5.4A. SR 12-13-2004
Item,' 5.4A.
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Mayor and City Council
FROM:
Stephen Rohlf, Building and Zoning Administrator
"5?-..
December 13, 2004
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Elk River Landfill Expansion
Issue
The Elk River Landfill is proposing to expand their Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) facility to
the south of their current location for this material, There is a map attached to this memo
showing the location of the current MSW facility and the proposed expansion.
Review Process
City staff will attempt to coordinate their review of this issue with Sherburne County and
MPCA, the other two governmental entities the Landfill is required to get approvals from
for the expansion. The following is an approximate timeline for the review process for the
Landfill's proposed expansion:
Scoping Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EA W)
The Elk River Landfill has completed an EA W. It is considered a Scoping EA W
because an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is mandatory. The EA W sets the
scope for what will be reviewed in the EIS. The Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency (MPCA) is the Regulating Governmental Unit (RGU) charged with the
EA W process.
Notice of the availability of the EA W has been published in the Environmental
Quality Board Monitor, the December 8 Elk River Star News, etc. There will be a
public meeting held at Elk River City Hall on this issue on December 9, 2004.
MPCA's Citizens Board will consider the EA Won January 25, 2005.
Environmental Impact Statement
Once the MPCA Citizen Board approves the EA W, they will hire a consultant to
prepare the EIS required for the project. Work on the actual EIS is tentatively
proposed to begin in May of 2005. A Draft EIS should be available in September of
2005 and the Final EIS completed in January of 2006.
Ci~ Approval Process
Staff anticipates the Landfill making application for the expansion late in 2005 or
early 2006. The city can't take fInal action on the Landfill's request to expand until
the environmental review process is completed. The following is an outline of the
city's review process:
Zone Change - The area they propose to expand into is required to be
rezoned to Solid Waste Facility Overlay District (SWF). With an overlay
district the underlying zoning remains in place, in this case it is Agricultural,
but an interim use may take place. The city should review the proposed end
use of the property closely. The Landfill has been working with the Elk
River Park and Recreation Commission regarding this issue.
Conditional Use Pennit - The proposed expansion requires a city
conditional use permit. Some of the major issues to consider include: how
the expansion affects the future interchange proposed at Highway 169 and
221"' Avenue, screening along 221" and Highway 169, odor, litter,
remediation of any existing contamination, maximum height, leachate
recirculation, etc.
Solid Waste Facili~ License - The fInal approval required by the city is for
a Solid Waste Facility License. Whereas the conditional use permit runs with
the land, the license is to the operator and holds them responsible for
the operation. The license is also easier, legally, to alter if circumstances
dictate.
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