Superfund RODROSSSOIS
&EPA Record of Decision:
Morris Arsenic, MN
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(Pltat "lid InSlfUctions on Iht ,,\ltn, btlon comp/"inl)
,. A.'OAT NO. 12. 3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO.
EPA/ROD/R05-85/0l5
.. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. REPORT DATE
August 7, 1985
SUPERFUND RECORD OF QECISION IS. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
Morris Arsenic, MN.:- .
7. AUTHOR.SI 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT IliC.
t. 'ERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. PROGRAM EL.EMENT NO.
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
12. PONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS 13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Final ROD Report
1.. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460 800/00
18. SUPPLEMENTAAYNOTES
1.. A85T..ACT
The Morris Arsenic site is located in Stevens County, approximately one mile
northeast of Morris, Minnesota. In the early 1940s, approximately 1,500 pounds of
arsenic-laced grasshopper bait was reportedly buried in a gravel pit near the inter-
section of Highways 28 and 59. The subsequent construction of the Highway 59
Bypass through the general location of the burial site has made the discovery of
the exact burial location difficult. It has been presumed that the arsenic was
mechanically dispersed during highway construction since top soil cleared from the
site for road bed preparation was later spread along the side slopes.
The site poses no imndnent health hazard to the public due to the direction of
ground water movement from the site and the minimal population concentration within
the. site specific area. In addition, levels of arsenic found in the soils at the
site are within the range of natural levels of arsenic in soil. Therefore, since
the site poses no significant threat to public health, welfare or the environment, I
the "no-action" alternative was selected. I
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~7. KEY WORDS AND DO~UMENT ANAL.YSIS
Ia. DESCRIPTORS b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS C. COSA TI Ficld;Gr, "..:'
Record of Decision I
Morris Arsenic, MN
Contaminated Media: soil i
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Key contaminants: arsenic .
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21. NO. OF PAGES '
". DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT 19. SECURITY CL.ASS ,nllS R"(lO'I, '
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INSTRUCTIONS
1.
REPORT NUMBER
Insertlhe 1::PA report number IS it appean on the cover of the publh:;tion,
LEAVE BLANK
2.
a.
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R'CI'IENTS ACeEalai NUMBE"-
RelUYed for use by neh ~port recipient.
4.
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Title should indicate ~lciU'ly ilnd brieny Ihe sub;e~1 ~overOl~ "flhe reporl, and be di'I,laynl,'rolllill,'nlly, S,'I 'U!>lilk, If u~"'1. 111 a,i, UII ,.,hid, il \\a' ..dc,'t,'d (",Il" JIII"IIJ iSSII." Jill., III
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Give name, street, city, state, and ZIP code, Lisl no more Ihan two levels of OIn urpnil.OIliunOiI hin:.rd,y,
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10. l'lloaR. ELEMENT NU_ER
U.the propam element number under whi~h the report Wil' prepared. SubordlllOile number.. III;')" ~ illdlhl,',II1II';II\'lIlh.,....,..,
11, CONTRACT/GRANT NUMBER
Ia.t contrKI or IIInt number under whieh report WilS prepared.
12. IPONIOR'NO AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Indude ZIP code.
13. TV,. 0' REPORT AND 'ERIOD CDVERED
Indicate interim fina1, etc., and if applicable. dates covered.
14. II'ONSORING AGkNCV CODE
Insert appropriate code.
15. SUPt'LEMENTARY NOTES
Enter information not included elsewhere but useful, such "..;
To be published in. Supersedes. Supplemenu. etc.
11. A81TRACT
Indude a brief (200 words Of Itnl f"ctual summary of the mo..' ,i~nilkan' Infurmalion ,'ulllalll,',11I1 I h," 11'1'1111. II Ih,' r"I'",1 ,11"1,'"1\ a
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17. KEV WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANAL VStS
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ended terms wnth:n in dcsl.:riplor form for those ~ubJects for which no J':\Irtl'lur nl''',
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the primary postin,lS),
11. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Denote releasabilil)" to Ihe publk or li01I1;allun for rea..uns uth.:r than ,nullly fur 1:\.1011'1.: "I(,"I,"a'.: 11110",,1,"1." 1 II,' ~II~ .1\,III"hlh'~ '"
the public, wUh addren ilnd pnl.:C,
"..20. SECURITV CLASSIFICATION
DO NOT submit clillssificd reports 10 Ihe :-Oaltonal T,',hnll:allnformaltun '''VI,I:
21. NUMBER OF PAGES
Insell the lotal number of pagcs, IndudlO~ Ihl\ one anJ unnumbered pal!':', hul .:\duJ. J.,'rtbullun 11\1. " any,
22. 'RICE
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Su~ary of ~ernedial Alternative Selection
Morris Arsenic Site
Morris, Minnesota
Site location Description
The Morris Arsenic site is located in Stevens County about one (1) mile
northeast of ~orris, Minnesota. A copy of a site location ~ap is attached
(Figure 1).
