Join a community meeting on the project on Nov. 19
Elk River Landfill, Inc. proposes a northward expansion of its landfill into Livonia Township, where Martin Marietta Corporation currently has sand and gravel mining operations. The project will involve an expansion of MSW capacity over a 162.36-acre area, which includes a 7.21-acre overlap of previously permitted and filled construction and demolition (C&D) disposal cells.
Elk River Landfill currently accepts MSW, C&D waste, and industrial waste from 23 counties in central Minnesota and small quantities from Iowa and Wisconsin. It will reach its permitted capacity in approximately three years. Without additional capacity, area businesses and people won’t have a local facility where they can send their waste. This proposed expansion will extend the operational life of the landfill and allow Elk River Landfill to continue to serve the area’s waste disposal needs.
Comments on the scoping EAW (SEAW) and draft scoping decision document (DSDD) should consider both documents’ accuracy and potential impacts from the project that they believe warrants further study. The SEAW looks at these items to determine the scope of the environmental impact statement (EIS). Some key findings include:
- The SEAW identified climate adaptation and resilience, permits, contamination, hazardous materials and wastes, as well as fish, wildlife, plant communities and sensitive ecological areas, and historic properties as important. The MPCA determined the information provided in the SEAW is adequate for use in the EIS with only minor updates.
- The SEAW identified land use, water resources, air quality, greenhouse gas, and noise 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 to discuss the full project in detail on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Zimmerman-Livonia Fire Hall and Event Center located at 26140 136th St. NW in Zimmerman. There will be an open house and brief presentation on the environmental review and draft decision document with time for questions from the community.
Public meeting
The MPCA will host a public meeting for community members starting at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Zimmerman-Livonia Fire Hall and Event Center to discuss the project in 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 Chris Green
504 Fairgrounds Rd., Suite 200
Marshall, MN 56258
The expansion of a 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 document that will be reviewed as part of the EIS.