Bituminous Roadways Inc.’s (BRI) proposal to build a new asphalt plant in Roseville has raised concerns among some area residents.
The facility being proposed for 2280 Walnut St., near Highways 280 and 36, could store more than 1 million gallons of hazardous materials, specifically asphalt cement. The location is close to biking and walking trails and residential neighborhoods in Lauderdale, St. Anthony Village and the Southeast Como neighborhood of Minneapolis. It’s not far from St. Anthony Park and Falcon Heights.
After reviewing an environmental assessment and air-emission risk analysis of the proposed project, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Minnesota Department of Health concluded the potential health risk for BRI’s asphalt facility are in compliance with and below established state and federal facility health-risk guidelines.
At a public information meeting last month held by the MPCA, Roseville residents expressed concerns about the safety and environmental risks. There are also questions about the safety of odors, dust from the crushing process, airborne contaminants and the potential for spills and fires, noise and truck traffic.
Before it can move ahead on its project, BRI must receive an air-emission facility permit from the MPCA and a conditional use permit for outdoor storage from the city of Roseville.
The MPCA has now extended its comment periods on both the project’s air emissions permit and its Environmental Assessment Worksheet to Sept. 10. Comments need to be in writing and sent by letter, email or fax by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 10. To comment about the air emissions permit, contact Tarik Hanafy at the MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155-4194, tarik.hanafy@state.mn.us This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or fax, 651-297-2343.
To comment on the environmental assessment worksheet, Contact Kevin Kain at the MPCA address listed above, kevin.kain@state.mn.us , 651-757-2404, and you can use the same fax number listed above.
The issue was brought before St. Anthony Park Community Council’s Environment Committee at an Aug. 25 meeting, which was right when the Bugle was going to press.
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