Contact: Sam Brungardt, 651-757-2249
St. Paul, Minn.-- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and a draft Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit for Gerdau Ameristeel, a steel-production facility located at 1678 Red Rock Road in St. Paul.
The 45-day comment periods for the EAW and the draft RCRA permit run from April 30 through June 15, 2012.
The EAW is a study of environmental impacts of the proposed excavation by Gerdau Ameristeel of approximately 13,000 cubic yards of metal-impacted sediment from three and one-half acres of North Star Lake. The lake is adjacent to Gerdau Ameristeel’s production facility. The sediment remediation is required by the facility’s RCRA permit. After dredging is complete, residuals would be managed by placing a one-foot-thick sand cover over the dredged area.
Copies of the EAW are available for review at the MPCA’s St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Road N., and on the MPCA’s website at www.pca.state.mn.us/news/eaw/index.html. Interested persons may request a copy of the EAW by calling 651-757-2101. Questions about the EAW should be directed to Karen Kromar at 651-757-2508 or 800 657 3864.
Written comments on the EAW must be submitted to the MPCA by 4:30 p.m. on June 15. They should be mailed to Karen Kromar, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Rd. N., Saint Paul, MN 55155-4194, or they may be sent by email to karen.kromar@state.mn.us. The MPCA will use these comments to evaluate the potential for significant environmental effects from the proposed project and to decide whether an Environmental Impact Statement, a more comprehensive environmental review, is needed.
Gerdau Ameristeel is also asking for reissuance of a RCRA permit for the storage of hazardous waste in its closed landfill, which is also located at 1678 Red Rock Road. This facility was last reissued a RCRA permit on Sept. 25, 2006. The MPCA Commissioner has made the preliminary determination that the draft RCRA permit should be reissued. The permit authorizes and requires Gerdau Ameristeel to conduct monitoring, maintenance and corrective action at the closed hazardous waste land disposal facility and correction at solid-waste-management units.
The RCRA permit application, draft permit, public notice, and a fact sheet are available for review on the MPCA’s website, www.pca.state.mn.us. This website may be accessed at the Government Documents Section of the St. Paul Central Library at 90 Fourth St. W. in St. Paul. The draft permit and related documents are also available for review from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays in the administrative record at the MPCA St. Paul office. Call Kathy Gedde at 651-757-2382 for additional information.
Written comments on the draft RCRA permit must be submitted to the MPCA by 4:30 p.m. on June 15. They should be mailed to Kathy Gedde, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Rd. N., Saint Paul, MN 55155-4194, or they may be sent by email kathy.gedde@state.mn.us The MPCA will use the comments it receives to decide whether additional permit requirements are necessary, or whether a contested case hearing for the permit is warranted.
