Agenda - Council - 01/12/1982 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I SUMMARY OF CRITERIA FOR REVIEWING PROPOSED SOLID WASTE LANDFILL SITES All seven counties in the Metropolitan Area have identified possible landfill sites. The sites have been given a preliminary review by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). What is the next step? The Waste Management Act requires that each site "satisfy the standards and criteria.., in the Metropolitan Council's policy plan for solid waste management." After your county submits its inventory of sites, the Council begins to evaluate each site. If the MPCA has already reviewed the sites, why does the Council also review them? MPCA's review was basically a preliminary screening to identify sites with major environ- mental problems. In addition to environmental factors, the Council's review will deal with issues such as land use compatibility, transportation and other factors. How will the Council determine whether a site is acceptable? The Council's policy plan for solid waste has specific criteria for the review of landfill sites. The criteria identify desirable as well as unacceptable features. Factors the Council will consider include: - Topography; - Soil composition, erodibility, texture, agricultural value, permeability (rate of drainage) and thickness; -- Depth to bedrock, outcrop formations; - Nearness to surface water, floodplains or wetlands; - Groundwater; -- Drainage; - Land use, including agricultural, parks, forest, residential areas, mining (sand or gravel), and commercial, industrial or institutional areas; I I I I - Road access and capacity; - Historical or archeological resources; - Environmentally unique lands; - Availability of necessary utilities and emergency services; - Availability of the site; and - Wind directions.