Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board authorizes SEH contract for demolition landfill as commissioners warn of possible future MPCA requirements
Summary
Murray County authorized a consulting-services agreement with SEH for demolition-landfill services and discussed possible future Minnesota Pollution Control Agency rules that could require additional wells, thicker covers, liners, leachate collection and higher costs.
The Murray County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize a fiscal-year agreement with Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) to provide engineering and demolition-landfill consulting services.
John Lumenow (speaker 12) told the board that SEH designed the demolition landfill and assists the county with permitting and monitoring with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The contract motion was made and seconded and carried by voice vote.
Lumenow warned the board that MPCA rule changes under consideration could require increased monitoring and more extensive closure work over the next several years. He described a range of possible changes: requiring additional monitoring wells, increasing cover thickness from the historical 2-foot standard to as much as 4 feet within roughly four years, and potentially requiring a liner and leachate collection systems within seven years, plus financial assurance. He said those changes would significantly increase disposal and post-closure costs and suggested the county consider building a transfer facility at the recycling center as one option to manage future cost increases.
Commissioners discussed options but did not adopt further commitments beyond approving the SEH contract. The transcript records an exchange about long-term leachate hauling destinations (Sioux Falls was mentioned) and concerns about PFAS in landfill leachate driving future treatment costs.
