ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET

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2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET Note to reviewers: The Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) provides information about a project that may have the potential for significant environmental effects. This EAW was prepared by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), acting as the Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU), to determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be prepared. The project proposer supplied reasonably accessible data for, but did not complete the final worksheet. Comments on the EAW must be submitted to the MPCA during the 30-day comment period, which begins with notice of the availability of the EAW in the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) Monitor. Comments on the EAW should address the accuracy and completeness of information, potential impacts that are reasonably expected to occur that warrant further investigation, and the need for an EIS. A copy of the EAW may be obtained from the MPCA by calling (651) An electronic version of the completed EAW is available at the MPCA Web site 1. Project Title: Fergus Falls Transfer Station 2. Proposer: Otter Tail County Solid Waste 3. RGU: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Contact Person Michael C. Hanan Contact Person Debra Moynihan and Title Director and Title Project Manager Address 1115 North Tower Road Address 520 Lafayette Road North Fergus Falls, Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota Phone (218) Phone (651) Fax (218) Fax (651) Reason for EAW Preparation: EIS Scoping Mandatory EAW Citizen Petition RGU Discretion Proposer Volunteered X If EAW or EIS is mandatory give EQB rule category subpart number and name: 5. Project Location: County Otter Tail Twp Fergus Falls NE 1/4 SW 1/4 Section 31 Township 133N Range 43W p-ear1-04 TDD (for hearing and speech impaired only): (651) Printed on recycled paper containing 30% fibers from paper recycled by consumers

3 Figures and Attachments to the EAW: Figure 1: Location of proposed Fergus Falls Transfer Station; Figure 2: Aerial View of Site; Figure 3: Site Layout; Figure 4: Traffic Plan; Figure 5: Stormwater Plan; and Figure 6: Future Zoning Map, Fergus Falls Airport Vicinity. Attachment 1: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Natural Heritage and Nongame Program response letter; Attachment 2: Minnesota Historical Society State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) letter and Foth & Van Dyke letter regarding the results of a Phase I Archeological Survey; and Attachment 3: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) compatibility determination and air space navigation review. 6. Description: a. Provide a project summary of 50 words or less to be published in the EQB Monitor. Otter Tail County (County) is proposing to construct a solid waste transfer station (Project) on an approximately 32-acre parcel. The parcel is located adjacent to the west side of the city limits of Fergus Falls, south of Highway 210. The size of the actual transfer station area is approximately 6.5 acres. The proposed Fergus Falls Transfer Station (Facility) will consist of an 11,200-square-foot transfer building, a scale house, a residential drop-off area, and associated traffic areas and utilities. The Facility will be capable of processing a maximum of 50,000 tons per year of mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) and is anticipated to accept approximately 100 tons per day. The Facility will also accept recyclables, including white goods, tires, electronic waste, and scrap metal from residential customers. b. Give a complete description of the proposed project and related new construction. Attach additional sheets as necessary. Emphasize construction, operation methods and features that will cause physical manipulation of the environment or will produce wastes. Include modifications to existing equipment or industrial processes and significant demolition, removal or remodeling of existing structures. Indicate the timing and duration of construction activities. Proposed Facility The proposed Facility will provide MSW transfer services for residents of the city of Fergus Falls (City), as well as the residents of the western portion of the County. The proposed Facility will be located north and east of the Fergus Falls airport. The Facility will consist of a main transfer building, which will include an enclosed tipping floor, enclosed truck load out area, and an enclosed truck tarping area. MSW and various recyclable materials will be temporarily stored at the Facility, within the building or in enclosed containers. The materials will then be transported to a process market or disposal facility. MSW The Facility will have adequate capacity (300 tons per day) to provide approximately three days of MSW storage; however, quantities are expected to be at 100 tons per day. Storage of the MSW will occur first in transfer trailers and second on the Facility tipping floor. All putrescible waste will be removed at least once a week in accordance with Minnesota solid waste rules. MSW will be placed in transfer trailers for shipping to a permitted disposal facility or incineration unit. Most of the time, the MSW will be transferred out the same day it arrived or within a 24-hour period. Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 2 Worksheet

