Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media Contact: Barbara Skoglund, (651) 296-6706 St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are preparing a five-year review of the effectiveness of the cleanup at the NL Industries/Taracorp/Golden Auto Superfund site in St. Louis Park. A periodic review of remedial actions is required at sites where cleanup activities are ongoing. The purpose of the five-year review is to determine if cleanup activities remain protective of public health and the environment. The review will be completed by March 22, 2005. The MPCA is the lead agency conducting the review. The NL Industries/Taracorp/Golden Auto site is contaminated with lead from a lead smelter (a smelter separates metallic elements through the melting process) that operated from 1940 to 1981. Industrial operations and on-site waste disposal during this time period caused elevated lead levels in the soil. Between 1985 and 1988, the site was investigated and asphalt was placed over the contaminated soil to prevent exposure. The MPCA continues to monitor the effectiveness of the asphalt cap. A fact sheet on the NL Industries/Taracorp/Golden Auto site is available on the EPA Web site at www.epa.gov/R5Super/npl/minnesota/MND097891634.htm. For more information concerning the review please contact Steve Schoff, MPCA, Remediation Division, 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155-4194. Schoff can be reached by phone at (651) 297-1790 or toll-free at (800) 657-3864.