Carlton, MN
Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology. This is a different measure than the EJ Screening score for this county, which ranks it by percentile against other tracked counties rather than against these fixed caps.
Environmental data for Carlton in Minnesota · Population: 36,457
TRI sites such as Sappi Cloquet LLC; Chemstar Products Co; Usg Interiors LLC; SDWIS systems such as Cloquet; Moose Lake; Carlton anchor Carlton, MN's EPA extract. Derived burden score 28/100 (Low Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.
Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Carlton include MN Correctional Facility - Moose Lake, while Sappi Cloquet LLC leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 34 / peak 114 in 2024.
Burden score 28/100 (Low Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Carlton -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.
Release-over-release change
What changed for Carlton, MN: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
Same facilities, both years
-44.6%
3 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023
Whole inventory
-44.6%
1.5 million lb → 831.3 thousand lb, every facility that filed
- Carlton, MN's total reported releases fell from 1.5 million lb in 2022 to 831.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Carlton, MN's land releases rose from 35.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 70.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Carlton, MN's off-site transfers fell from 1.1 million lb in 2022 to 474.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Carlton, MN's air releases fell from 341.0 thousand lb in 2022 to 287.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
Air Quality History (2020–2024)
EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy (SG) | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 326 (89%) | 39 | 1 | 114 |
| 2023 | 266 (73%) | 91 | 4 | 156 |
| 2022 | 351 (99%) | 4 | 0 | 57 |
| 2021 | 318 (87%) | 43 | 4 | 143 |
| 2020 | 347 (98%) | 7 | 0 | 84 |
Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)
For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Minnesota, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.
Water Systems (12)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| Cloquet | 12,864 | 0 |
| Moose Lake | 1,782 | 0 |
| Carlton | 1,146 | 0 |
| Scanlon | 1,003 | 0 |
| MN Correctional Facility - Moose Lake | 975 | 1 |
| Barnum | 621 | 0 |
| REGIONAL DRINKING WATER SYSTEM | 434 | 0 |
| Wrenshall | 399 | 0 |
| Cromwell | 250 | 0 |
| MN Correctional Facility - Willow River | 240 | 0 |
| Kettle River | 168 | 0 |
| RIDGE ROAD | 99 | 0 |
TRI Facilities (3)
| # | Facility | Total Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sappi Cloquet LLC | 5.4M lbs |
| 2 | Chemstar Products Co | 2.0K lbs |
| 3 | Usg Interiors LLC | 812 lbs |
Cities in Carlton (7)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Carlton, Minnesota? ▼
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What does this county environmental profile show?
This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.