State seeks public comment on expansion to Crow Wing County's landfill

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is accepting comments on the draft of an informational document for the proposed expansion of Crow Wing County's municipal solid waste landfill through Thursday, July 31.

The proposed mixed municipal solid waste landfill would increase the capacity of the existing landfill northeast of Brainerd, which has been used for waste disposal since 1991. The county has requested that the state permit an additional 48.3 acres north and west of the landfill, which will extend its life by roughly 15 years.

The expansion will include composite liners, leachate collection systems, leak detection, environmental monitoring, stormwater management and landfill gas collection systems.

The document available for public comment, an environmental assessment worksheet, does not determine whether the expansion moves forward. It will inform those issuing the land use and environmental permits required for the project.

Commenters should consider the document's accuracy as well as potential impacts from the project that could warrant further investigation, the state agency stated in a news release. Commenters should also consider the need for an environmental impact statement.

The document reviewed potential impacts to the environment, including the air, local geology, soils, groundwater and surface water. The document includes information on the existing groundwater monitoring network and the underlying liner system as well as future plans for a new composite liner and landfill gas collection.

Construction will happen in phases as new landfill cells are needed within the county. The agency anticipates the next cell construction in 2027.

The public can review and comment on the draft online through the end of July 31.