MPCA working on amended air quality permit for Fridley facility

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Cummins Power Generation, 1400 73rd Ave NE, Fridley, MN 55432. via Google Maps

The following article was submitted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, as a follow up to the agency’s 2021 presentation to the Waite Park Community Council.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) works to make sure that pollution does not have a disproportionate impact on any group of people. This is the principle of environmental justice (EJ). It means that everyone, regardless of race, color, national origin or income, receives equal levels of environmental protection and has opportunities to participate in decisions that may affect their environment or health. 

Many of the companies that the MPCA works with are in or near areas that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines as environmental justice areas of concern. These are areas where additional consideration is needed to evaluate and reduce potential disproportionate adverse environmental impacts. The EPA defines these areas of concern by identifying census tracts that meet one of more of the following criteria:

  • 50% or greater of the population report being Black, Indigenous, or people of color

  • Greater than 40% of the households report household incomes of less than 185% of the federal poverty level

  • Tribal areas

We want residents to know that we are currently working with a company in your area, Cummins Power Generation, that is located in or near an environmental justice area of concern. For more detail on why this area is considered an environmental justice area of concern, visit https://arcg.is/bGzHS and search the address for the facility (1400 73rd Ave NE, Fridley, MN 55432).

Cummins assembles, tests, and develops electrical generators and power systems. Generators of many different sizes and end uses are assembled at the facility. The generators are assembled and the final product is tested to ensure it is working as expected before distribution. The facility also has an engineering section, where new or modified generators are developed and tested. Other emission units include paint booths and ovens for coating of generator parts, four diesel-fired standby generators used for electrical peaking, and two boilers. The main pollutants of concern are from fuel combustion, including carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOC), particulate matter (PM, PM less than 10 microns/PM10, and PM less than 2.5 microns/PM2.5), and greenhouse gases (GHGs). Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) are emitted from combustion and from coating material usage.

An air quality permit is a legal written document from the MPCA, that authorizes Cummins to operate and lays out what state and federal requirements apply to each piece of equipment or group of equipment, and how the facility will comply with those requirements. Whenever Cummins proposes to make certain changes to their facility, or when their permit expires, the company needs to apply for a modified or new permit. These air permits contain pollution limits designed to protect people’s health and the environment. Before a permit becomes official, it is made available to the public for 30 days so the public can learn about it, ask questions, and share any concerns they may have.

The MPCA is modifying their air permit in response to two amendment applications from the facility, and to update the entire permit because it has passed the permit expiration date. Permits for this size of facility (Part 70 permits) expire every five years. One amendment application was to add two new test cells and split one existing cell into two cells with half the capacity of the original. This project did not require an issued permit amendment to go forward and has been completed. Three new cells have been constructed and operated and are now in the permit.

Another amendment application was for construction of five new equipment pads total, with three pads each capable of testing up to 500 kW diesel or 550 kW natural gas gen-sets (one gen-set per pad) and two pads each capable of testing up to 2,000 kW diesel or natural gas gen-sets (one gen-set per pad). Construction authorization was provided by the MPCA on 12/9/2021, but these units are not allowed to be operated until the permit amendment is issued.

The draft permit document for Cummins will be available for public review and comment on or soon after March 23rd, 2022. The draft permit will be posted on the MPCA website at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/news/data/index.cfm?PN=1, in the section « Public Notices ».  If you have any questions or concerns about the draft permit, please contact Rachel Fossum at rachel.fossum@state.mn.us or (651) 757-2863.