4 Recyclables Recyclables will be separated at the Facility, as appropriate. Separated components will be placed in rolloff boxes for temporary storage before delivery to markets or an approved disposal facility. To minimize on site storage, these rolloff containers will typically be shipped as they are filled. At the close of each day s operation, the containers will be secured to limit potential litter or contamination. The Facility will accept white goods, tires, electronic waste and scrap metal. Recyclables will be stored in rolloff containers and transferred to an appropriate recycling facility for further processing. Bulky wastes, such as furniture and mattresses, will be placed in a transfer trailer and disposed at the landfill in Gwinner, North Dakota. Tires One rolloff box will be designated for tire recycling. No more than 1,000 tires are anticipated to be stored at the Facility at any one time. As a rolloff box becomes full, the tires will be transported to a permitted tire processing facility, such as Monitor Tire Disposal or Greenman Recycling. Proposed Building/Site Design Information The total Facility (fenced area) is estimated to use approximately 6.5 acres of an existing 32-acre parcel. The existing land use is agricultural, so construction will not disturb any previously undisturbed land. The property north of the operating site will be planted to include a combination of trees, shrubs, and native grasses. Construction and permanent stormwater sedimentation controls will be included as a part of the Project. Construction is anticipated to begin no sooner than spring 2007 and will take approximately 100 calendar days. The transfer building will have a floor area of 11,200 square feet (140 feet by 80 feet) and is proposed to be constructed of precast concrete and metal wall panels with an approximate height of 36.5 feet and a sealed concrete base floor. The single pitched roof will be constructed of steel and sloped to the back of the building to support drainage and reduce interference with Facility operations. The building will be accessible through five passage doors located on the northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest sides of the building and four manual/electric operated overhead doors located on the southwest side of the building. Two manual/electric loadout doors will be located on the lower level of the building. The Facility will be equipped with outdoor lighting near key entrances and exits. Ventilation in the transfer building will be achieved through a combination of natural and mechanical means. The transfer building will typically operate with overhead doors opening and closing as needed for traffic. Additional mechanical ventilation will be provided by a series of fans, vents, and filters placed at upper and lower levels. The concrete floor of the transfer building will be equipped with floor drains and floor traps. All leachate will be collected via double walled leachate collection lines and stored in a double walled 10,000-gallon leachate storage tank. The transfer building will be equipped with an automatic fire suppression system. The system will be activated upon detection of a fire or may be manually activated by site personnel. There will be a separate scale house/office that will include a break room and bathroom facilities. The scale house will be heated with a natural gas fired furnace. The scale house will also be equipped with air conditioning. Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 3 Worksheet

5 A fueling station will be located on site. The station will consist of a 1,000-gallon, above-ground storage tank. The tank will be placed in appropriate containment and locked when not in use. An electric pump will transfer fuel from the tank to the vehicles. The Site Layout can be found in Figure 3. Facility Operations The Facility will be open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Facility is expected to receive around 100 tons of waste per day, including an average of commercial trucks per day. Commercial trucks will be received primarily Monday through Friday and Saturdays will be primarily residential traffic. A permanent sign will be located near the Facility entrance displaying the days and hours of operation, the MPCA permit number, site owner and operator, emergency contact information, and acceptable waste types. All traffic will enter and exit the site from the airport access road. A six-foot high chain link fence with a double-swing entrance gate will be constructed along the entrance of the property. A five-foot high woven wire fence will surround the remaining perimeter of the Facility. The gates will be open during business hours and will be closed and locked during non-business hours. Either a gate attendant or a certified operator will be on duty during all operating hours. The attendant will be responsible for monitoring and approving each load of material as it enters the Facility. The operator will be responsible for inspecting the loads for prohibited material as it is tipped on the tipping floors. Commercial vehicles and transfer vehicles will be weighed on the scale or bypassed as directed by the gate attendant. Commercial vehicles, after weighing, will be directed to the transfer building for processing. Transfer vehicles will be directed to the lower level of the transfer building or to the transfer trailer storage area. All vehicles will exit the Facility using the common exit. A traffic plan for the Facility is shown on Figure 4. Residential vehicles will be directed to the residential lane and inspected by the scale house attendant upon arrival. Residential traffic will be directed to the proper disposal area by the scale house attendant. For safety reasons, the residential drop-off area is intended to keep citizen traffic separated from the commercial truck traffic. Four rolloff boxes located outside the building will be designated for primary residential drop-off. An area in the building will be designated for residents to drop off larger loads of waste. A separate corner of the building will be designated specifically for unanticipated household hazardous waste. The Facility will provide a stationary compactor in the residential drop-off area. Residential customers will place MSW into the hopper of the stationary compactor and the Facility operator will operate the compactor as needed. Residential drop-off area containers will be covered at the end of each working day by the Facility operator. Major equipment to be used at the Facility will include a front loader/backhoe, a rolloff truck, and a transfer trailer transport vehicle. The front loader/backhoe will be used to load waste that has been tipped on the floor of the transfer building into the transfer trailers. The front loader/backhoe will also be used for general site maintenance, including snow removal. The rolloff truck will function as a transport vehicle in support of the residential drop-off area. The Facility operator will use the rolloff truck to move, transport, and place the various rolloff boxes throughout the site. The on-site transport vehicle will function to move transfer trailers to and from the transfer trailer staging area and in and out of the transfer building. Transfer trailers will enter the transfer building through the lower doors and exit the building after tarping. Any waste stored outside will be tarped or otherwise covered. Residential drop-off area containers will be covered at the end of each working day by the Facility operator. Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 4 Worksheet

