3M's Cottage Grove neighbors dig in for fight over incinerator emissions

3M wants permission to burn industrial waste from other companies, as well as its own, at its Cottage Grove incinerator. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says even with the additional waste 3M will be burning far less than its permit allows. But a group of neighbors is gearing up for a fight at this month's MPCA meeting, saying "pollution for profit" should not be approved.

Author:
BMTN Staff
Updated:
Mar 8, 2018
Original:
May 13, 2012

3M wants permission to burn industrial waste from other companies, as well as its own, at its Cottage Grove incinerator. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says even with the additional waste 3M will be burning far less than its permit allows. But a group of neighbors is gearing up for a fight at this month's MPCA meeting, saying "pollution for profit" should not be approved.

Ethan Glynn

Ethan Glynn is at a world-renowned rehabilitation hospital.

The incident remains under investigation.

Press Bar fire

A February 2020 fire at the Press Bar and Parlor was later determined to be an insurance job.

Enhanced safety measures will be in place this weekend.

Screen Shot 2022-09-30 at 2.23.15 PM

Eight members of the Minnesota All Hazards Incident Management Team will travel to Florida.

Screen Shot 2022-09-30 at 1.07.36 PM

Bremer Bank is exiting the small city in December.

drought

Less than a quarter inch of rain fell in September.

Puttin' the "go" in doggo.

unnamed

Mercado Central does not endorse candidates.

Jay James Olson

The 21-year-old would sell unserialized guns, silencers, auto-sears, and high-capacity magazines.

Pixabay - gray squirrel

There's no telling when or where the squirrels will strike next.

Screen Shot 2022-09-30 at 8.11.55 AM

The case is believed to represent the largest fentanyl bust in the Midwest.

After more than three-years, a state pollution control board voted unanimously to grant 3M a controversial permit to start burning hazardous waste from other companies at its incinerator. Some residents oppose the plan to import waste because of concerns it will endanger public health. Both 3M and the MPCA dispute those claims.

3M already operates a hazardous waste incinerator in Cottage Grove. But the company generates too little waste to make its operation viable. Its proposal to bring in hazardous waste from elsewhere to be burned in Cottage Grove has some residents worried. They want the state to study the impact of such a move.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency threw out a petition from residents concerned about the health impact of toxic chemicals. 3M wants to import and burn hazardous waste from other companies at its incinerator in Cottage Grove. The board will discuss the new permit to allow non-3M waste next month.

Fans of the Cottage View won't be happy, but the drive-in's owner says the finances just don't add up. Fox 9 reports the theater will close to make way for a Wal-Mart.

The company has agreed to clean up groundwater that is now polluted with industrial toxins. But, as the Star Tribune reports, one much harder problem remains: how to remove PFCs from wastewater before the company's manufacturing plant in Cottage Grove sends it into the Mississippi.

The final approval on proposed Walmart store in Cottage Grove has been put on hold. Walmart requested that city commission members delay making the recommendation so the store could address some unanswered questions. The proposed 78,000-square-foot store will be built on 22 acres of land occupied by the Cottage View Drive-In, one of the metro area's two remaining drive-in movie theaters.

The Twin Cities were once home to 28 drive-in theaters. But that number will be down to one after Thursday. Parents who want their kids to experience a drive-in are heading to the final week of the Cottage View Drive-In in Cottage Grove.

DONTCHA KNOW?

You Can Get BMTN Special Offers!

Get Our Newsletter

CLOSE

CLOSE

CLOSE

CLOSE