Fire-Hit Northern Metal Becker Shredder Plant Ordered to Cease Operations

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has ordered Becker, Minnesota facility of Northern Metal Recycling to cease operations and accepting scrap materials. This follows the fire incident that hit the facility on February 18^th, Thursday.

The agency has ordered the company not to perform any operation on affected areas of the 75-acre site to which it had recently relocated. The company is required to submit a detailed damage assessment report and cleanup plan. Also, it needs to formulate updated storage plans for scrap, so as to prevent similar incidents in future. It must be noted that the fire had begun in a pile of stacked cars.

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The MPCA has ordered postponement of all shredding operations at the facility until the implementation of proper dust control mechanisms. Incidentally, the facility was gearing up for commencement of shredding operations, when the fire broke out at the facility. Further, Northern Metal Recycling is required to submit a review of its feedstock control plan.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by investigators from Minnesota’s State Fire Marshal’s office.

Meantime, Northern Metal Recycling did not immediately respond to the MPCA directives.