6 The floors in the transfer building will be cleaned as needed, or at least every seven days, in accordance with the Solid Waste Rules. The transfer building will be equipped with floor drains that are routed to a storage tank to capture any liquids from the tipping floor. The Facility operator will periodically check the volume of liquid in the storage tank. A contract hauler will be contacted to remove the liquids in the tank for disposal at the Fergus Falls Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF). A preliminary permit application has been submitted to the MPCA (a copy of the complete Project manual is available). The Project proposer is also required to obtain approvals from Fergus Falls Township (Special Use Permit), the County (Individual Sewage Treatment System), and a compatibility determination from the FAA. c. Explain the project purpose; if the project will be carried out by a governmental unit, explain the need for the project and identify its beneficiaries. The Facility is being proposed due to the closure of the existing resource recovery incinerator at the Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center (State Hospital). In 1986, the City constructed the incinerator at the State Hospital to supply heating and cooling services to that facility. Over the past several years, the state of Minnesota has been in the process of downsizing and outsourcing services previously provided at the State Hospital. Beginning in 2006, all services previously provided at that facility are being provided off site. The State Hospital will no longer be requiring steam for heating. As a result of this loss of customer, the incineration facility closed on February 28, This closure requires additional waste handling facilities for the citizens of the City and the surrounding County residents. Alternatives for waste disposal are in excess of 50 miles away for both the County and the City. The County and the City decided it would be necessary to construct and operate a transfer station to combine and transport the waste that was previously disposed of at the incinerator. Primary disposal options will include the resource recovery incinerator facility in Perham, Minnesota, or the landfill in Gwinner, North Dakota. This Project will benefit nearly 30,000 residents that reside in the City and in western Otter Tail County, as well as the businesses and industry in this same part of the County. This represents over one half of all of the residents and businesses in the County. If the Facility is not constructed, commercial and residential waste haulers providing services in this area would need to transport wastes to a disposal facility 50 to 100 miles away. In addition, residents who choose to self haul would have to use facilities located elsewhere in the County, which would be between 25 to 50 miles away. d. Are future stages of this development including development on any outlots planned or likely to happen? Yes No If yes, briefly describe future stages, relationship to present project, timeline and plans for environmental review. e. Is this project a subsequent stage of an earlier project? Yes No If yes, briefly describe the past development, timeline and any past environmental review. Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 5 Worksheet

7 7. Project Magnitude Data Total Project Area (acres) 32 owned (6.5 fenced area) or Length (miles) Number of Residential Units: Unattached Attached maximum units per building Commercial/Industrial/Institutional Building Area (gross floor space): total square feet 11,800 Indicate area of specific uses (in square feet): Office 600 Manufacturing Retail Other Industrial Warehouse Institutional Light Industrial Agricultural Other Commercial (specify) transfer station 11,200 square feet Building height 36.5 feet If over 2 stories, compare to heights of nearby buildings no nearby bldgs. 8. Permits and approvals required. List all known local, state and federal permits, approvals and financial assistance for the project. Include modifications of any existing permits, governmental review of plans, and all direct and indirect forms of public financial assistance including bond guarantees, Tax Increment Financing and infrastructure. Unit of Government Type of Application Status Fergus Falls Township Special Use Permit Submitted MPCA Solid Waste Management Submitted Facility Permit MPCA National Pollutant Discharge To be submitted Elimination System General Stormwater Permit for Construction Activity (NPDES Stormwater Permit) Otter Tail County Septic Permit To be submitted FAA Compatibility Analysis Completed 9. Land use. Describe current and recent past land use and development on the site and on adjacent lands. Discuss project compatibility with adjacent and nearby land uses. Indicate whether any potential conflicts involve environmental matters. Identify any potential environmental hazards due to past site uses, such as soil contamination or abandoned storage tanks, or proximity to nearby hazardous liquid or gas pipelines. The proposed Facility site is situated on an approximately 32-acre parcel of property in section 31 of Fergus Falls Township. See Figure 2 for an aerial view of the site. The area east of the site is mostly covered with trees and some pasture areas currently covered with upland grasses. The proposed Facility site is farm land that was farmed in row crops and small grains as recently as This property is bordered on the north by the Otter Tail Valley Railroad and Minnesota Highway 210. Across the highway to the north and west is residential/agricultural land located in Fergus Falls Township. Across the highway to the north and east is land in the city limits of Fergus Falls. This land is designated by the City for Industrial Use. The property is bordered on the south and southwest by the Fergus Falls Municipal Airport and on the west by land belonging to the City and designated for Industrial Use. East of the proposed site is the original family farm site that is bordered on the east by the Pelican River and a residential development. There are current plans to further develop the residential areas near the Pelican Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 6 Worksheet

