Region 5 Superfund

U.S. EPA REGION 5
HENNEPIN COUNTY
ST. LOUIS PARK

Congressional District # 05

NL INDUSTRIES/TARACORP/GOLDEN AUTO

EPA ID# MND097891634
Last Updated: November, 2012

Site Description

The NL Industries/Taracorp/Golden Auto site is located in St. Louis Park just west of Minneapolis. The site comprised two neighboring properties: one formerly owned by Taracorp, Inc. and the other owned by Morris and Harry Golden. Metal refining, fabricating, and associated activities were conducted at the site until 1903, when a secondary lead smelting operation was started. Solid wastes generated by the manufacturing facilities were stored in a slag storage area onsite. Liquid wastes were discharged through process sewers to the municipal sewer system. National Lead (NL Industries) purchased the site in 1928 and operated the lead smelting facility from 1940 until 1979. NL Industries sold the lead smelting operation to Taracorp in 1979. Taracorp continued to operate the smelter until 1981. There are residential areas within eight miles of the site. Aquifers beneath the site serve as a primary source of drinking water in the area.

Site Responsibility

The site is being addressed by the potentially responsible party (PRP) with oversight of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

Threats and Contaminants

As a result of operations at the site, the site soils were contaminated with high concentrations of lead.

Cleanup Progress

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in December 1982 and finalized the site on the NPL in September 1983.

Under an administrative order by consent (AOC) signed on March 8, 1985, between NL Industries, MPCA and EPA, NL Industries conducted onsite investigations and cleanup activities between 1985 and 1988. This included the following: restricting access to the site; removing contaminated onsite soils to a federally-approved facility and backfilling with clean soils; revegetating the excavated area; cleaning and demolishing several onsite buildings; installation of an asphalt cap; and long-term monitoring of groundwater. The groundwater monitoring has shown no exceedance of applicable standards. All construction at the site is complete, and cleanup goals for the site have been fully achieved.

The first five-year review for the site was completed on March 15, 1995. The asphalt cap was in place and remained in good condition to prevent public exposure to contaminated soils at the site. The cap appeared to be effective in minimizing infiltration of precipitation in the vicinity of the site and thus was protective of groundwater. The remedy as installed remained protective of human health and the environment. 

On April 3, 1998, EPA published in the Federal Register a notice of intent to delete the site from the NPL. EPA published a final deletion for the site on May 21, 1998.

A second five-year review was completed on March 22, 2000, and the third five-year review was completed on March 14, 2005. The remedy remained protective of human health and the environment. 

On July 20, 2006, EPA, in consultation with MPCA, agreed to terminate the 1985 AOC, concluding that all the terms of the order had been completed. On September 4, 2009, EPA signed an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) to document the fact that institutional controls (ICs) are required at the site.

A fourth five-year review was completed on December 22, 2009, and concluded that the remedy is functioning as intended and is protective of human health and the environment. Continued long-term protectiveness of the remedy requires compliance with ICs. Compliance with ICs at the site will be ensured by maintaining, monitoring, and, if necessary, enforcing the ICs. Additionally, continued long-term protectiveness will be ensured by maintaining the remedy components.

Property Reuse

On September 17, 2004, RER Acquisitions LLC (an experienced Brownfield developer), entered the site into MPCA's Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program. After completing the MPCA-approved investigation, RER submitted its voluntary response action plan. The plan provided for the replacement of the existing asphalt cap with a combination of new building footings, foundations and floor, new asphalt park and drive areas and green space with clean soil cover and revegetation. RER has implemented the plan for redevelopment. 

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
pablo valentin (valentin.pablo@epa.gov)
(312) 353-2886

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
Don De Blasio
(312) 886-4360

Aliases

NORTHWESTERN METAL WKS
TARACORP IND
NL IND TARACORP GOLDEN AUTO

 

Site Profile Information

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