AIR QUALITY DEBATE IN MINNESOTA
You would think, wouldn't you, that in Minnesota of all places, there would be a great regard for air quality and that nobody would want a relaxation of standards. Not so.
Northshore Mining company have gone to court to ask for a relaxation of the 30 year old law relating to air quality. The 30 year old law states that Reserve Mining could not put any more asbestos-like fibers into the air around the nearby town of Silver Bay than there were in a control city, St. Paul. An injunction was issued to this effect meaning that anybody who wanted the law changed would have to argue their case in court.
Northshore's argument is that it's met the requirement and so the control city standard should be dropped because they installed pollution control equipment that brought fiber levels down below the levels in St. Paul. However, St Paul's level as recently dropped further, meaning that Northshore are now in violation of the law.
However, an attorney argued on behalf of the Minnesota Center for Environment that the judge should not ease air pollution standards for Northshore Mining's asbestos fiber emissions because residents of Silver Bay should not be placed at greater risk for health conditions like mesothelioma than other Minnesotans.
MCEA argues against relaxed air pollution standards for Northshore Mining
Debate over Northshore Mining air quality plays out in court