8 and Otter Tail rivers. An area designated for Industrial and Commercial development borders the north side of the residential development. Figure 6 is a map showing future zoning plans for the area near the airport as provided by the City. Since the proposed Facility would be located on property adjacent to the Fergus Falls Municipal Airport, the FAA was contacted to address the suitability of siting the Facility at the proposed location. Attachment 3 provides a copy of the documents received from the FAA regarding the Project site. The FAA has no objection to the proposed Facility from a land use compatibility standpoint, provided that a number of conditions be met. The conditions proposed by the FAA are listed in the FAA letter provided in Appendix 3. These conditions may affect the current design of the proposed Facility and will be further addressed as part of the Solid Waste Management Facility Permit issued by the MPCA. The FAA also conducted an aeronautical study on the proposed transfer building. The aeronautical study found that the structure does not exceed obstruction standards and would not be a hazard to air navigation. The FAA s evaluation includes temporary construction equipment such as cranes, which may be used during actual construction of the Facility. 10. Cover Types. Estimate the acreage of the site with each of the following cover types before and after development: Before After Before After Types 1-8 wetlands 0 acres Lawn/landscaping 0 acres 1 acre Wooded/forest 0 acres Impervious Surfaces 0 acres 2 acres Brush/grassland 0 acres 26.5 acres Other (describe) 0 acres 2.5 acres Cropland (*ditches, access area, 32 acres 0 acres etc.) TOTAL 32 acres 32 acres * Other areas include stormwater ditches and stormwater control features and unpaved roads that are not considered impervious. 11. Fish, Wildlife, and Ecologically Sensitive Resources. a. Identify fish and wildlife resources and habitats on or near the site and describe how they would be affected by the project. Describe any measures to be taken to minimize or avoid impacts. Since construction of the proposed Facility will take place on land that has already been disturbed by annual farming operations (row cropping), the Facility is not expected to cause significant impacts to wildlife in the area. The Pelican River is located 780 feet east of the Facility operations. There is a culvert under the residential driveway to the east that connects to the Pelican River and is approximately 570 feet away from the proposed Facility. The property was previously farmed and it is likely that this culvert received all or part of the runoff from this farm field. As a part of construction of the Facility, the County will be required to install both construction stormwater runoff controls and permanent stormwater controls. With the use of stormwater controls, the runoff reaching this culvert would contain less sediment and other contaminants from the site than what is now occurring with the existing conditions. In addition, the entire area to the north of the Facility operations area and along the property boundaries will be landscaped and planted to include native grasses and some trees and shrubs along the property boundaries. Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 7 Worksheet

9 b. Are any state (endangered or threatened) species, rare plant communities or other sensitive ecological resources such as native prairie habitat, colonial water bird nesting colonies or regionally rare plant communities on or near the site? Yes No If yes, describe the resource and how it would be affected by the project. Indicate if a site survey of the resources has been conducted and describe the results. If the DNR Natural Heritage and Nongame Research program has been contacted give the correspondence reference number. ERDB Describe measures to minimize or avoid adverse impacts. The DNR Natural Heritage and Nongame Research program was contacted to determine if any rare plant or animal species or other significant natural features are known to occur within an approximate one-mile radius of the Project. The DNR staff s review found two known occurrences of rare species or native plant communities in the area searched. However, the DNR letter states that standard construction procedures (e.g., runoff prevention) should insure that these features remain unaffected by the proposed Project. A copy of the DNR response letter is provided as Attachment Physical Impacts on Water Resources. Will the project involve the physical or hydrologic alteration (dredging, filling, stream diversion, outfall structure, diking, and impoundment) of any surface waters such as a lake, pond, wetland, stream or drainage ditch? Yes No If yes, identify water resource affected. Describe alternatives considered and proposed mitigation measures to minimize impacts. Give the DNR Protected Waters Inventory (PWI) number(s) if the water resources affected are on the PWI. No DNR Protected Waters are located on the Project site. There are DNR Protected Waters to the south and west of the site (Rush Lake and an unnamed wetland). These waters are greater than one mile from the Project site and no construction activities will impact these waters. During investigation of the site for engineering and design purposes, areas of standing water were mapped out and are labeled as wetlands on the Site Layout (Figure 3). These wetland areas have not been delineated; however, there will be no physical alteration of these wetlands as a result of this Project. There will be no physical alteration of the Pelican River or Otter Tail River involved with this Project. 13. Water Use. Will the project involve installation or abandonment of any water wells, connection to or changes in any public water supply or appropriation of any ground or surface water (including dewatering)? Yes No If yes, as applicable, give location and purpose of any new wells; public supply affected, changes to be made, and water quantities to be used; the source, duration, quantity and purpose of any appropriations; and unique well numbers and DNR appropriation permit numbers, if known. Identify any existing and new wells on the site map. If there are no wells known on site, explain methodology used to determine. A new water line is being installed by the City to support the Facility. The water line will be used for domestic use and fire protection. A routing study for the water line is currently being conducted by the City. 14. Water-related land use management districts. Does any part of the project involve a shore land zoning district, a delineated 100-year flood plain, or a state or federally designated wild or scenic river land use district? Yes No If yes, identify the district and discuss project compatibility with district land use restrictions. Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 8 Worksheet

