This proposed facility is about 25 miles north of Cresco, IA. Preston is a
town of about 1400 people.

League of Women Voters, MN  ACTION ALERT  1/13/05
Minnesota Pollution Control Authority (MPCA)
DENIES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR
LARGEST TIRE BURNING FACILITY IN THE UNITED STATES

The MPCA Citizen Board Must Hear from Minnesota Citizens

Action Needed:
. Attend the MPCA Citizen Board Meeting on January 25, 5:00 PM.
. Call Governor Pawlenty, MPCA Commissioner Sheryl Corrigan, members of the
MPCA Citizen Board and/or your legislators urging an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for Heartland Energy and Recycling, LLC. (An EIS requires a
thorough review of the environmental, health, economic and community impacts
of a facility.)

Background:
. Heartland Energy and Recycling, LLC is proposing to build a facility that
will incinerate an estimated 10 million tires per year in Preston, MN.
That's more than 192,300 per week, more than 38,350 every week day.
. Following the preparation of the simpler Environmental Assessment
Worksheet (EAW) and the decision by the MPCA not to require a more
definitive EIS, citizens took the matter to court.
. As a result of a court order, a supplemental EAW was prepared and
questions by the judge were answered by the MPCA.
. A citizen comment period on these actions yielded 495 comment letters and
a citizen's group petition for an EIS with 4,368 signatures. All but one of
the comments requested an EIS.
. The result: the MPCA staff is again recommending that an EIS be denied.

The final decision on an EIS will be made by the MPCA Citizens' Board at
their January 25 meeting which will be held at 5:00 p.m. in the lower Board
room in the MPCA offices at 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul.  Comments on
this decision will be taken by the Citizens' Board until 4:30 p.m., January
20.

Note that the Winona County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a
resolution requesting an EIS. Olmstead County will vote on a resolution on
January 18.

An EIS researches the potential impact of a facility on citizen health as
well as on the natural resources, the local economy, and the unique
characteristics of a community. The EAW that was prepared focused on air
quality impacts, with little attention paid to water resources,
transportation (how will 10 million tires be delivered to the facility?) and
the economic impact that the facility may have on the hospitality and
recreational businesses in this scenic region of Minnesota. The EIS process
will allow citizens to participate in the scoping document and to comment on
the completed EIS.

The interests of a single industrial entity should not supersede the
concerns of multiple communities and citizens.  Information gathered and
presented in an environmental impact statement will assure that economic,
community and environmental issues are thoroughly evaluated. An EIS will
dispel unwarranted fears as well as identify potential problems and propose
solutions.

LWVMN Position on Air Quality: Support measures to reduce air pollution from
vehicular and stationary sources.

LWVUS Position on Natural Resources:
Promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise
management of natural resources in the public interest by recognizing the
interrelationships of air quality, energy, land use, waste management and
water resources.

Resource Management
Promote resource conservation, stewardship and long-range planning with the
responsibility for managing natural resources shared by all levels of
government.

Environmental Protection and Pollution Control
Preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystem,
with the maximum protection of the public health and environment.

Public Participation
Promote public understanding and participation in decision making as
essential elements of responsible and responsive management of our natural
resources.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]