Friday, February 03, 2012

Northern Metal Resolution for Precinct Caucuses

The Hawthorne Neighborhood Council strongly opposes the application by Northern Metal Recycling to increase their permitted levels of pollution.  We are asking everyone to attend their precinct caucuses on Tuesday, February 7th.  Click here for the Secretary of State link to your area's and your party's precinct caucus.

One of the ways you can help the Hawthorne neighborhood and all who value the Mississippi River is to bring a resolution to your precinct caucus.  If enough resolutions make it through this process, then the issue becomes a part of the party's platform as a whole.  And if that happens, we can use that platform as a way to lobby our elected officials both here and statewide to support protecting our residents and our river.

Please bring the following resolution with you to your precinct caucus and submit it as part of your party's platform.

WHEREAS the Minneapolis lakes, rivers, waterways, and riverfronts are world class and are vitally important to Minneapolis’ economy, and;

WHEREAS the City’s lakes, rivers, waterways, and waterfront provide recreational pleasure and enjoyment to residents and visitors, and;

WHEREAS Northern Metals Recycling, Inc. is a business located at 2800 Pacific Street, near the Mississippi River, near Ole Olson Park, and adjacent to a proposed land bridge connecting north Minneapolis residents to the Mississippi, and;

WHEREAS Northern Metals Recycling is applying for a permit to increase particulate matter emissions by 1,000% and hazardous air pollutants by 300%, and;

WHEREAS Northern Metals has not complied with its existing permits; in December 2009 performance tests showed particulate matter emissions exceeded the permitted levels by 204% and mercury emissions exceeded permitted levels by 32%, and;

WHEREAS the proposed increased emission levels could double the risk of cancer in the immediate area, could increase the risk of cancer among urban gardeners by 50%, and increase acute inhalation of particulate matter by a factor of 5.5, and;

WHEREAS residents of Minneapolis believe that it is important to protect natural resources, built resources, and community amenities for all people along the Mississippi River corridor against pollutants and other environmental hazards,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the ___________________ Party support the full enforcement of all particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants at or below the currently permitted levels along the Mississippi River, and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the ___________________ Party support a full Environmental Impact Study and a full Environmental Assessment Worksheet for any entity applying to increase said emission levels along the Mississippi River.

3 comments:

Jeff Skrenes said...

Click here for a copy of the document if you want it in a different format.

Brian said...

- This resolution distorts the data and is misleading about the environmental affects of any changes in the permit. The changes that Northern Metals is requesting place the company well below state standards and are considerably lower than any other similar operation.
- Northern Metals is an excellent employer providing jobs not only for the workers at Northern Metals but hundreds of members of our association, Metal Casters of Minnsota. Our association strongly supports employers like NM because of their solid record of safety and concern for their employees.
- Northern Metals already operates the cleanest recycling facility, by far, in the state of Minnesota. We should support their efforts to not only improve their recycling efficiency but to encourage recycling as a critical component of environmental sustainability.

Mark Krings

President Metal Casters of Minnesota.

Jeff Skrenes said...

And the community stands by its position that their documented track record of exceeding permitted levels remains a justifiable concern in regards to the new permit application.