10 15. Water Surface Use. Will the project change the number or type of watercraft on any water body? Yes No If yes, indicate the current and projected watercraft usage and discuss any potential overcrowding or conflicts with other uses. 16. Erosion and Sedimentation. Give the acreage to be graded or excavated and the cubic yards of soil to be moved: 6.5 acres; 13,703 cubic yards. Describe any steep slopes or highly erodible soils and identify them on the site map. Describe any erosion and sedimentation control measures to be used during and after project construction. There are no highly erodible soils or steep slopes on the site selected for the Facility. The County will be required to obtain an NPDES Stormwater Permit from the MPCA prior to construction. Temporary erosion and sediment control practices will be implemented as part of Facility construction according to the requirements in the NPDES Stormwater Permit. The NPDES Stormwater Permit requires the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control erosion, such as construction phasing, temporary seeding, the use of vegetative buffer strips, minimizing land disturbance, and the use of mulch or wood fiber blankets. Sediment control practices such as silt fences and check dams must be used to minimize sediment from entering surface waters and wetland areas. The NPDES Stormwater Permit also requires the development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) prior to submitting the permit application and before beginning construction. The SWPPP must identify the management measures that will be taken to minimize sediment and pollutant discharges from the site, including the timing of BMP implementation, temporary and permanent stormwater controls for the site, inspection and maintenance practices, and the identification of a person responsible for overseeing BMP implementation. Permanent stormwater management controls are also required to be developed under the NPDES Stormwater Permit and may consist of a sedimentation basin, infiltration/filtration, or a combination of control practices to protect nearby waters and wetlands from untreated stormwater runoff. 17. Water Quality Surface-water Runoff. a. Compare the quantity and quality of site runoff before and after the project. Describe permanent controls to manage or treat runoff. Describe any storm-water pollution prevention plans. Waste transfer activities will be conducted indoors. The Facility will be designed so that surface water runoff will not be in contact with the waste. The impervious surfaces on the site (building roofs, parking lots, and roads) will increase approximately two acres from the current use of the property due to the proposed Project. The roof of the Facility will slope to the north side. All roof drainage to be collected in gutters and directed to downspouts on the back side of the building. The downspouts will be connected to underground pipes and directed to a common outlet. The loadout area, situated slightly below grade, will be equipped with floor drains located in an area prior to entering the building and in the bypass lane. These drains, which intercept stormwater from the paved roads around the building, will also be piped to a common stormwater outlet. Other stormwater features include ditches and slopes to direct stormwater away from the functional areas. The SWPPP for the proposed Facility is shown on Figure 5. Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 9 Worksheet

11 Stormwater will be directed to stormwater channels and ditches and properly managed as required by the NPDES Stormwater Permit. The overall quantity of stormwater may increase slightly from current conditions (farming) due to the increase in impervious surfaces. However, the quality of the stormwater is expected to improve over the current conditions due the implementation of stormwater controls imposed on the Facility through the MPCA Stormwater Program. As discussed in Section 16 above, the County will be required to develop a SWPPP as part of its permit application. b. Identify routes and receiving water bodies for runoff from the site; include major downstream water bodies as well as the immediate receiving waters. Estimate impact runoff on the quality of receiving waters. Figure 5 shows the drainage routes from the site and the routes for stormwater runoff. As described in Section 17.a. above, stormwater from the transfer building roof will be channeled to a stormwater outlet equipped with riprap for dispersion to the northeast side of the Facility. This stormwater will drain in the direction of a culvert located at the northeast side of the site. This culvert drains to the Pelican River and the Pelican River flows into the Otter Tail River. As shown on Figure 5, the drainage ditches that collect stormwater from other parts of the Facility are directed to the west to the ditch along the airport access road and to the east side of the Facility. These drainage areas are capable of eventually reaching the Pelican River. Impacts to the river from these stormwater discharges are expected to be minimal. Stormwater will be treated prior to leaving the site using BMPs as required by the NPDES Stormwater Permit, and considerable permanent vegetation will be planted between the Facility and the river that will serve to further reduce sediments and other pollutants in stormwater. Additionally, since this Project will reduce erodibility of the soils from its previous farming use, actual off-site sediment transport is expected to be less than it is currently. 18. Water Quality Wastewater. a. Describe sources, composition and quantities of all sanitary, municipal and industrial wastewater produced or treated at the site. The scale house building will house employee toilet facilities that will be connected to a new septic system. The septic system must meet specific design criteria to be permitted by the County. These criteria ensure no environmental harm to ground or surface waters as a result of the septic system. The transfer building has floor drains to collect liquids that may come in contact with waste and for collecting wash water from Facility floor cleaning. All pipes from the drains are double-walled pipes and are routed to a 10,000-gallon leachate holding tank that also provides double- walled containment. This tank will be periodically pumped into a septic hauling vehicle and disposed at the Fergus Falls WWTF. b. Describe waste treatment methods or pollution prevention efforts and give estimates of composition after treatment. Identify receiving waters, including major downstream water bodies, and estimate the discharge impact on the quality of receiving waters. If the project involves on-site sewage systems, discuss the suitability of site conditions for such systems. The Facility includes toilet facilities for approximately four employees. The on-site sewage treatment system will be designed large enough to meet the needs of this Facility. It is anticipated that the City will extend city sewer to this area to service the needs of both the Facility and the Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 10 Worksheet

