The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) today released its initial environmental assessment worksheet for a new municipal solid waste landfill proposed by Dem-Con at its environmental campus near Shakopee. The public is invited to comment on the initial scoping environmental assessment worksheet (SEAW) and draft scoping decision document (DSDD) through July 24, 2025.
The proposed landfill will convert 2.2 million cubic yards of an approximately 81-acre fill area set to be used for construction and demolition waste into a new municipal solid waste landfill. Dem-Con landfill currently accepts industrial waste and non-hazardous construction and demolition debris.
The new municipal solid waste landfill will accept waste from the Twin Cities metro area and Nicollet, Le Sueur, and Sibley counties. The Twin Cities generates nearly 3.5 million tons of garbage annually and continues to send more waste to landfills each year. This project is part of the solution to expand four area landfills to help address the growing problem and ensure continued safe and proper management of waste materials.
Those who wish to comment on the SEAW and DSDD should consider the documents’ accuracy and potential impacts from the project that warrant further investigation. The SEAW looks at items in the EAW to determine the scope of the environmental impact statement (EIS). Some key findings include:
- The SEAW identified permits, contamination/hazardous materials/wastes, and fish, wildlife, plant communities, and sensitive ecological areas as important, but information provided in the SEAW was determined to be adequate for use in the EIS with only minor edits or updates.
- The SEAW identified water resources, air quality assessment, greenhouse gas assessment, and traffic impact study as potentially significant issues. Information beyond what is in the SEAW will be included in the EIS.
- The DSDD provides a summary of the items to be reviewed in the EIS.
The MPCA will host a public meeting for community members on Thursday, July 17, 2025, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Jackson Town Hall (1091 130th St. W in Shakopee) to discuss the project in full detail. There will be an open house and brief presentation on the SEAW and DSDD.
The public can review the SEAW and DSDD and submit public comments by visiting the Smart Comment portal on the MPCA website or by mail to:
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
c/o Charles Peterson
520 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
The creation of a new municipal solid waste landfill of this size requires the project to go through the EIS process. An EIS is a more extensive process with more detailed information about the project’s potential for significant environmental impacts. The EIS also provides project alternatives and identifies methods to reduce environmental effects. This process begins with the SEAW and DSDD to inform what is going to be studied in the project’s EIS. After the public comment period is complete, the agency will review all comments and create a final scoping decision document of items that will be reviewed as part of the EIS.