Minutes - Council - 07/14/1988 - Public Hearing

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incinerators 'dispose of solid waste in a technically, enviornmentally and economically sound manner. We have evaluated emissions from these plants and have seen no data that indicate unacceptable levels of risk from the emissions of a well operated facility. The United States has about 100 garbage-to-energy plants, Connell said. Europe has used similar plants for 40 years and has 256; Japan has 361, according to the National Solid Waste Management Association." One of the things that has been discussed with Atlas is the possible use of methane gas from the landfill as fuel to power their incinerators, a case of Atlas again offering a solution to a problem. Atlas' emissions would be continually monitored and if they are above acceptable standards, Atlas will be ordered to stop operations; that does not happen at the landfill. Atlas is not a wolf in sheep's clothing; their main interest is manufacturing and to do that they need to contract burn for research and development purposes. Atlas will not be generating an additional 38 tons per day into Ramsey's waste stream; just like any other manufacturer, the material is processed and shipped out. Mr. Hartley informed Mr. Ippel that his 5 minutes have more than expired. Mr. Don Greenberg - 2641 South Lake George Drive - Cedar - I am Chairman of the Ramsey Economic Development Commission; I have been involved with Atlas since they expressed a desire to locate in Ramsey; and I believe they will be a stroh§ asset to Ramsey's business community. In a very short time, Atlas will have 100+ employees. The economic analysis office of the Minnesota Department of Economic Development says that 100 manufacturing employees also results in employment of 100 additional people; 50 in indirect support businesses, 40 within the local community performing services such as restaurants and gas stations and 10 in tax base jobs. Secondly, Atlas would be contributing $4,000,000 in property taxes their first year in Ramsey. I was formerly the owner of the AMC 0eep dealership on Hwy. #10; the dealership did $7,000,000 in sales; $1,500,000 was local business; $5,500,000 went to Michigan and Ohio; Ramsey money was being used to buy cars in Michigan and Ohio; Atlas could be to Ramsey what Oldsmobile was to Lan~ing. The contract burn operation proposed is small compared to the RDF in Elk River; it is clean burning and efficient; the maximum amount to be incinerated is 38 tons per day which amounts to a pick-up load per hour. I am convinced that the emissions in the air will not be a hazard to Ramsey residents and that MPCA can permit and control the facility. People fear inc~Pneration because it is new. My father had one of the first cars in this area; it was fueled by gasoline; gasoline is flammable and creates carbon monoxide; many people would not ride in my father's car; he promoted gas powered farm tractors; many people would not buy them because of the dangerous fuel emitting dangerous monoxide. Today we send our wives to fuel our cars with this dangerous gasoline, strap our ct~ildren in just 6 inches away from the fuel tank, drive on a 6 lane highway and breathe carbon monoxide at concentrations much higher than would be emitted from Atlas' stacks. Atlas shows to be a leader in the field of incineration° The Ramsey Economic Development Commission recommended approval of the conditional use permit and would like to have Atlas in Ramsey. Bernie Vevea -3130 7th Avenue North - Anoka - I was born and raised in Anoka and purchased property at 14047 Azurite Street in Ramsey on which to locate my manufacturing business. My business is located 1/2 block south City Council Public Hearing/July 14, 1988 Page 5 of 15