Hennepin County: Do Better Than Trump’s EPA

The HERC trash burner emits numerous pollutants. Only 3 are monitored continuously. Most are never tested at all. Trump's EPA just released long-overdue emissions updates for incinerators. These are very weak but still stronger than HERC’s standards. The county can act now.

1 . Require continuous monitoring. HERC emits dioxins/furans, PFAS, lead, mercury, arsenic, hydrochloric acid, and other toxic emissions, but these are only checked once per year or not at all. Oregon now requires continuous monitoring of many pollutants. Hennepin County should too. This would address the well-reported problem of facilities gaming their own tests by choosing what to burn before the test. Actual dioxin emissions, for example, are many times higher than what  annual tests indicate.

2. Require stronger emissions limits. Hennepin County continues to run HERC despite antiquated standards set in 1995. Courts and scientists have determined that these limits are improperly calculated and have subjected nearby communities to decades of unnecessary pollution. Stronger standards for new incinerators already exist. Earthjustice, Sierra Club, and others just sued Trump's EPA for not setting stronger standards. The county can voluntarily require HERC to meet those standards now.

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