Judge rules Northern Metal can reopen Minneapolis facility, but not Becker

Northern Metal Recycling can once again accept scrap metal at its Minneapolis facility but will have to meet orders from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency before being able to reopen its Becker facility, a judge ruled Friday in Ramsey County District Court.

The ruling comes after the company challenged the MPCA's emergency orders last week, which mandated that Northern Metal close its Becker and Minneapolis facilities due to "imminent and substantial danger to the welfare of the people of the state." Those orders came in response to the massive fire that burned for several days at Northern Metal's Becker plant.

Northern Metals Recycling plants ordered to shut down, citing 'imminent and substantial danger'

KSTP also learned last week that fire safety inspectors "found numerous fire code violations" at the Minneapolis plant.

The judge said Northern Metal will have to work with MPCA to reopen its Becker facility or appeal to the Court of Appeals.