SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Yesterday, the House Capital Investment Committee heard House File 2547, authored by Rep. Jess Hanson (DFL - Burnsville). The bill would appropriate $165 million to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for the cleanup of the Burnsville Freeway Landfill and Dump.
“Our community deserves reliable access to clean drinking water,” said Rep. Hanson. “An unlined landfill and its contents mixing with our drinking water is a looming environmental crisis. Burnsville has hosted trash from Minnesotans across the state for decades, including before the implementation of modern environmental regulations. I believe it is time the state invests in our city so we can protect our neighbors, redevelop this site for the betterment of our city, and continue Minnesota’s centuries-old tradition of water protection.”
With the neighboring quarry mining operation completed within the next two decades, the mined area will fill, and the water table will rise. Potential pollutants within the Burnsville Freeway Landfill’s contents will then mix with the Minnesota River and the aquifer used to provide our community’s drinking water.
“Compared to modern landfill programs, there were few design and operational standards for older landfills when they were initially built and operated,” said Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz. “There are a number of environmental concerns associated with the landfill and dump that need to be addressed to ensure the protection of human health and the environment. Our city has worked hard to work with legislators on both sides of the aisle, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, impacted landowners, and our county to do what is best for our residents, the region, and our state.”
This was an informational hearing. Video of the floor session will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube Channel.
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