Rosemount Landfill Expansion Would Destroy 'Ecologically Significant' Wetland Area

A St. Paul-based solid waste disposal firm wants to add 15 acres to the footprint and of a landfill it operates in Rosemount—and plans to remove a 9.35-acre "ecologically significant" wetland area to complete the expansion.

SKB Environmental, owner of the Rosemount Industrial and C&D Waste Disposal Facility located at 13425 Courthouse Blvd., says the proposed expansion would expand the facility's waste capacity from approximately 15.5 million cubic yards to 25 million cubic yards. The proposed project would also allow the company to increase the maximum height of one portion of the landfill to 50 feet.

The Rosemount City Council is expected to vote Tuesday night whether to publish an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) on May 27, which would kick off a 30-day public review period for the project. An Environmental Assessment Worksheet is a routine, state-mandated review undertaken to identify any potentially negative environmental impact as the result of a proposed development.

As part of the comment review period, the city has asked SKB Environmental to hold a public meeting answer questions and address area residents' concerns. That meeting has not yet been scheduled.

The landfill operation, which currently covers 236 acres, is currently used to dispose of construction and demolition debris, ash from a solid waste incinerator in Hennepin County and non-hazardous industrial wastes. That purpose would not change if the expansion were approved, according to city documents issued last week.

The proposed expansion would be located directly south of the current operation, and may not be developed for another seven to 11 years, depending on how quickly currently active sections of the landfill are filled.

The proposed expansion area contains a 9.35-acre wetland, and is home to at least one threatened bird species—the loggerhead shrike—according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Minnesota Natural Heritage Information System. The wetland is considered an ecologically significant area, the DNR wrote in a letter submitted to the city.

Although the company's expansion plans include complete removal of the wetland, the city and company are working together on plans to lessen the impact of removal.

City officials will likely conduct a wetland mitigation study in the area to determine the best location for a new, man-made wetland area that may be constructed to replace the original habitat.

The company has also pledged to plant trees, grassland and shrubs, once the new landfill section reaches capacity and is "capped" with a topsoil cover. Three stormwater basins would also be constructed to catch water and contaminants draining from the expanded landfill.

The bottom of the proposed landfill expansion would be lined by alternating layers of polyethylene, clay and sand in order to prevent groundwater contimination, according to documents submitted to the city.

Although the public comment period will begin on May 27, the Rosemount Planning Commission isn't expected to take up the issue until late August. Once the commission makes a recommendation, the issue may proceed to the council for a vote.