MPCA reviews proposed expansion of Distilled Products storage tanks

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has released its environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) for U.S. Distilled Products’ plans to upgrade and expand storage capacity at its distillery and bottling operation in Sherburne County. The expansion consists of three different components including upgrading the capacity of existing tanks, adding new tanks, and constructing a new tank containment area for future tanks.

This project would increase the total hazardous material storage to more than one million gallons and require the company to obtain a new permit for its above-ground storage tanks. An MPCA air quality permit will regulate potential volatile organic compound emissions from storage tanks containing ethanol.

The EAW works together with the air and tank permits to assess the potential for significant environmental effects and put measures in place to protect the environment and nearby residents from pollution generated by the facility. The permits will be released at a later date.

The EAW reviewed potential impacts to air, local geology, soils, groundwater, surface water, and other potential environmental impacts. Key findings include:

Storage tank improvements will occur within the company’s existing property.

Stormwater runoff from most of the project area drains to a basin within the industrial park, north of the main receiving area and in basins located north and south of the property.

The project area lies within the Princeton South Minnesota Department of Health Wellhead Protection Area and within the Princeton South Drinking Water Supply Management Area. No groundwater wells exist within the project area and no new groundwater wells will be installed for the project. The City of Princeton will continue to supply water service to the facility

U.S. Distilled Products produces approximately 3.5 million gallons of wastewater annually and disposes of it through land application. The project will not change the disposal process or increase wastewater volume. The MPCA regulates land application through an industrial by-products permit and state disposal system permit for wastewater.

The required air emissions risk analysis completed for the project did not indicate a potential for significant environmental effects from cumulative impacts of facility and project air emissions with the surrounding area.

The public can review the draft EAW and air permit and submit public comments by visiting www.pca.state.mn.us/publiccomments.