Minnesota-based recycler Northern Metals ceased shredding operations at its Minneapolis location on 23 September as part of a settlement with state authorities over falsified pollution-control documentation.
The settlement terms mandated a $200,000 fine and permanent closure of the shredder, according to the Minnesota attorney general. Northern Metals, a subsidiary of European Metal Recycling, will relocate its shredding operations to Becker, Minnesota, about 50 miles (80km) northwest of Minneapolis.
Northern Metals altered the written record of pressure drop readings that measured emissions from its shredder on eight occasions between 18 May and 16 July, the filing said. Readings above 8.0 required Northern Metals to take steps toward reducing emissions output. But in the eight instances, the logbook documenting the pressure drops were changed to values under or equal to 8.0.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is also allowed to reassess a permit for the Northern Metals facility in Becker, specifically regarding the company's methods used in monitoring emissions control equipment at the future site.
The settlement follows a prior agreement between the MPCA and Northern Metals from March 2017 that penalized the recycler with a $1mn fine and ordered the relocation of the shredder to a non-metro location, later determined to be Becker.
A judge ordered Northern Metals to temporarily halt operations in September 2016.
Northern Metals operates several locations across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.
