Take action: demand shut down of Northern Metals operation in North Minneapolis

Northern Metals is a repeat offender of environmental violence in North Minneapolis. Real steps must be taken by our city, county, and state leaders to end the cycle of pollution, harm, and inaction.

On April 21st, a 50-foot stack of plastic and insulation caught fire at Northern Metals, sending toxic smoke over North Minneapolis (again). Northern Metals, a subsidiary of the U.K.-based multinational corporation EMR, has a history of lying to state agencies and polluting the Northside. This latest fire has again shown that its operations in this community are causing harm to residents.

Take action: complete this online action from Northside Community Members for Environmental Justice (CMEJ) to demand the regulating agencies allowing Northern Metals to operate shut down this dangerous corporation's operations in North Minneapolis immediately. This repeat offender must leave. We will not accept toxic pollution from Northern Metals, or any other corporations nearby, as part of everyday life in Minneapolis.

Community members have been trying to get accountability for the actions of Northern Metals by multiple regulating agencies for over a decade, without any real outcomes. This inaction is another form of state accepted violence on black, brown and poor working class communities and must stop.

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Shut down Northern Metals operations in North Minneapolis immediately

Dear [elected official],

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The cycle of pollution, harm and inaction resulting from Northern Metals’ dangerous operation in North Minneapolis must end. I am writing to demand you use your authority to shut down Northern Metals’ facility in this community. The most recent fire, on April 21st, has again shown that its operations are causing harm to residents.

Community members have been trying to get accountability for the actions of Northern Metals by multiple regulating agencies for over a decade, without any real outcomes. I feel like no one is taking responsibility to stop this from happening again (and again). Our city, county and state agencies must show direct action in mitigating Northern Metals’  role in perpetuating structural racism and the racially disparate health outcomes in our state.

I am sending this email to multiple regulating agencies demanding each use their authority to protect Minneapolis residents. Below is an outline of the actions I expect each entity to take.

Attorney General and Hennepin County Attorney: File criminal charges against Northern Metals immediately for maintaining false records for air pollution control devices.

City of Minneapolis: If community members can be evicted, so can Northern Metals. I am calling on you to begin the process for applying nuisance law on Northern Metals and evict this bad renter in the Northside community. Northern Metals’ actions go well beyond unreasonable or unlawful use of property that results in material annoyance, inconvenience, discomfort, or injury to the public.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA): Northern Metals has a history of lying to the MPCA to avoid the consequences of its actions. Northern Metals is a repeat-offender and the MPCA has the authority and requirement to take actions to protect our communities.

Minnesota Department of Public Safety: The April 21st fire happened one week after an inspection. If Northern Metals can pass an inspection just before a fire occurs, that facility is fundamentally unsafe to the community. Northern Metals and its parent company EMR are repeat offenders (Becker fire, Camden NJ fire, and prior Northside fires, among others). Further, 2800 N Pacific St is next door to a city gas station, posing increased hazard concerns to area residents. I am calling on your department to suspend Northern Metals’ unsafe operation, make public the fire plan and protocol/accountability for fire hazards onsite and provide a better public understanding of the risks posed by the site’s vicinity to nearby businesses and residential areas.

Hennepin County Health Department and Minnesota Health Department: These fires are environmental health hazards concentrated in North Minneapolis. I am calling on you to respond and take a stance against the long-term, and short-term, health risks posed by repeated fires at the Northern Metals facility in North Minneapolis. Fine these entities, do a cumulative health effects analysis and shut down Northern Metals if your findings make clear that the harm, and risk of harm, that this facility poses to residents of North Minneapolis is unavoidable.

Sincerely, [Your information here]