12 airport as the industrial park to the west begins to develop. It is anticipated that the Facility would use this service when it becomes available. c. If wastes will be discharged into a publicly owned treatment facility, identify the facility, describe any pretreatment provisions and discuss the facility s ability to handle the volume and composition of wastes, identifying any improvements necessary. As explained in Section 18.a. above, liquids from the 10,000-gallon leachate storage tank will be disposed at the Fergus Falls WWTF. No pre-treatment is likely to be required. Liquid volumes are anticipated to be minimal. The Facility will only accept MSWs that do not contain free liquids. Thus, the tank will primarily contain incidental liquids and any wash water from floor washing. The Fergus Falls WWTF has adequate capacity to accept this small quantity of wash water liquids. No improvements to the WWTF are anticipated as a result of this Project. d. If the project requires disposal of liquid animal manure, describe disposal technique and location and discuss capacity to handle the volume and composition of manure. Identify any improvements necessary. Describe any required setbacks for land disposal systems. The Facility will not accept liquid animal manure. 19. Geologic hazards and soil conditions. a. Approximate depth (in feet) to Ground water: 23 minimum; 23 average. Bedrock: unknown minimum; unknown average. Describe any of the following geologic site hazards to ground water and also identify them on the site map: sinkholes, shallow limestone formations or karst conditions. Describe measures to avoid or minimize environmental problems due to any of these hazards. No geologic hazards were identified at this site. A geotechnical exploration was conducted in November 2005 by Northern Technologies of Grand Forks, North Dakota. The borings conducted for the geotechnical investigation extended to 26 feet below the ground surface. Bedrock was not encountered at this depth and is estimated to be greater than 200 feet below ground surface, based on Minnesota Geological Survey information. b. Describe the soils on the site, giving SCS classifications, if known. Discuss soil granularity and potential for ground-water contamination from wastes or chemicals spread or spilled onto the soils. Discuss any mitigation measures to prevent such contamination. The overall subsurface profile consists of approximately eight inches of topsoil underlain by a medium to stiff collapsed glacial sediment consisting primarily of lean clays. Ground water was encountered 23 feet below existing grade in a mixed or coarse alluvium soil consisting of sands, clays, and silts (SP-SM and ML). The top eight inches of topsoil that exist at the site are capable of holding or containing the contaminants in the top layers, increasing the chances of cleaning the spill before it would have the chance of reaching the ground water. In addition, the topsoil is underlain by over 20 feet of low permeability lean clays, which will retard any spilled liquid long enough for a cleanup prior to reaching the ground water. 20. Solid Wastes, Hazardous Wastes, Storage Tanks. Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 11 Worksheet

13 a. Describe types, amounts and compositions of solid or hazardous wastes, including solid animal manure, sludge and ash, produced during construction and operation. Identify method and location of disposal. For projects generating MSW, indicate if there is a source separation plan; describe how the project will be modified for recycling. If hazardous waste is generated, indicate if there is a hazardous waste minimization plan and routine hazardous waste reduction assessments. The proposed Facility is anticipated to receive 100 tons per day on average of MSW. The waste will primarily be from commercial waste packer trucks. The Facility s primary customer will be the City, with lesser quantities of waste received from private licensed waste haulers. Waste will be dumped onto the sealed concrete floor inside the transfer building and placed inside of transfer trailers. Prior to leaving the building, the transfer trailers will be tarped to eliminate windborne litter from the trailers. The waste will be transferred to the Perham Resource Recovery Facility or the permitted landfill in Gwinner, North Dakota, for final disposal. No hazardous wastes will be accepted at the site. The Facility will also receive recyclable materials. Recyclables will be separated, as appropriate. Separated components will be placed in rolloff boxes for temporary storage before delivery to markets or an approved disposal facility. To minimize on site storage, these rolloff containers will typically be shipped as they are filled. The Facility will accept tires, white goods, electronic waste, and scrap metal. These recyclables will be stored in rolloff containers and transferred to an appropriate facility for further processing. At the close of each day s operation, the containers will be secured to limit potential litter or contamination. b. Identify any toxic or hazardous materials to be used or present at the site and identify measures to be used to prevent them from contaminating ground water. If the use of toxic or hazardous materials will lead to a regulated waste, discharge or emission, discuss any alternatives considered to minimize or eliminate the waste, discharge or emission. Toxic and hazardous materials will not be accepted at the Facility. The County is required to develop a Contingency Action Plan as part of the permit application to MPCA. The Contingency Action Plan identifies the steps the Facility operator will need to take should any prohibited waste be inadvertently delivered to the Facility. A Contingency Action Plan has been attached to the original Solid Waste Management Facility Permit Application submitted to the MPCA. c. Indicate the number, location, size and use of any above or below ground tanks to store petroleum products or other materials, except water. Describe any emergency response containment plans. A small above-ground diesel fuel tank is proposed for the Facility to fuel on-site equipment. The 1,000- gallon tank will meet all local and state requirements for above-ground storage of diesel fuel. The tank will be located in the fueling area shown on Figures 3 and 4. Above ground storage tanks are regulated by MPCA through Minn. R. ch The storage tank will comply with all applicable rules, which include the requirements for containment and investigation should the primary tank leak into the secondary containment area. Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 12 Worksheet

