5 PCSR 12-28-1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Northern States Power, CUP Page 2 December 28, 1993 • Maurer' s memo. Staff does not believe that these traffic issues warrant changes to roads or the operation of NSP' s plant at this time, with the possible exception of #3 of Mr. Maurer' s memo, an eastbound acceleration lane on Highway 10, opposite 165th Avenue. Mr. Maurer is trying to get a count on how many loaded trucks head eastbound on Highway 10 before making a final recommendation on this acceleration lane. Staff will update the Planning Commission on this issue at Tuesday night' s meeting. GROUND WATER The City requires that NSP test run-off from their facility three times during the year after a rain fall (spring, summer, and fall) . These samplings have shown no exceedences in standards . However, the Department of Health has raised a concern with the lead level in NSP ' s potable water supply. Staff believes this problem is caused by NSP ' s plumbing and not ground water contamination. We will follow-up with NSP to the conclusion of this issue. FENWAL SYSTEM The NSP processing plant grinds municipal solid waster inside of bunkers to produce RDF. The nature of this process can • cause explosions because of improper waste contained in the waste stream. To counteract these explosions, the bunkers are armed with a Fenwal System. This system instantly reacts to an explosion with a counter explosion. NSP has had ten Fenwal System discharges this year. The Fenwal System did its job and reduced the damage due to these explosions and kept subsequent fires to a minimum. Although this seems like a high number of incidences, staff does not view it as a problem, but rather, that this extremely sensitive system is doing its job. The NSP plant is also diked so that any fire suppression water that may be produced is contained within the building. Because of the concern with CFC' s, NSP has switch from a halon to a sodium bicarbonate Fenwal System. SPOT CHECKS The real key to reducing the number of explosions at the plant is to keep improper items out of the waste stream. Staff has inspected the NSP plant several times in the past year. Staff has checked the work of the grapple operator who removes improper waste prior to processing and the NSP employees who periodically spot check loads of waste as they are being delivered. The City' s license requires that these spot checks • be done and if possible, the generator of improper waste is identified and prosecuted. Staff wants to stress that NSP needs to keep up with these spot checks .