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CASE # <br /> <br />STATUS OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR ASPHALT MIX PLANT; <br />CASE OF COMMERCIAL ASPHALT <br /> By: Community Development Director Sylvia FrOlik <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />At Citizen Input at City Council meetings on October 22 and November 12, 2002, City' Council <br />received a complaint on each date from a resident regarding bad odors emanating from the <br />Commercial Asphalt plant located at 14100 Basalt St. N.W. Staff was directed to research the <br />history of the conditional use permit and related complaints. The November 26, 2002; CoUncil <br />agenda included an extensive case regarding the history of the plant and its status with respect to <br />current environmental regulations. (A copy.of that case and all enclosures was provided to the <br />current City Council with the February 28, 2003 Weekly UPdate packet.)- On November 26, <br />2002, City Council tabled the matter for 60 days and directed Staff to gather additional <br />information for Council to use in making a .determination regarding how to proceed in the <br />Commercial Asphalt case. <br /> <br />Observations: <br /> <br />Commercial Asphalt plant operations shut down. for the season last November. NeedleSs to say, <br />no new complaints have been received at the City since last November: <br /> <br />As reported last November, most asphalt plants need air emission Permits because they emit. <br />pollutants that are' regulated by the State. Commercial Asphalt has a Registration Permit from <br />MPCA because their emissions are fairly low. The Registration Permit is non-expiring and <br />annual versus monthly reporting is required in Commercial Asphalt's case. Because odors are so <br />subjective, MPCA repealed their odor rules in 1996 and no-longer respond to odor complaints. <br /> <br />Commercial Asphalt has a parts washer on site and the solvents used are regulated by Anoka <br />County through the Hazardous Waste Generator License. Commercial Asphalt is a small <br />quantity generator and is only inspected every 3 years. There have been` no' violations. <br /> <br />Last November, Mike Caron of Commercial Asphalt made a 'commitment last November to <br />explore ways to resolve the odor issues. Staff has been in touch, with Mr. Caron. Commercial <br />Asphalt has offered up a couple of options. First, the plant was designed in a waY that they can <br />raise the stack height another 30-40 feet. Raising the stack height provides more time and area <br />for odors to dissipate before reaching ground level. ~ : <br /> <br />There is an additive that is.introduced, into the asphalt cement as it is Ioaded into the trucks (at. <br />another site). All trucks delivering product to the Ramsey commercial Asphalt site have been <br />instructed that their loads must contain the odor additive. SOme of the independent truckers have <br />failed to comply with this requirement in the past. This spring the plant manager Will erect a <br />sign at the unloading area establishing that all deliveries must contain the additive and there will <br />be regular monitoring for compliance. In addition, the additive supplier has suggested that the <br />ratio of additive to asphalt cement should be 1 gallon per truCkload, especially for modified <br />asphalt cements which are more odorous. On average, only. 1.5 quarts per truckload Was being <br />added to the asphalt cements. <br /> <br />-199- <br /> <br /> <br />