14 21. Traffic. Parking spaces added: 4 Existing spaces (if project involves expansion): Estimated total average daily traffic generated: 25 vehicles Estimated maximum peak hour traffic generated (if known) and its timing: unknown Provide an estimate of the impact on traffic congestion affected roads and describe any traffic improvements necessary. If the project is within the Twin Cities metropolitan area, discuss its impact on the regional transportation system. Traffic to the Facility will generally follow State Highway 210, then onto the airport access road and into the Facility. The airport access road will be improved (new pavement) as part of this Project. Turning lanes will be added to the airport access road at the Highway 210 intersection to provide a left turn lane from the airport access road. Eastbound Highway 210 already has a turn lane onto the airport access road. Highway 210 currently has an auxiliary lane for traffic to use to bypass vehicles turning onto the airport access road. No improvements to Highway 210 are anticipated as a result of this Project. Further discussion on traffic related impacts can be found in Section 29 of this EAW. 22. Vehicle-related Air Emissions. Estimate the effect of the project s traffic generation on air quality, including carbon monoxide levels. Discuss the effect of traffic improvements or other mitigation measures on air quality impacts. Note: If the project involves 500 or more parking spaces, consult EAW Guidelines about whether a detailed air quality analysis is needed. This Project is not anticipated to generate significant air quality impacts due to traffic generation. It is anticipated that each day approximately 20 incoming trucks will use the Facility Monday through Friday, and four to five outbound trucks will exit the Facility to transfer the waste. A high number of residential vehicles are not anticipated. The heavy equipment on site consists of a front-loader, a rolloff truck, and a transfer trailer transport vehicle. On-site equipment is not anticipated to significantly increase carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate levels. The general traffic flow within the site is illustrated on Figure Stationary Source Air Emissions. Describe the type, sources, quantities and compositions of any emissions from stationary sources of air emissions such as boilers, exhaust stacks or fugitive dust sources. Include any hazardous air pollutants (consult EAW Guidelines for a listing), any greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides), and ozone-depleting chemicals (chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons or sulfur hexafluoride). Also describe any proposed pollution prevention techniques and proposed air pollution control devices. Describe the impacts on air quality. Stationary sources of air pollution are not significant for this Project. The transfer building will have exhaust fans, but the building is not heated. Primary roads will be paved to mitigate fugitive dust emissions. The scale house will have a small furnace. 24. Odors, noise and dust. Will the project generate odors, noise or dust during construction or during operation? Yes No If yes, describe sources, characteristics, duration, quantities or intensity and any proposed measures to mitigate adverse impacts. Also identify locations of nearby sensitive receptors and estimate impacts on them. Discuss potential impacts on human health or quality of life. (Note: fugitive dust generated by operations may be discussed at item 23 instead of here.) Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 13 Worksheet

