North Minneapolis residents’ complaints about a smelly shingle factory led to inspections and federal air pollution violations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a June 15 finding of violation to Owens Corning, an asphalt shingle factory adjacent to Shingle Creek.
Violations and Inspections
The EPA found Owens Corning exceeded permitted levels of sulfur dioxide pollution, used equipment it was not permitted to run, and missed a deadline to submit a compliance report by more than a year. Sulfur dioxide can harm the human respiratory system, according to the EPA. People with asthma, especially children, are sensitive to sulfur dioxide pollution.
The violations came after two inspections conducted by the EPA and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in February and September 2025. Odor complaints from residents inspired those inspections, an EPA spokesperson told Sahan Journal.
Community Concerns
State Rep. Fue Lee, the Minnesota DFLer who represents the neighborhood, said residents’ complaints about odors from the factory have risen in the past few years. The violations show the issues go beyond smell, he said.
An Owens Corning spokesperson said the company takes its environmental and regulatory responses seriously. “We disagree with certain findings in the June 15 notice and are working constructively with the EPA to review those matters,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
