Minnesota creates trash, North Minneapolis pays with poor air quality

The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center in Minneapolis burns 1000 tons of garbage per day.  It releases ash, particles and chemicals into our air at a rate of thousands of tons per year.  Hennepin County, the owner and operater of the trash burner, is requesting permission to increase burning to full capacity - an additional 212 tons per day.  The additional garbage to be burned would come from outside Minneapolis, but the environmental burden is shouldered primarily by children within the city of Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, Northern Metals wants to pollute more

Similarly, there is a corporation, one of many in North Minneapolis, that uses the land and water resources to do business:  Northern Metals.  This scrap metal dealer has done good business over the years, so good, that it is also requesting an amendment to its current permit to release more toxic chemicals into our air. We, as the primary recipients of these environmental burdens must be clear and vocal about our knowledge and our perspective on the impacts that these toxins are having on our communities, and we must formulate and act on our desire and intentions for the future.  August 2012 update:  Written comments will be received until Sept. 10.

We must act to protect our health!

Corporations are mandated by their boards of directors to do whatever is necessary to make the company profitable both in the short and long term.  We must understand and teach that long term profitability can only come by protecting the health and safety of all of our children, regardless of their zipcode.  

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is legislatively mandated to protect us from harm caused by pollution, and it is up to us to ensure that they are doing their best work in protecting our interests, as living human beings, over the statutory corporations who now assume the rights of a person.

Resources on HERC

Hennepin Energy Resource Company Air Emission Permit

Overview of HERC Corridor

Resources on Northern Metals

EJAM Comment on Draft Air Emission Permit for Northern Metals

Northern Metals Application (Environmental Assessment Worksheet) for Air Pollution Permit Amendment

Minnesota Public Radio: Potential new pollution permit causes concern

Recent Violations of Air Quality Rules

MPCA decision halted by courts 3/26/12 http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=17560

MPCA notice of public comment period 7/28/12 http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&task=download&id=668

Resources on Cumulative Health Effects of Environmental and Social Factors 

Maps showing multiple risk factors

Minnesota State Laws on Environmental Protection Process