Court Orders EPA to Address Landfill Emissions

Minot’s had no shortage of landfill news over the past few years. Most recently, plans where advanced for a 20-25 year expansion on property adjacent to our existing site. And part of the challenge for communities with landfills are the extraordinary environmental protections that govern management and operation of these sites.

If a California court decision holds, it may be that we see additional regulation added to landfill operations. Methane gas is a common byproduct of landfill material decomposing; and while the gas released from a single landfill may seem inconsequential when the releases from all landfills are added together, the amount entering the atmosphere becomes significant. Scientific American has the full story on the politics behind regulatory requirements of the EPA and a court case that could have ripple effects right here in Minot.