St. Paul iron foundry to increase operations after judge strikes down state order
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A St. Paul iron foundry is scaling back up to normal operations after a court order overturned limits previously imposed by state regulators.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) ordered Northern Iron to reduce its operations in April. The agency alleged that the foundry was violating federal air quality standards by emitting excess amounts of particulate matter and lead, based on modeling that the foundry reported to the agency in February.
But last week, a Ramsey County judge partially struck down that order. Northern Iron can now increase its operations again.
The judge mandated that the foundry install additional pollution control equipment and continue monitoring its emissions as it returns to normal operations.
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Regulators said in a statement that they will continue monitoring pollution from the foundry as it ramps up operations.
“The MPCA respectfully disagrees with Ramsey County District Court’s order to temporarily lift parts of the administrative order, paving the way for Northern Iron to operate to the company’s fullest extent,” the MPCA said in a statement.
Northern Iron’s managers said the MPCA’s order forced the facility to temporarily lay off several workers and cut hours.
“Northern Iron is prudently returning toward normal operations in a very measured fashion that protects the community,” the foundry said in a statement. “We are grateful that the judge looked closely at this case and issued a decision that will allow us to bring our employees back.”
The judge also ordered the foundry to submit an application for a new permit to the MPCA by Sept. 13. That new application must include modeling showing that the foundry will not exceed air quality standards.
State legislators representing St. Paul’s Payne-Phalen neighborhood said they’re worried about the foundry continuing to operate. Reps. Liz Lee and Jay Xiong, and Senator Foung Hawj — along with Rep. Rick Hansen of South St. Paul, chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee — wrote a joint statement criticizing the move.
“The court’s unprecedented decision deeply disappoints us. We are concerned about its potential impact on air quality in the East Side of Saint Paul and surrounding communities,” the legislators wrote. “This concern is particularly heightened due to the potential impact on the health of BIPOC and vulnerable communities.”
The MPCA names Payne-Phalen as “an area of concern for environmental justice,” determined based on income and racial demographics.
Northern Iron is one of two iron foundries in the Twin Cities under scrutiny for pollution. In Minneapolis, Smith Foundry was recently ordered by federal regulators to shut down part of its operations within a year. The order came after a year-long investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency and the MPCA into alleged air quality law violations.
The MPCA and Northern Iron have another court date scheduled for Aug. 22 to consider the MPCA’s request to reinstate the restrictions on the foundry’s operations.