15 During construction, there may be a temporary increase in dust emissions from the construction equipment. The construction equipment will also generate noise. Construction is expected to take approximately 100 days. Construction hours will be limited to daylight hours to help minimize noise impacts. Residents, other than the current property owner, are greater than 900 feet from the construction site. During operation, the County will use appropriate methods to maintain dust control at the Facility. All access roads and Facility traffic routes will be constructed of asphalt or gravel. Gravel surfaces will be maintained to reduce dust generation. Dust leaving the transfer building should be negligible and should not significantly impact residences in the area of the Facility. On-site noise will be minimal due to the enclosure of operations within the processing building. Outdoor noise from delivery and shipment traffic and heavy machinery (during cleaning or snow removal) is not expected to be a significant source to the residential properties located east of the site. The wooded area located between the Facility and the residences should help to mitigate noise impacts. Due to the use of an enclosed building for storage prior to transfer and the short time waste will be kept on site before being trucked off the site for disposal, odor concerns from the Facility are expected to be minimal. Solid waste facilities have the potential to generate litter. Litter can be controlled with proper design and operation of a facility. Commercial customers will be assessed a surcharge for waste loads that are not adequately protected against spillage or littering. Site activities will occur primarily within the transfer building. Any waste stored outside the building will be tarped or otherwise covered in order to minimize windblown litter. Employees will be dispatched on a regular basis to collect litter that may accumulate on site. The residential disposal area may produce some litter that will be mitigated by covering the bins when not in use if litter problems are identified, and periodic litter collection will be conducted as needed. 25. Nearby resources. Are any of the following resources on or in proximity to the site? a. Archaeological, historical, or architectural resources? Yes No b. Prime or unique farmlands or land within an agricultural preserve? Yes No c. Designated parks, recreation areas, or trails? Yes No d. Scenic views and vistas? Yes No e. Other unique resources? Yes No If yes, describe the resource and identify any project-related impacts on the resources. Describe any measures to minimize or avoid adverse impacts. The SHPO was contacted to conduct a database review of the proposed Project area. Upon this review, the SHPO recommended that a survey be completed of the area. The County hired a consultant to perform the survey as recommended by SHPO. A Phase I archeological survey of the site was conducted on June 14 and June 15, The results of the survey found that there were no archaeological sites identified during the Phase I survey. The SHPO staff reviewed the results of the survey of the Project area and concluded that the probability of any unreported properties being located in the area of potential effect is low. A copy of the SHPO letter and the consultant s letter regarding the results of the survey are attached as Attachment 2. Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 14 Worksheet

16 26. Visual impacts. Will the project create adverse visual impacts during construction or operation? Such as glare from intense lights, lights visible in wilderness areas and large visible plumes from cooling towers or exhaust stacks? Yes No If yes, explain. 27. Compatibility with plans and land use regulations. Is the project subject to an adopted local comprehensive plan, land use plan or regulation, or other applicable land use, water, or resource management plan of a local, regional, state or federal agency? Yes No If yes, describe the plan, discuss its compatibility with the project and explain how any conflicts will be resolved. If no, explain. The proposed Facility property is located in Fergus Falls Township but is almost completely surrounded by properties that are in the City. Because the property is in the township and all the land within the township is designated as residential/agricultural land use, this Project requires a Special Use Permit from the Fergus Falls Township Board. The future land use map prepared by the City (Figure 6) identifies all property directly adjacent to this proposed site to be designated for proposed or future industrial use including this property and the remaining adjacent farm site. The exception to this is to the north, across Minnesota Highway 210, which is also in Fergus Falls Township and is not currently identified on the City map for any particular land use. Please also see Section 9 of the EAW for a discussion of compatibility of the proposed Facility with the Fergus Falls Municipal Airport. 28. Impact on infrastructure and public services. Will new or expanded utilities, roads, other infrastructure or public services be required to serve the project? Yes No If yes, describe the new or additional infrastructure or services needed. (Note: any infrastructure that is a connected action with respect to the project must be assessed in the EAW; see EAW Guidelines for details.) It is anticipated that the airport access road will need upgrading to support the Facility. These upgrades include a left turn lane at the Highway 210 intersection and new pavement on the road to support waste hauling activities. The City intends to provide potable water service to the site. A routing study for the water line is being conducted by the City. Future plans include sewer service being provided by the City. However, providing sewer service to this Facility is only in the preliminary planning stage. 29. Cumulative impacts. Minn. R , subp. 7, item B requires that the RGU consider the cumulative potential effects of related or anticipated future projects when determining the need for an environmental impact statement. Identify any past, present or reasonably foreseeable future projects that may interact with the project described in this EAW in such a way as to cause cumulative impacts. Describe the nature of the cumulative impacts and summarize any other available information relevant to determining whether there is potential for significant environmental effects due to cumulative impacts (or discuss each cumulative impact under appropriate item(s) elsewhere on this form). A known future project that may interact with the proposed Project in the way of impacts from increased truck traffic is the new ethanol plant proposed by Otter Tail Ag Enterprises, LLC. Truck traffic generated by the new ethanol plant will travel west on Highway 210 to County Road 116. The estimated total daily traffic generated by the proposed ethanol plant is 95 vehicles, 90 percent of which will be traveling between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Facility is expected to generate a total daily average traffic volume of approximately 25 vehicles. A traffic volume study was conducted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation on highways and roadways in the Fergus Falls area in The average annual daily traffic (AADT) volume for Highway 210 west of Interstate 94 was found to be 3,250 vehicles Fergus Falls Transfer Station Environmental Assessment Otter Tail County, Minnesota 15 Worksheet

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