From: | "cpeo@cpeo.org" <cpeo@cpeo.org> |
Date: | Thu, 9 Sep 1999 15:30:33 -0700 (PDT) |
Reply: | cpeo-brownfields |
Subject: | EPA: Cleanup Complete at Cedar Services Site |
EPA: Cleanup Complete at Cedar Services Site BEMIDJI, Minn., Sept. 8 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 said today that a $750,000 cleanup is now complete at the Cedar Services site, Bemidji, Minn. The 38-acre Brownfield site, about 1/4 mile east of the intersection of State Highway 197 and County Road 404 (a.k.a Carr Lake Road), was a telephone- and powerline-pole treatment operation from 1971 to 1980. Brownfields are abandoned or underused industrial or commercial properties where redevelopment is slowed by real or perceived environmental contamination. EPA's primary concern was to eliminate pentachlorophenol (PCP) contamination at the site. PCP is a probable cancer-causing agent in humans. Long-term exposure to the chemical may damage the liver, kidneys, blood, and nervous system. The project was completed in three phases: (1) preliminary removal of hazardous materials by EPA in fall 1997; (2) sampling and analysis by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Security State Bank of Bemidji in spring and summer 1998; and (3) additional hazardous materials removal by EPA beginning in June 1999. The 1999 cleanup included: -- Disposal of about 450 tons of PCP-contaminated surface soils, and steel and concrete debris, primarily from the east side of the site. This material was sent to a facility in Belleville, Mich. -- Incineration of about 250 tons of PCP-contaminated soils from the former boiler area, sent to a facility in Aragonite, Utah. -- Disposal of 12 drums of PCP liquids, sent today to a facility in Calvert City, Ky. -- Disposal of 21 cubic yards of asbestos boiler insulation, sent to a facility in Canyon, Minn. An empty warehouse and a few maintenance sheds remain at the site. The cleanup began at the request of the MDA, and was mostly paid for and managed by a Chicago-based Superfund emergency response team. ``It's nice to see another Brownfield site cleaned up and moving toward redevelopment,'' said EPA Regional Administrator Francis X. Lyons. ``People often associate Brownfields with urban areas, but there are many sites just like Cedar Services in smaller communities all across the midwest.'' Said Bemidji Mayor Doug Peterson, ``We're pleased this work is wrapping up at one of the area's most visible Brownfield sites. From here, we look forward to supporting Security State Bank and MDA in their efforts to redevelop the property.'' Next steps for the site include: a revised environmental assessment, continued ground water monitoring, and any additional work required by the MDA for site closure. EPA also hopes to enter into a Prospective Purchaser Agreement with the next owner of the site. The agreement -- a tool EPA often uses to encourage reuse of formerly polluted sites - provides the future owner with liability protection for past contamination known to be at the site. The MDA can also offer similar liability assurances to future owners. For more information about the site, call: Bill Mawe, Security State Bank, 218-751-1510. SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | |
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