Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
HENNEPIN COUNTY
MINNEAPOLIS

Congressional District # 05

WHITTAKER CORP.

EPA ID# MND006252233
Last Updated: September, 2006

Site Description

The Whittaker Corporation site, located in Hennepin County, Minnesota, is a 7.5 acre site. During World War II, a holding company operated on the site and repackaged war materials, including antifreeze and oil for the military. In the 1950s, the company expanded its operations by acquiring a manufacturer of industrial coatings. The Whittaker Corporation also produced resins and distributed steel. Chemicals were stored in approximately 28 aboveground tanks, ranging in size from 2,000 to 20,000 gallons, and 21 underground tanks, ranging in size from 2,500 to 14,000 gallons. The tanks contained various hydrocarbon solvents, propylene glycol, styrene monomer, di-isobutyl, ketone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene, xylene, and other chemicals. 

A variety of wastes were generated as a result of the processes used at the Whittaker Corporation site. These wastes included tank bottoms, paint sludge, old paints, off-specification paints and resins, and cleaning fluids. The site is located in an industrial area of Minneapolis. The Mississippi River is approximately 1,200 feet to the west of the site. There are four industrial and four residential wells in the nearby area. 

Site Responsibility

This Deferral Pilot site is being addressed through state actions.  This is one of 13 NPL sites in the MPCA's Enforcement Deferral Pilot Project approved by U. S. EPA.

Threats and Contaminants

Groundwater and soil were found to be contaminated with heavy metals, including cadmium and lead as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Ingestion of, or direct contact with, contaminated soil and/or groundwater could pose a health risk. 

Cleanup Progress

A Phase I study was requested on September 24, 1981; the completed Phase I report was submitted in January 1983. A groundwater investigation was initiated in early 1983. Monitoring wells were installed and groundwater samples were analyzed and found to contain several chlorinated solvents, benzene, cadmium, and chromium. The Whittaker Corporation completed soil removal and tank removal operations in March and April 1985.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) issued a request for response action in April 1985.  Based on work completed at the site, before and immediately after the issuance of the request, MPCA issued an amended request on November 26, 1985.  The amended request added specific details relative to both actions taken and ongoing at the site.

Whittaker Corporation installed a pumpout system which ran from 1985 until 1994, when Whittaker Corporation unilaterally decided to shut down the system on July 11, 1994. It hasn't been operated since then. 

In 1995, MPCA completed investigations and file reviews of two sites, one north and one west of the Whittaker Corporation. The investigations were done to assess Whittaker's allegations that these sites had contaminated the groundwater drawn into Whittaker Corporation's pumpout system. As a result of the investigation and data review, MPCA staff has determined that it is very unlikely that off-site contamination is responsible for keeping groundwater contaminant levels high in the Whittaker pumpout well. 

MPCA has requested that Whittaker Corp complete a soil and groundwater investigation to determine whether the site is cleaned up to an acceptable level to protect human health and the environment. The Whittaker Corp has tasked a consultant to determine the extent of soil contamination and the magnitude and extent of the groundwater plume. Soil and groundwater investigations were conducted in 1998. All results obtained in 1998 were below Minnesota's specified cleanup goals. No impacts of concern to soils remain at the site. Therefore, the site was deleted from the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1999. 

This is one of 13 NPL sites in the MPCA's Enforcement Deferral Pilot Project approved by U. S. EPA.  This site was deleted from the NPL on February 11, 1999. The deletion stated, because no hazardous substances remain at the site above health-based levels, a five-year review will no longer be conducted at this site.

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
thomas williams (williams.thomas@epa.gov)
(312) 886-6157

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
Don De Blasio
(312) 886-9749

Aliases

WHITTAKER CORP
WHITTAKER CORP MNPLS COATINGS & CHEM DIV

 

Site Profile Information

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