Contact: Sam Brungardt, 651-757-2249
Under the oversight of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Ashland Inc. is scheduled next week to begin removing contaminated soil at the former Northwest Refinery site in New Brighton, Minn. The site is part of the city’s New Brighton Exchange redevelopment project.
The scope of work includes excavating underground refinery equipment and petroleum- contaminated soil. The work is expected to start Nov. 7, with estimated completion around Dec. 19, 2011, although weather could impact completion time.
Ashland and the MPCA entered into a Compliance Agreement on April 15, 2011. The agreement includes provisions for detailed work plans to remediate the site. The agreement provides the terms and conditions for the MPCA’s Petroleum Remediation Program to oversee remediation and enforcement for petroleum releases to water and soil at the site.
The former Northwest Refinery site is in the process of being delisted from the Principal List of Priorities (PLP); the list of State Superfund sites in Minnesota. Petroleum contamination will be remediated as required by the Compliance Agreement. The site is expected to be delisted from the PLP in winter 2011 or spring 2012.
Ashland and its contractor will be undertaking measures to minimize the generation of dusts and odors from the work. However, petroleum-contaminated soils are odorous, and if you notice nuisance odors, please be aware of the following:
- The soils being handled contain petroleum compounds (asphalt and tar) which can be smelled at very low concentrations.
- Petroleum odors will be mitigated using industry standard odor-management techniques.
- Continuous air monitoring will be performed during work hours, and there should be no long-term health effects for the excavation work.
- If short-term effects, such as headaches or irritations, do occur, these should go away when the affected person moves away from the site.
- Workers at the site may be wearing personal protective equipment, such as respirators, because they are closer to the excavation and could be exposed to stronger vapors for extended periods.
- The work is being conducted during cold-weather months to reduce nuisance odors.
- The work schedule is designed to minimize the length of the excavation time and associated odors.
- During work at the site there will be increased road traffic associated with the soil-removal action.
Groundwater, which is impacted at the site with petroleum compounds, will be further monitored and assessed by the MPCA. The area is served by municipal water supply, and the contaminated groundwater has not impacted any drinking water wells.
A fact sheet about remediation of the former Northwest Refinery site is on the MPCA website.
