Public invited to provide comments
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is planning to add sites in New Hope, Saint Paul, and Rochester to the state's Permanent List of Priorities (PLP). The PLP is a subset of the Superfund program and is used to identify locations in need of cleanup to protect human health and the environment.
The MPCA will continue investigating and addressing the contamination at these sites. The public can comment on the proposed additions through Jan. 15, 2026. Each site has contamination and lacks a responsible party willing or able to conduct the necessary site investigation and cleanup.
- Selby Avenue and Grotto Street in St. Paul – site of a former dry cleaner
Submit comments for St. Paul site - Dison’s Cleaners and Launderers in Rochester – site of a former dry cleaner
Submit comments for Rochester site - Electronic Industries in New Hope – site of a former circuit board manufacturer and metal plating operation
Submit comments for New Hope site
The MPCA has been working on these sites for several years. The two former dry-cleaning sites may pose vapor intrusion and groundwater risks from the solvent tetrachloroethylene (PCE, PERC) and trichloroethylene (TCE). The former manufacturing and metal plating site had a TCE release from an underground storage tank, which caused soil, soil vapor, and groundwater contamination.
At the Selby and Grotto site in St. Paul, the MPCA evaluated 40 buildings after detecting high PCE levels. The agency has installed vapor mitigation systems in 20 buildings so far with additional system installation to be completed as needed. At the Rochester site, the MPCA installed a vapor mitigation system and conducted soil vapor testing. The MPCA continues to evaluate for vapors nearby.
At the Electronic Industries site, the MPCA required groundwater treatment, soil vapor extraction, and other tactics to treat the contamination for TCE. The city of New Hope redeveloped this property and installed soil vapor extraction systems that have operated continuously since 2006.
Once added to the state list, MPCA will continue to investigate and clean up the contamination at these sites.
Long-term PCE exposure is associated with adverse health effects and may cause cancer. PCE is used in dry cleaning as a solvent and degreaser in auto paint and repair shops, and in some consumer products.
Exposure to TCE can adversely affect the immune, reproductive, liver, kidney, and central nervous systems. TCE is mainly used as a solvent in manufacturing to degrease metal parts and to make other industrial chemicals.
People can review the public notice and submit public comments by visiting the SmartComment portal on the MPCA website or by mail to:
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
c/o Jeff Thuma
Remediation Division
Superfund Remedial Section
520 Lafayette Road N.
St. Paul, MN 55155-4194
After the public comment period ends, the MPCA will review and respond to all comments.
Once approved, the MPCA will add them to the Minnesota Permanent List of Priorities.