In the early 1940s, approximately 1,500 lbs. of arsenic-laced grasshopper
bait were reportedly buried in a gravel pit near the intersection of
.Highways 28 and 59 (See Figure 2). The subsequent construction of the
Highw~ 59 ~ypass through the general location of the burial site has made
the discovery of the exact burial location difficult. It has been presu~ed
that the arsenic was mechanically dispersed during highway construction
since top soil cleared from the site for road bed preparation was later
spread along the side slopes.
The primary ~ealth threat of concern is the potential for arsenic contamination
of the shallow glacial aquifer. The unconsolidated glacial deposit of sand
and gravel serve as the primary aquifer in the area. A home 600 feet
northeast of the site, a furniture store 2~0 feet to the west, and several
trail er homes as close as 300 feet 'to the southwest use this aQuifer for
drinking water. In addition, the Morris ~unicipal well field, which draws
water from the same shallow aQuifer, is located 1 mile to the south.
The depth to ground water around the site is approximately 3-10 feet. Average
linear ground water flow velocities range from 52 to S?'Q feet/year based on the
hydraulic conductivity and porosity estimates. Under current hydraulic conditions,
the ground water is discharging east toward the gravel pit pond and to the Pomme de
Terre R her.
Site History
During the 1930s and early 1940s, grasshoppers were a devastating crop pest
in many parts of the western and mid-western states including Minnesota. ~uring
that period, arsenic was used as a pesticide in an effort to control these
grasshopper infestations. Various arsenic compounds were mixed with water, molasses,
and wheat bran or sawdust to form a poisonous bait which was spread along
edges of fields, in road ditc~es and along fence lines.
The grasshopper baiting program was managed, on a national level, by the United
States Department of Agriculture (USOA). The arsenic was provided by the USDA.
The State of Minnesota established mixing stations and provided storage areas for
the arsenic bait. One of those mixing stations was located at the Stevens County
fairgrounds in Morris, Minnesota (see Figure 1).
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When the grasshopper plagues subsided and more effective pesticides {such as DDT\
were developed, the arsenic baiting program was abandoned. A considerable
amount of bait and arsenic compounds were left over.
The Morris Arsenic site history, including site investigations, has been summarized
below:
1933-1934
19405 (1)
1978-1979
July 1980
October 1980
1981-1982
It has been reported tbat in 1933 or 1934 approximately 1,500 lbs. of
surplus grasshopper bait (laced with arsenic) stored in burlap bags
were moved by the county from the fairgrounds to an old state
gravel pit just south of the intersection of Highways 28 and 5q.
According to reports, in the early 1940s twelve (12) cattle
from a nearby farm strayed from their pasture and apparently
consumed the bait. Mr. Leo Lonergan, a highw~ department
employee, found the dead cattle and the broken bags of bait.
He immediately reported this incident to his supervisor and was
instructed to bu~ the material. Mr. Lonergan has reported
that he haule1 three to four truck loads of soil over a fence
(along the western edge of the pit) to cover the grasshopper
bait. ~r. Lonergan has estimated that the arsenic wastes
were buried 7-8 feet below the surrounding land surface.
During this period, the Highw~ 59 Bypass was constructed
through the area now suspected to be the burial site. The
Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT) and the con-
struction crews were apparently unaware that the arsenic
wastes might have been buried in the area.
~r. Lonergan identified the site to the Stevens County sheriff,
who in turn notified the Minnesota Oollution Control Agency
(MPCA) .
The MPCA staff attempted to locate the arsenic in an area
identified by ~r. Lonergan. Twenty (20) test holes were
drilled in an area near the present location of Monitoring
Well No. B-I0 (see Figure 2). Visual observations and chemical
analysis of two (2) soil samples did not reveal arsenic con-
tamination. Re-evaluation of the site location by ~r. Lonergan
indicated the site to be farther south of his original estimate.
