Southport residents and advocates urge Saint Paul council to pursue dust mitigation ordinance

Residents and advocates asked the Saint Paul City Council policy committee to pursue a local dust mitigation ordinance, saying persistent fugitive dust from the Southport Industrial area is causing nuisance conditions and health harms.

"It shouldn't be a luxury to breathe in clean air," resident Samantha Sanchez told the committee, describing daily respiratory problems for her child and saying her family plans to move because of ongoing dust and related health concerns. Miguel Brito of the Westside Community Organization showed resident videos and sensor screenshots to illustrate frequent dust events and noted the neighborhood’s proximity to rail, Highway 52 and airport operations.

Ashlyn Kenzior, a staff attorney at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, said the proposal aims to reduce total suspended particulates by requiring covered facilities to prepare proactive fugitive dust plans modeled on a 2024 Detroit ordinance. Kenzior said the plan would include dust-control procedures, staff training, contingency measures for extreme weather, public fact sheets and a designated contact person for residents.

Council members expressed support but also pressed presenters on data gaps and enforceability. Councilmember Coleman and others asked about data granularity and operationalizing inspections; Kenzior acknowledged limitations in some age-specific health data and said the organizers would work with council staff and the city attorney’s office to develop draft language. Presenters invited council members and Port Authority staff to a site tour on Oct. 9 to observe conditions in person.