County agrees to MPCA consent for timber sale near closed landfill
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Summary
Koochiching County approved a consent agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to limit timber-sale activity adjacent to a closed landfill and authorized signatures so the county can put a larger timber-sale parcel out to bid while protecting the landfill cover.
At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Koochiching County Board authorized signatures on a consent agreement requested by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) that restricts timber-sale activities adjacent to a closed north-home landfill site.
County staff explained the MPCA agreement covers the 40-acre parcel that contains the closed landfill and requires precautions to avoid disturbing the landfill cover (for example forbidding felling timber onto the cover or using it for landing space). The timber-sale area to be offered for bid is larger than the MPCA-covered parcel, but the agreement limits activity on the landfill parcel itself. The county attorney reviewed the attachment, and the board voted unanimously to approve the consent agreement and necessary signatures.
Staff emphasized the consent agreement is intended to protect the landfill cap while allowing the county to sell timber on adjacent tax-forfeited lands. The board’s action authorizes staff to proceed with the consent form and to include standard protections in the timber-sale bid materials. No vote tally beyond the recorded unanimous approval was required for this procedural consent.
Next steps: staff will finalize the MPCA consent paperwork and prepare timber-sale bid materials that include MPCA-required safeguards for the closed landfill parcel.
