Opinion ID: 1936904
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Slettens' Claims of Nuisance and Negligent Failure to Warn

Text: The Slettens allege that beginning in 1994 Ramsey County knew the ground water beneath the Beam Avenue site was contaminated by the release of a number of toxic chemicals dangerous to the environment. Due to this knowledge, the Slettens argue that Ramsey County had a duty to warn all affected persons of the existence of such contamination and the necessity to take reasonable steps to avoid adverse health. The complaint included and incorporated an exhibit relating to the compost site monitoring report and a 1995 water quality monitoring summary report. The results of the report stated, in part, that the concentrations of aluminum, copper, lead, zinc and perhaps mercury exceeded the chronic standard for surface waters. Chronic standard is the highest water concentration of a toxicant to which organisms can be exposed indefinitely without causing chronic toxicity. Minn. R. 7050.0220 (2001). The Slettens allege that they suffered substantial physical injuries and property damage on account of the problems associated with this compost site. They allege that they experienced abnormally high incidences of nausea, headaches, fever, burning and watery eyes, skin rashes, sore throats and fatigue. The Slettens provided expert testimony that contained a diagnosis of Type III and Type IV hypersensitivity immune reactions caused by chronic exposure to numerous bioaerosols. They allege that the biological process and the quantities were not properly controlled at this site, and thus anaerobic bacteria resulted, producing not only vile odors, but also gram/negative bacteria and various pathogenic bioaerosols. From 1990-1996, Ramsey County certified in required annual forms to the MPCA that the Beam Avenue site's yard waste capacity was 9,000 cubic yards. The Slettens allege that Ramsey County significantly exceeded its represented and authorized design capacity. [5] In 1993, for example, Ramsey County received 27,480 cubic yards of yard waste and transferred only 6,240 cubic yards, leaving 21,240 cubic yards to be managed on the site, or 12,240 cubic yards over the permitted amount for compost. The permit violations led to the alleged formation of anaerobic bacteria and other pathogenic bioaerosols, as well as odorous compounds such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. Ramsey County's compost expert, Dr. Elliot Epstein, stated in a 1997 book that ammonia is released from decomposing grass clippings and when anaerobic conditions occur, odorous sulfide compounds such as hydrogen sulfide are produced. The Slettens alleged that the county per se violated the Permit-by-Rule authority of the MPCA by composting yard waste in excess of permit restrictions. The Slettens further alleged that the county violated the ministerial duty to abide by the operational parameters of the CUP granted by the city by failing to remove thousands of cubic yards of grass clippings from the compost site in a timely manner. Ramsey County argued that it reported to the MPCA the amount of grass and leaves it received at the site, that it did not exceed the site's capacity, and that the site was described by the MPCA as a model site. Zachery J. Hanson, the Environmental Health Director for the Ramsey County Department of Public Health, states that the staff at the Maplewood site complied with MPCA rules pertaining to yard waste sites and the City of Maplewood's conditional use permit for the site.