Barron County Incinerator

Background: In 1986, the DNR told the Barron County Incinerator (BCI) that it was proposing new emission limits (Administrative Code, NR 445) that would impact the facility.  Once the new regulations went into effect, the DNR informed BCI that NR 445.04 required BCI to submit a compliance plan by July 1, 1990 to meet LAER, and to achieve final compliance by April 1, 1992.  Achieving final compliance required installation of control technology since BCI only uses an Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP).

BCI spent the 1990s refusing to comply with the air toxics rules, ignoring the DNR's notices of noncompliance, and failing to update the air pollution controls on its incinerator.  In 1993, the DNR sent BCI a Notice of Noncompliance and a staff member sent DNR Secretary Meyer a letter outlining the agency's position and stating that BCI must upgrade to meet LAER, request a variance, or cease operation.  Shortly thereafter, on March 22, 1994, rather than pursuing this issue, the agency gave BCI permission to stop testing its emissions.  The agency stopped inspecting the facility in 1996.

BCI has been violating Wisconsin's air toxics rules for the better part of a decade.  In order to come into compliance, the incinerator must add emission controls and start conducting stack tests for air toxins. In 1999, the incinerator ranked as the state's second-largest source of air emissions of dioxin, and in 2002, the incinerator ranked as the state's sixth largest source of air emissions of mercury and the twelfth largest source of air emissions of lead. 

Not only is the facility an environmental and public health threat, it is an economic boondoggle.  Back in 1994, when the DNR was meeting with the County more regularly about these issues, tipping fees at area landfills were between $31 - 35/ton, while the costs to run the incinerator were $57/ton.

The DNR gave BCI a proposed permit and variance that failed to promptly and adequately address air toxins from this incinerator. In November of 2001, Midwest Environmental Advocates submitted comments on the proposal and testified at the public hearing in Barron County. The DNR issued the permit and has continued to allow this facility to pollute our environment.

Status: On May 19, 2004, Midwest Environmental Advocates filed a notice of intent to sue Barron County Incinerator for continually violating the Clean Air Act by burning tires, industrial waste and other potentially toxic materials. The notice, filed on behalf of the Sierra Club, means that the incinerator now has 60 days to come into compliance with its air quality permit or face a civil lawsuit in federal court. 60-day Notice

To read the latest press release on the 60-day notice, click here.

In response to the 60 day notice, the incinerator stopped accepting tires.  The local group continues to monitor the situation for future violations.