Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
COTTONWOOD COUNTY
WINDOM

Congressional District # 01

WINDOM DUMP

EPA ID# MND980034516
Last Updated: August, 2006

Site Description

The Windom Dump site, located in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, is a 22-acre dump at which more than 3,000 drums, containing paint sludges, solvents,and cleaners, were disposed between 1957 and 1974. In the 1980s, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Minnesota Department of Health confirmed contamination of groundwater in the vicinity of the dump. Contaminated groundwater affected one municipal well, which was subsequently closed. the city of Windom's municipal well field is within 1,200 feet of the dump. It's the sole drinking water supply for about 6,000 residents and produces from the surficial aquifer, which has been impacted by the dump. 

Site Responsibility

This Deferral Pilot site is being addressed through state and potentially responsible parties' actions.

Threats and Contaminants

Groundwater is contaminated with various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, and chromium. VOCs were detected in the soil. The contaminated groundwater and soil could have posed a health hazard if touched or ingested. Possible contamination of private wells and the city drinking water supply with VOCs was a major concern. 

Cleanup Progress

In 1986, MPCA issued a request for response action to the city of Windom and the Toro Company. the city of Windom and Toro Company completed a remedial investigation (RI) in 1987, a feasibility study (FS) in 1988, and a remedial action (RA) plan in 1989. In 1989, a clay cap was placed over the disposal area, and in 1990 a pumpout system was constructed. The effluent from the pumpout is treated by spray aeration and reinfiltration. Approximately 200 gallons per minute are treated by the groundwater treatment system. It's anticipated that the groundwater treatment system will operate for approximately 30 years. 

In 1995, MPCA and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) completed a five-year review for the site. The five-year review concluded that the groundwater remedy remains operational and functional and provides adequate protection of public health and the environment. Monitoring wells at the site are sampled for analysis semiannually, and the city of Windom submits an annual system evaluation report to MPCA. This is one of 13 National Priorities List (NPL) sites in MPCA's Enforcement Deferral Pilot Project, approved by U.S. EPA. 

The anticipated time interval of the groundwater treatment operation has been corrected and extended for approximately an additional 20 years for continued protection of the municipal well field and for project consistency.  The recovery and treatment system was shut down on September 21, 1999.  A five-year review was signed for this site on December 2, 1999.  It was recommended in the five-year review to permanently terminate groundwater recovery and treatment at the landfill.  This site was deleted from the NPL on October 6, 2000.  This change was originally reported to U.S. EPA on February 28, 1997, in the RP2M Summary Listing Report.  A final close-out report was signed for this site on May 10, 2000. 

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
sirtaj ahmed (ahmed.sirtaj@epa.gov)
(312) 886-4445

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

Aliases

NO NAME SITE
WINDOM MUNI DUMP

 

Site Profile Information

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