Listed below are topics for cleanup guidance information. Select the topic to see the listing of related documents.
This technical series provides an effective methodology to characterize DNAPL sites and to develop an appropriate strategy towards addressing DNAPL. The documents are technical in nature and are developed for use by experienced practitioners. Go to the DNAPL webpages.
Soil reference values (SRVs) are a screening tool used to evaluate potential human health risks from exposure to contaminated soil. They are derived using exposure assumptions based on specific land-use scenarios.

This soil reference value spreadsheet contains two sets of generic SRVs by land use: Residential/recreational and commercial/industrial. For each land use category, click on the corresponding “Worksheet” tab to see the SRVs.

Background information on how the SRVs were calculated, including the default exposure assumptions used for each land use category. The document also provides information on how to use the generic SRVs to evaluate potential risk from exposure to contaminated soil.

The calculated generic SRVs for eight metals and two organic compounds were deemed less-than-typical background concentrations. This report presents the MPCA’s evaluation of selected data sets to determine a reasonable background threshold value to use in place of the calculated SRV. The ten compounds for which a background threshold value is used instead of an SRV are clearly identified in the SRV spreadsheet.
The Contaminated Groundwater Discharge general permit covers discharges of contaminated groundwater to surface water or land; the permit is required if the water is, or has the potential to be, contaminated. The permit addresses the most common causes of contaminated groundwater, including releases of petroleum, volatile organic compounds, and other hazardous substances.
Individual permits
Not all contaminated groundwater pumpout discharges are covered by the general permit. Some projects that could contribute to violations of water quality standards, involve agricultural chemicals, contain polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, or furans, or meet certain other criteria must have an individual permit. See the guidance below for more information. Individual permits will require additional processing time and higher application fees, and will be subject to a 30-day public notice period.
Permits must be obtained before any discharges occur.
How to apply
Complete and submit:
Industrial Groundwater Pump Out Application (wq-wwprm7-29)
Water Quality Transmittal Form (wq-wwprm7-03) — Include the $1,240 application fee for general permit coverage. Fees for individual permits are calculated using the wastewater fee schedule.
- Projects with Category II and III discharges must submit priority pollutant scan analysis of the proposed discharge as defined in 40 CFR, Part 423.
- Site diagram showing the discharge path from pumpout, through treatment, and to the receiving water or land application. Discharges to municipal stormwater systems will need documented approval from the municipality.
- When chemical additives will be used to treat contaminated water, additional information may be required — see the guidance document below.
Institutional controls — also known as land use restrictions, activity use limitations, and land use controls — are restrictions, conditions, or controls imposed on a property to protect cleanup work and minimize the potential for exposure to remaining contamination. Institutional controls typically work by limiting how the land or resources on it can be used, or by providing information that helps modify or guide behavior on the property.
Institutional controls can be implemented when property conditions or residual contamination does not allow for unrestricted land use. Institutional controls are not intended to be a sole remedy, but are typically part of a property’s overall remedy and protection work. The MPCA may require an institutional control as a condition of liability assurance for a property.
Common institutional controls
- Environmental covenant and easement (previously called declarations of restrictions and covenants) — Required when a specific action or activity restriction is needed to protect human health or the environment. For example, the covenant might prohibit disturbing soil in a certain location or below a certain depth, or require operating a vapor mitigation system in a building on the property.
- Affidavit concerning real property contaminated with hazardous substances — Required when no specific action or activity restriction is needed, but a notice of residual or potential contamination on the property is warranted.
- Bond declaration — Required when state general obligation bonds have been used to improve a property, and the sale or use of the property is then restricted based on state and federal law.
Institutional control documents are typically recorded at either the county recorder’s or registrar of titles office after cleanup is completed or the bonds have been spent. Templates and instructions for the covenant and affidavit:
Instructions for preparing an Institutional Control (c-rem4-47)
Environmental Covenant and Easement (c-rem4-03)
Affidavit concerning real property contaminated with hazardous substances (c-rem4-02)
A list of MPCA Remediation Division sites with institutional controls is available on the agency's Minnesota Geospatial Commons page. The data is refreshed daily and can be downloaded and then sorted. If you have a question about a particular institutional control or find an error in the data, please contact us at instcontrols.pca@state.mn.us.
Soil leaching value (SLV) guidance
The SLV guidance document and the spreadsheet containing SLVs are new guidance from the MPCA Remediation Division for evaluating risks posed by leaching of contaminants in soil to groundwater.
