Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
CROW WING COUNTY
BRAINERD/BAXTER

Congressional District # 08

BURLINGTON NORTHERN (BRAINERD/BAXTER PLANT)

EPA ID# MND000686196
Last Updated: April, 2008

Site Description

The 70-acre Burlington Northern site, located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, was a facility where railroad ties were treated with creosote and fuel oil. The plant operated between 1907 and 1985. Wastewater generated from the wood-treating process was sent to two shallow, unlined ponds. This generated a sludge which contaminated both the underlying soils and the groundwater with creosote and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Residential areas and commercial areas are located less than 1,000 feet from the site. Area residents are connected to city water. 

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal, state, and potentially responsible party (PRP) actions.

Threats and Contaminants

Affected groundwater threatened private water wells, and threatened surface water was at risk from contamination with carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), oil and grease, salts, and phenols. The cleanup continues to protect human health and the environment. 

Cleanup Progress

Burlington Northern signed an administrative order on consent (AOC) with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in 1986. After a pilot study was completed, they constructed a treatment area; treatment of the contaminated soils was conducted between 1987 and 1994. After treatment, about 14,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil were placed in a lined cell onsite which was closed in 1995 as a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) landfill.

Groundwater cleanup goals were established, and a groundwater monitoring network was installed in 1987. The monitoring network presently consists of 14 monitoring wells. Samples are analyzed for PAHs and other semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), including total phenols and some heterocycles. The 2001 RCRA permit authorized the gradient control wells to be shut off and an air sparging system to be used for groundwater treatment with additional monthly monitoring of three down gradient wells for a period of six months. The extraction wells ceased operation on December 20, 2001.  Monitoring data collected after the gradient control (GC) system was shut off in December suggested the natural groundwater flow direction was more easterly than was previously incidated.  Since February 2003, 18 new monitoring wells were installed to further define lateral impacts in the area east of the operational areas of the Site.  The GC system was reactivated on June 29, 2005.  A carbon polish system was added in February 2006 to treat extracted groundwater.  The site is being cleaned up under a RCRA permit with corrective action. A five-year review was completed in September 2003.  The review recommended that additional data be collected to evaluate the current conditions of soil at the site. This data was collected in 2005.  An air injection pilot system work plan was submitted for review on May 16, 2006.  Burlington Northern has installed the new air injection wells and began operation of the new air sparging system in November 2006. 

In 2007, Burlington Northern added a second air sparging line to the system.  The second line began operation in November 2007.  In addition, additional data was collected to evaluate the soil at the site.  EPA will receive the soil report in 2008. 

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
scott hansen (hansen.scott@epa.gov)
(312) 886-1999

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
cheryl allen
(312) 353-6196

Aliases

BURLINGTON NORTHERN (BRAINERD/BAXTER)
BURLINGTON NORTHERN TIE TREATING
BURLINGTON NORTHERN

 

Site Profile Information

This profile provides you with information on EPA's cleanup progress at this Superfund site.