Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
DAKOTA COUNTY
ROSEMOUNT

Congressional District # 02

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (ROSEMOUNT RESEARCH CENTER)

EPA ID# MND980613780
Last Updated: December, 2007

Site Description

The University of Minnesota Rosemount Research Center site, located in Dakota County, Minnesota, is an approximately five-square mile property, owned by the University. Soil contamination with lead, copper, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was restricted to three smaller disposal areas or subsites within the site and resulted from the operations of tenants of the University, including: George's Used Equipment (GUE), Porter Electric and Machine Company (PE), and U.S. Transformer (UST). At GUE, surface soil was contaminated with PCBs, lead, and copper. At PE, soil was contaminated with high levels of PCBs. At the time the site was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL), the groundwater was also contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the disposal of laboratory wastes by the University at the Burn Pit subsite. The major contaminant of concern was chloroform. Approximately 9,600 people use wells within three miles as a source of drinking water. 

Site Responsibility

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

Threats and Contaminants

Soil is contaminated with lead, copper, and PCBs. Groundwater is contaminated with VOCs, primarily chloroform. 

Cleanup Progress

The University and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) signed a response order by consent on May 30, 1985, under the Minnesota Superfund law. The record of decision (ROD), dated June 29, 1990, documents the selection of a groundwater pump and treatment system as the remedy for contaminated groundwater; offsite disposal of lead, copper, and PCB-contaminated soil that could not be economically separated from lead and copper contaminated soil; and onsite thermal desorption with fume incineration of other PCB-contaminated soil. 

In 1988, based on new toxicological information, the health-based drinking water guideline for chloroform was raised from 1.9 to 57 parts per billion (ppb). Since the concentration of chloroform in all residential wells was below 57 ppb, the drinking water advisories issued to 27 Rosemount residences were not necessary; however, the University chose to provide a community water supply with distribution lines to these residences. Construction began in 1989 and was completed in 1991. MPCA approved pump and treatment system shutdown in October 1991. 

In July and August 1990, the University disposed of 4,384 tons of lead/PCB-contaminated soil in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and/or Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) landfills. Removal of high levels of copper was associated with the removal of this lead-contaminated soil. An additional 100 cubic yards of lead-contaminated soil was removed to an approved landfill in 1993. A total of approximately 7,000 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated soil was burned in the thermal destruction unit. Soil containing low levels of PCBs and ash from the incinerator were placed in an onsite landfill, which was capped and vegetated. All construction was completed in June 1996.   A second five-year review was completed on June 21, 2002. The second review stated the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment.  

A third five- year review was completed in June 2007.  The third five-year review concluded that the remedy remains protective in the short-term, however in order for the remedy to be protective in the long-term, additional actions will need to be taken.  A review of the protectiveness of the current groundwater cleanup goal for trichloroethylene (TCE) will be performed after U. S. EPA Headquarters completes its national risk assessment for TCE.  The University of Minnesota will conduct an Institutional Control Evaluation to evaluate the adequacy of the site institutional controls (ICs).  Institutional controls are non-engineered instruments such as legal or administrative controls that help minimize the potential for exposure to contamination.  A review of previous sampling that was performed for multiple areas around the Burn Pit subsite will also be conducted to ensure that no additional actions are necessary in this area.  Finally, maintenance issues identified in the site inspection will be implemented.

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
jeffrey gore (gore.jeffrey@epa.gov)
(312) 886-6552

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
dave novak
(312) 886-7478

Aliases

UNIVERSITY MINNESOTA (ROSEMOUNT RES CEN)
ROSEMOUNT RESEARCH CTR
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

 

Site Profile Information

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