheet, which provides basic information about how the proposed project could affect the environment and helps determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement, a more comprehensive environmental review, is needed.
- 10.83 acres for demolition waste by filling air space above an unlined mixed municipal solid waste disposal area, increasing the facility’s demolition waste capacity by 121,300 cubic yards. Under the reissued permit, Rice County is authorized to start using this space for demolition waste.
The initial MPCA permit, issued in 1973, allowed Rice County to build and begin its landfill operations. Since then, the facility has made several design and operational changes, as permitted and authorized by the state of Minnesota.
The facility also includes a household hazardous waste facility, recycling center, yard waste compost operation, tire storage area, brush/pallet processing area, appliance storage area, and public drop-off and transfer area for mixed municipal solid waste.
Under federal law, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets environmental standards for landfills. For permits to receive state approval, the MPCA has the authority to issue permits and specify limits, perform compliance monitoring, and enforce federal standards. For more information about the landfill program, visit the MPCA’s Landfills/Dumps webpage.
