Public Comment Sought on Proposed Transfer Station Expansion Plan

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a proposed capacity increase to process additional municipal solid waste, construction and demolition debris, and yard waste at a transfer facility operated by BFI Waste Systems in Blaine, Minn.

BFI Waste Systems proposes adding 56,000 tons of processing capacity per year at its facility that is currently permitted to accept 99,999 tons of waste, increasing the total capacity to 155,999 tons. No construction will be required for the increased capacity.

The EAW, a preliminary environmental review looking at how a proposed project could potentially affect the environment, is open to a 30-day public review and comment period.

Comments on the proposed transfer facility expansion should be submitted in writing by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2003, to Barbara Conti, MPCA, Regional Environmental Management Division, Operations and Environmental Review Section, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155-4194 or by fax to (651) 297-2343.

The MPCA will use these comments to evaluate the potential for significant environmental effects from the project and determine if an Environmental Impact Statement is needed.

Copies of the EAW are available for review at www.pca.state.mn.us/news/eaw/index.html