An EPA Field Investigation Team (FIT) conducted a preliminary
soils and hydrogeologic investigation at the Morris Arsenic site.
Twelve (12) monitoring wells were installed. A total of eleven
(11) soil samples were obtained at depths of 3 to 3 1/2 feet and
8 to 8 1/2 feet and ground water samples were collected from the
monitoring wells. Analysis of these samples for their arsenic
content did reveal detectable amounts of arsenic present; however,
the arsenic values in the soil were not outside the natural back-
ground ranges for west-central Minnesota and the arsenic values,; in
the groundwater were high only because the proper technique to ;
sample groundwater for inorgan1cs prior to mid-1983 was to not'
field filter the sample.
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May 1983
August 1983
November 1983
March 1984
June-July 1984
April 1985
Current Site Status
3
The Morris Arsenic site was scored by the EPA using the
Hazardous Ranking System (HRS). The Morris Arsenic site
received a score of 37.99.
The Morris Arsenic site was placed on the National Priorities
L 1st (NPL).
MPCA requested that a RI/FS be performed at the site.
EPA initiates the RI at the site.
EPA conducts on-site field activities for the RI at the
site. The field activities included a geophysical
survey drilling of 47 soil boring and collection of
soil, groundwater, surface water and sediment samples.
The RI report was finalized for the Morris Arsenic site.
The EPA has performed quality assurance/quality control
(QA/QC) reviews of the sample results and all data was
found to be acceptable.
The major findings of the remedial investigation are:
o An area of approximately 5,000 square feet alon9 the western boundary of the
former gravel pit has soil arsenic levels above the average natural background
level (3 to 14 mg/kg) for soil in west-central Minnesota, but not outside
the range of natural levels of arsenic in soil (0.1 mg/kg to 194 mg/kg)1. The
zone of highest contamination is the first 4 to 5 feet below the water
table. The maximum arsenic level found was 104 mg/kg between well B-1 and
B-11 (See Figure 2). Five soil samples had arsenic levels from 50 to 68 mg/kg.
All other soil samples had arsenic levels below 50 mg/kg. The elevated
arsenic levels in the soils are similar to arsenic levels which are typically
found in soils in the U.S.2.
o Migration of arsenic in the groundwater does not appear to be presently
occurring at the site. Analysis of monitoring well water samples found
arsenic concentrations less than 8.2 ug/L with the highest concentration
occurring at well B-3 (See Figure 2). Analysis of residential well
water samples found arsenic concentrations less than 8.5 ug!L (1000 ug!L
equals 1 mg/L or 1 ppm). Levels found in the groundwater were similar
to the average natural background concentration (i.e., 3 ug/l). None of
the arsenic levels in the groundwater are above the National Interim
Drinking Water Standard for arsenic of 50 ug/l.
1 URE, A. M., ET. AL., "ELEMENTAL CONSTITUENTS OF SOILS" in ENVIRONMENTAL
CHEMISTRY, VOL 2, pp 94-204, ed. H. J. M. BOWEN, ROYAl SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY,
BURLINGHOUSE, LONDON, U.K. 1983.
2 Lindsay, W.l., .CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIA IN SOILS., pp 7-8, John Wiley & Sons, 1979.
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o Migration of arsenic via surface or air transport does not appear to be
occurring at the site. Analysis of surface soil, surface water, and
sediment samples did not find arsenic above the natural background con-
centration.
In su~ary, the remedial investigation found arsenic in the gravel pit soil in
concentrations above average background levels, but did not find evidence of
arsenic migration from that location. T~e elevated levels of arsenic in the
50il do not present a hazard since they are buried and are not outside the
range of arsenic found naturally occurring in soil.
, Remedial actions to eliminate or palliate problems associated with this
site are not justified at this time for the following reasons:
1) The site presently poses no imninent health hazard to the public due
to the direction of ground water moveme~t from the site and the minimal
population concentration within the site specific area.
2) Despite the fact that the aquifer is heing used for potable water
purposes, domestic wells within the immediate vicinity of the site
are generally upgradient from the source and are thus, not in a
direct line path of any contamination that may e~nate from the
site.
3) Levels of arsenic found in the soils at the site are within the
range of natural levels of arsenic in soil. The elevated arsenic
levels in the soils are found at depths of 4 to 13 feet below the
ground surface thereby minimizing exposure.
