Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

MPCA Media Contact: Michael Rafferty, (651) 297-8294 MPCA Technical Contact: Gary Krueger, (651) 296-6139 St. Paul, Minn. - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is proposing to update the Permanent List of Priorities (PLP, also known as the state Superfund list). The MPCA seeks public comment on the proposed changes through Aug. 25, 2005. The PLP includes contaminated sites posing a threat or potential threat to public health and the environment. It is updated periodically as new sites are added or old ones are cleaned up. At this time, the MPCA proposes deleting seven sites. If changes are approved after public comment, 73 sites will remain on the PLP. The MPCA proposes deletion of the following sites from the PLP: Faribault Municipal Well Field - Faribault, Rice County. The primary contaminant at the site was trichloroethene (TCE). It was first detected in the municipal water supply in 1982. The site was added to the PLP in 1987. Two private water supply wells and four of five active municipal wells had shown contamination. Concentrations of TCE in the water supply have not exceeded regulatory or health-based criteria since 1992. Through investigation and in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Health, the city of Faribault sealed and replaced Municipal Well No. 4 in late 2004. Well No. 4 was replaced to reduce the impact to the municipal water supply and eliminate the impact to ground-water aquifers. With management by the city of Faribault and replacement of Well No. 4. These actions are protective of human health and the environment, and no further response actions are required. Faribault Coal Gasification Plant Site - Faribault, Rice County. Coal tar and spent oxide box wastes were the two significant waste streams generated by former gas manufacturing plants at the site. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are the main contaminants related to coal tar, while a form of cyanide is the main contaminant in the spent oxide box waste. Northern States Power Company (now Xcel Energy) and the city of Faribault conducted investigations from 1983 to 1985 to determine the extent of the contamination. In November 1985, NSP removed 2,198 cubic yards of coal tar and contaminated material. The site was added to the PLP in 1986. In 1988, NSP and the MPCA entered into a consent order that required coverage of the oxide box waste, demolition of remaining concrete walls, stabilization of eroded areas and revegetation of the site, and long-term ground-water monitoring. NSP excavated spent oxide box waste and stabilized an eroding bank of the Straight River in 1993. In November 2004, NSP conducted additional sampling of the Straight River sediments and determined there were no adverse impacts. Consent order actions have been completed. Ground-water contamination is confined within the site's monitoring network. Overall, response actions are protective of human health and no further Superfund action is necessary. Glidden Company Site - Minneapolis, Hennepin County. Glidden Company operated this site from 1928 until 1986 as a paint and varnish production facility. Glidden used two of the four buildings at the site for various operations including paint and varnish manufacturing. Materials used for the manufacturing process included xylene, naptha, toluene, fuel oil, and isobutyl acetate. These materials were stored in underground storage tanks. Raw materials were stored in drums and pails throughout the two buildings. Resins were stored in the basement of one of the site buildings. Glidden investigated the site between 1987 and 1998 and determined there was soil contamination. Lead and barium were found in the soil above acceptable levels for residential use, but within acceptable levels for industrial use. Tanks and contaminated soil were removed from the site. Remedial actions implemented between 2000 and 2002 included demolition and off-site disposal of building material and soil, backfill of excavated areas, removal and off-site disposal of storage tanks, installation and operation of a soil-vapor extraction system (which has been decommissioned), and installation of an asphalt cover and drainage improvements. In June 2005, a restrictive covenant was placed on the property that lists restrictions, provides contamination notices, and includes maintenance requirements. Monitoring has shown ground-water contamination is stable and no further response action is recommended. Shafer Metal Recycling - Minneapolis, Hennepin County. Typically, batteries were brought to the site, stockpiled, and cracked or split open to remove lead plates for recycling. Acid from the batteries drained onto the floor of the building or the ground outside as well as being channeled into an above-ground concrete tank that led to the sanitary sewer floor drain. No attempt was made to collect the liquid acid. Battery recycling activities ended in 1982. The MPCA and Union Scrap Iron Metal Company or Union Scrap, who leased the property from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), entered into a stipulation agreement in 1983. The site was added to the PLP in 1984. Since Union Scrap filed for bankruptcy in 1985, MnDOT became the responsible party for the site. In 1986, MnDOT began investigation of the site using soil sampling and monitoring wells. The MPCA asked MnDOT to investigate and complete the necessary response actions in 1991. A removal plan for contaminated soil was approved in 1998. A consent order was signed by the MPCA and potentially responsible parties including MnDOT in 2001. The total volume of lead-contaminated soil excavated from the site and sent for off-site disposal in 2004 was approximately 2000 cubic yards. All necessary response actions have been completed. Warden Oil Company Site - Minneapolis, Hennepin County. This site operated as a waste oil recycling facility from 1927 until 1992. The company re-refined waste lubricating oil and transmission fluids, stored and blended oil, and packaged re-refined oil for sale. Waste oil and various oil products were stored in outdoor and indoor above-ground storage tanks. Leaks from tanks and piping and minor spills appear to have been the main sources of soil and ground-water contamination. Frequent flooding of nearby Basset Creek may also have contributed to leaks and spills. The site was forfeited to Hennepin County for non-payment of taxes in 1994. The site had at least 100 above-ground tanks, one underground tank, 10 buildings, oil processing equipment, and underground piping. The site was added to the PLP in 1995. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency removed 65 tanks, several buildings, and 27,000 gallons of oil in 1995. In 1999, potentially responsible parties (PRPs) asked for assistance through the MPCA's Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program and submitted a remedial investigation plan. In 2003, the PRPs and the MPCA reached an agreement requiring the PRPs to contribute to the cleanup cost. Hennepin County provided money to the PRPs to help clean up the soil to residential standards. Building demolition and tank removal began in 2004 along with removal of tank sludge, asbestos abatement, and disposal of hazardous materials. Lead-contaminated soil, organic compounds and mercury were removed and disposed of in late 2004. All necessary response actions have been completed. Because soil was cleaned up to residential standards, residential development of the site is an option. Anchor Glass Container Site - Shakopee, Scott County. This site still operates as a glass manufacturing plant. In 1968, after a property transfer, paints, chemical pigments, glass, and solvents were disposed of in a trench. Soil and wastes contained dibromochloromethane, methyl ethyl ketone, xylene, toluene, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, and other contaminants. The ground water had been contaminated with these and other contaminants. In 1987, contaminated soil was removed from the trench area. The source area was capped with installation of a warehouse at the site. The site was added to the PLP in 1988. Anchor Glass voluntarily investigated and implemented a ground-water remediation response. The company requested discontinuation of site remediation and proposed long-term monitoring in 2003. An MPCA review determined there was no off-site risk and that water quality in the Minnesota River would not be affected by the site. The response actions taken are protective of human health and the environment. WLSSD Sanitary Landfill/Duluth Dump #2 - Duluth, St. Louis County. This closed landfill qualifies for inclusion under the Minnesota Landfill Cleanup Act. Under this authority, the state of Minnesota will assume responsibility for necessary response actions and long-term maintenance at this site. Therefore, deletion from the state Superfund program is appropriate. To comment on these proposed delistings or for more information, contact Gary Krueger at the MPCA, (651) 296-6139 or (800) 657-3864. Written comments can be sent through Aug. 25, 2005, to: Gary Krueger, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155-4194.