Corrective action design (CAD) for use at Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and VIC Programs
Effective July 1, 2011, the CAD guidance developed earlier by the Petroleum Remediation Program will be utilized at remediation sites, as set forth in the following policy document:
Other topics
General guidance
1-01 Petroleum Remediation Program General Policy (c-prp1-01)
1-03 Spatial data collection at petroleum remediation sites (c-prp1-03)
You as a Responsible Party in the PRP (c-prp1-04)
Leak site ownership form (c-prp6-07)
- MPCA information requests
Underground Storage Tank and Petroleum Remediation Quality Assurance Program Plan (p-eao2-04)
Release reporting
2-01 Reporting of petroleum releases (c-prp2-01)
2-02 Light non-aqueous phase liquid management strategy (c-prp2-02)
2-03 Light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) recovery report (c-prp2-03)
2-04 Recent releases at petroleum tank sites (c-prp2-04)
2-05 Release information worksheet (c-prp2-05)
2-08 Petroleum Tank Release Follow-up Notification (c-prp2-08)
Soil excavation and treatment
3-01 Excavation of Petroleum Contaminated Soil
3-02 General Excavation Report Worksheet
3-02a Corrective Action Excavation Report Worksheet
3-03 Land Treatment of Petroleum Contaminated Soil
3-04 Application for a Petroleum Contaminated Soil Land Treatment Site (Form A)
3-05 Application to Land Treat Petroleum Contaminated Soil at an Approved Site (Form B)
3-06 Notification of Spreading Petroleum Contaminated Soil at a Land Treatment Site (Form C)
3-07 Soil Monitoring results for Land Treated Petroleum Contaminated Soil (Form D)
3-08 Permit Application for a Land Treatment Facility
- Current Pre-Approved Petroleum Contaminated Land Treatment Sites
3-13 Composting of Petroleum Contaminated Soil
Facts About Composting Petroleum Contaminated Soil
3-15 Land Treatment General Information
3-16 Assessment of petroleum contamination at closed sites (c-prp3-16)
3-17 Thin Spreading Small Quantities of Petroleum Contaminated Soil
Site investigation and risk evaluation
4-01 Soil and groundwater assessments performed during site investigations (c-prp4-01)
4-01a Vapor intrusion assessments performed during site investigations (c-prp4-01a)
3-01a Vapor intrusion building survey form (c-rem3-01a)
1-36 Intrusion Screening Values (ISVs) for vapor intrusion risk evaluation (aq1-36)
4-02 Risk evaluation and site management decision at petroleum release sites (c-prp4-02)
4-03 Assessment of natural biodegradation at petroleum release sites (c-prp4-03)
4-04 Soil sample collection and analysis procedures (c-prp4-04)
4-05 Groundwater sample collection and analysis procedures (c-prp4-05)
4-06 Investigation report (c-prp4-06)
4-08 Monitoring report (c-prp4-08)
4-09 Groundwater investigations in Karst areas (c-prp4-09)
FAQs about investigation and remediation of AST facilities (c-prp4-17)
4-18 Assessment of sensitive groundwater conditions (c-prp4-18)
4-21 Investigation requirements for ethanol-blended fuel releases (c-prp4-21)
Corrective action
7-01 Corrective action design and implementation (c-prp7-01)
7-02 Conceptual corrective action design (CCAD) report (c-prp7-02)
7-03 Focused investigation work plan (c-prp7-03)
7-04 Focused investigation report (c-prp7-04)
7-05 Pilot test work plan (c-prp7-05)
7-06 Pilot test report (c-prp7-06)
7-07a Remediation system detailed corrective action design (SDCAD) report (c-prp7-07a)
7-07b Excavation detailed corrective action design (EDCAD) report (c-prp7-07b)
7-08 Remediation system operation monitoring (RSOM) report (c-prp7-08)
7-09a Air emission controls (c-prp7-09a)
Air emissions risk assessment screening spreadsheet (RASS) (aq9-22)
7-10 Discharging contaminated groundwater (c-prp7-10)
Brownfield Program Services
Brownfield Program Response Action Plans
Guidance Document #9: Guidance for Investigating and Remediating Asbestos-Containing Waste Materials
Asbestos Fact Sheet
Guidance document #8: Phase 1 Investigation (vic-gd8)
Guidance Document #11 Phase II Investigation Work Plan
Guidance Document #12 Phase II Investigation Report
Affidavit Concerning Real Property Contaminated with Hazardous Substances (c-rem4-02)
Affidavit of non-responsible party status (c-rem4-46)
Environmental Covenant and Easement
Consent of Mortgage Form
The MPCA has developed the following policy and guidance for the offsite reuse of excess soil or fill material for brownfield redevelopment sites. For unregulated fill material, please refer to:
For fill material with contaminant levels greater than the MPCA's most conservative risk-based standards, please refer to the following documents that detail procedures for brownfield redevelopment sites (that are enrolled in the MPCA's Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup (VIC) and/or Petroleum Brownfields (PB) programs) to move regulated fill from one VIC/PB site to another VIC/PB site, subject to the terms and conditions as outlined:
MPCA's emergency response program oversees the cleanup of all types of spills and environmental emergencies.
Refer to the information on incident response for spills and leaks.
Effective June 2011, analytical methodology for the vast majority of remediation sites will be the short list of seven cPAHs. However, under certain site conditions the extended list of 25 cPAH compounds will be recommended. The policy document provides background and situations where the extended list of 25 cPAH methodology applies.
The MPCA will consider, on a case by case basis, disposal in appropriate Minnesota landfills of soils contaminated by mercury at concentrations which are both no greater than 4 ppm and non-hazardous. This will apply to soils from remediation and redevelopment sites. Any such disposal must occur in accordance with industrial solid waste management plans. For further discussion of this issue, please see the program management decision document below: