The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has invited the public to a meeting on May 22 to tackle the messy emissions situation surrounding Northern Iron and Machine, a foundry and machine shop accused of pumping out air pollution beyond national limits. Locals from the Payne-Phalen neighborhood in Saint Paul, where the plant operates, have been given a platform to raise their concerns from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the East Side YMCA, according to Ramsey County's announcement.
Back in February, the air around Northern Iron started smelling extra fishy when the MPCA revealed that the foundry's emissions very likely passed what's safe and legal, and the clock started ticking with a 30-day deadline to clean up their act. Now, the company's digging in with the agency to reduce the toxic airborne dosage of lead and other particles that could taint the community’s air, according to Ramsey County's report. To get to the heart of the issue, the MPCA has even installed air quality monitors to keep tabs on the lead and particulate matter levels circulating above the neighborhood.
As the MPCA prepares to spill the beans on the emissions data at the upcoming meeting, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Saint Paul — Ramsey County Public Health will be joining the fray to offer some peace of mind. MDH will come armed with information on lead safety and ways to mitigate its haunting presence, while county public health representatives will be pitching in with details about the Healthy Homes program and resources to combat lead's side effects and the exacerbation of asthma, the announcement detailed.
Those concerned about breathing easily or who have watched the particulate count like the stock market can catch the emission readings in real-time. The MPCA's provision of access to this data is a nod to transparency amidst the smog of uncertainties and concerns shrouding the contentious issue. As the date for the public meeting approaches, all eyes are on Northern Iron, which has been thrust into the spotlight, and not the kind they would like, as they scramble to resolve environmental issues that might affect the local community's future for generations.
