Coalition of Concerned Cottage Grove Citizens
It is the Coalitions understanding that in 1970 an agreement was made between 3M Company and the Village of Cottage Grove. 3M would be allowed to construct and operate a hazardous waste incinerator with the restriction that 3M would be limited to burning only waste from their manufacturing facilities. The current language in the Incinerator Air Permit “The 3M Corporate Incinerator provides treatment and storage for business related wastes generated by 3M’s operating divisions in North America” identifies the current restriction. The current language in the wastewater treatment NPDES Permit “The 3M hazardous waste incinerator is located at the 3M Cottage Grove Center where hazardous wastes from other 3M plants in the U.S. may be incinerated” also reflects the current restriction. Both permits contain language that is clearly consistent with the original agreement between the Village of Cottage Grove and 3M Company. Now 3M has stated since the language in the current CUP does not clearly state this restriction the city has no control and 3M refuses to open the CUP for discussion.
3M should honor the agreement and understanding that was made with the Cottage Grove community. If the permit modification request is granted, it would no longer be restricted to burning only 3M. A deal is a deal.
As a result of the 3M proposal, residents organized to form a group called the Coalition of Concerned Cottage Grove Citizens.
Our mission … rally the local residents to appeal to the common sense of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to deny the permit change and the community leaders of Cottage Grove and surrounding communities to take a simply stated position of opposition to the permit change.
This is not an anti-job, anti-business movement – this is about our health and the additional pollution that this permit expansion will put in our air if sanctioned by our local officials.
This is about protecting the air quality of Cottage Grove and surrounding communities – we welcome ‘clean’ business expansion.
As residents we felt our concerns were being marginalized by 3M and the MPCA, so we contracted with Decision Resources to do a community wide survey to make sure the residents had the chance to express their opinion on the proposal to 3M, MPCA, and elected officials. The survey results show that 2 out of 3 residents oppose the 3M proposal and even more significant almost 3 out of 4 Cottage Grove homeowners oppose the 3M proposal.
Cottage Grove residents have been willing to be the home of the only hazardous waste incinerator in the state because it was business related waste from 3M sites in North America. 3M would be employing people at these locations, hopefully in the United States, and 3M would be producing products that we would all be using. A win-win scenario. Bringing in liquid hazardous waste from a fuel blender that is so contaminated it can’t be reused or recycled to burn in our community to save some money is not being a good neighbor. A win-lose scenario.
Given the undisputed harm done by 3M to the environmental resources of the Cottage Grove area, regulatory decisions should be as stringent, as protective, as the law allows. For example, if there is more than one scenario under which an activity may be regulated, the more restrictive should be chosen. This has nothing to do with “punishing” 3M, but rather with carrying out the mission of the MPCA:
“The MPCA mission is to work with Minnesotans to protect, conserve and improve our environment and enhance our quality of life.”
Please visit the rest of the web site. We need your help.