4) Levels of arsenic found in the groundwater are well below the
National Interim Drinking Water Standard for arsenic of 50 ug/L.
Since the site poses no significant threat to public health, welfare or
the environment, the -no-action" alternative was selected and the evaluation
of other alternatives is unnecessary.
Community Relations
Public interest 1n t~e Superfund activities at the Morris Arsenic site ~as
bHnl~.
Copies of the RI report were made available to the community on April 23,19~5.
A public meeting was held the evening of Hay 2, 1985 in the Morris Public
Library to present the results of the RI and the deletion proposal. The public
meeting was attended by seven (7) people including local officials and members
of the press. The public and the ~PCA staff briefly discussed the issue of
placing zoning and building restrictions within the Morris Arsenic site area.
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The reason for considering such restrictions was the potential that the
. process of withdrawing groundwater could draw arsenic from the soils to which
it is adsorbed. The arsenic could concentrate in the area of nearby wells
and thereby could cause levels of arsenic in groundwater withdrawn from these
wells to rise.
The public comment period was from April 23, 1985 to May 14, 1985. The agency
received no written comments from the public regarding the results of the RI or
the proposed deletion during the 3-week public comment period.
Consistency with Other Environmental Laws
The proposed "no-action" alternative is consistent with other environmental
laws. No federal standard exists for maximum arsenic concentration in soil.
. However, if the characteristic of extraction procedure (EP) toxicity exceeds
5 mg/L, contaminated soil would be considered a hazardous waste and remedial
action, such as disposal would be performed according to the requirements of
RCRA. The levels of arsenic in the soils never reached the levels necessary
to conduct the EP toxicity test. Minnesota has established 500 mg/kg total
arsenic as the level which a contaminated soil is considered a hazardous waste
requiring proper disposal. The maximum arsenic level found in the soil at
Morris Arsenic was 104 mg/kg. The maximum arsenic level found in groundwater
samples at the site (8.5 ug/L) is below the National Interim Drinking Water
Standard for arsenic of 50 ug/L.
Recommended Alternative
Section 300.68(j) of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan
states that EPA shall select the cost-effective alternative (i.e. the lowest
cost alternative that is technologically feasible and reliable and which
effectively mitigates and minimizes damage to and provides adequate protection
of public health, welfare, or the environment). EPA has determined that the
"no-action" alternative for the Morris Arsenic site will achieve the above
requirements. No other alternatives were evaluated.
Future Actions
MPCA is considering placing zoning and building restrictions within the Morris
Arsenic site area as a deterrent to future development, thus preventing any
endangerment to the public. The potential for future receptors of groundwater
contaminated with arsenic was considered in the RI report. Placement of a
well in the site area with subsequent usage could concentrate arsenic in
the groundwater drawn from the well to hazardous levels. EPA concurs with the
MPCA recommendation to place zoning and building restrictions at the site.
However, the restrictions are being taken as a precautionary measure and,
are not considered a necessary remedial action.
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Community Relations Responsiveness Summary
Morris Arsenic Site
Morris, Minnesota
Introduct ion
This "Community Relations Responsiveness Summary" documents citizen reaction
and concerns raised in reference to the remedial investigation (RI) and the
proposed deletion from the National Priorities list (NPl) for the Morris. .
Arsenic site in Morris, Minnesota. It also documents, for the public record,
the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) response
to the comments presented during the public comment period on the RI and
the proposed deletion.
Concerns Raised During the Comment Period
The RI was completed on April 15, 1985. Copies of the RI report were made
available to the community on April 23, 1985. The pUblic comment period
was from April 23, 1985 to May 14, 1985.
A public meeting was held the evening of May 2, 1985 in the Morris Public
library to present the results of the RI and the deletion proposal. The
public meeting was attended by seven (7) people including 10cal officials
and members of the press.
The public and the MPCA staff briefly discussed the issue of placing zoning
and building restrictions within the Morris Arsenic site area. Placement
of a well in the site area with subsequent usage could concentrate arsenic
in the groundwater drawn from the well to hazardous levels. Zoning and
building restrictions would preclude the placement of wells within the
site area. EPA concurs with the MPCA recommendation to place zoning and
building restrictions at the site.
The agency received no comments from the public regarding the results of the
RI or the proposed deletion during the 3-week public comment period.
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