&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Availability sessions
EPA is holding informal availability
sessions about the vapor intrusion
testing near the Reilly Tar &
Chemical site on Thursday, March 3,
at the St. Louis Park Public Library,
3240 Library Lane. Please drop in
between 2-4 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. to visit
with an EPA representative.
For more information
For more information about the Reilly
Tar & Chemical site, please contact:
Heriberto Leon
Community Involvement Coordinator
Superfund Division (SI-7J)
EPA Region 5
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
800-621-8431, Ext. 66163,
weekdays, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
leon.heriberto@epa.gov
Michelle Kerr
Remedial Project Manager Superfund
Division (SRF-6J) EPA Region 5
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
800-621-8431, Ext. 68961, weekdays,
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
kerr.michelle@epa.gov
Project documents are available at the
site information repository:
St. Louis Park Public Library 3240
Library Lane
or at:
www. epa.gov/region5/site s/
reillytarmn/
http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/npl/
minnesota/MND980609804.htm
EPA to Investigate Vapor
Intrusion Problem
Reilly Tar & Chemical Site
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
February 2011
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency are trying to find out if vapors from contaminated underground
water supplies in the vicinity of the Reilly Tar & Chemical Superfund site
are causing indoor air pollution in nearby homes. This fact sheet provides an
update on the proposed testing activities, gives a brief background on the site
history and answers frequently asked questions about the testing.
In late February and early March, EPA will be contacting residents to seek
permission to test the air below their basements, slabs or crawl spaces. This
is called "sub-slab" sampling, which tests for gases that may be collecting
beneath building foundations. At issue is an environmental problem called
"vapor intrusion" that occurs when chemicals in the underground water give
off potentially hazardous gases that can rise up through the soil and seep into
buildings through foundation cracks and holes.
Sampling of residences where permission has been given will be conducted in
late March or early April. EPA contractors will be visiting homes to install the
sampling equipment during normal business hours.
Site background
The 80-acre Reilly Tar & Chemical site is bound to the north by West 32nd Street
and to the south by Walker Street in St. Louis Park. The property extends east of
Louisiana Avenue and about 1,200 feet west of Louisiana Avenue.
The Reilly Tar location was used for coal tar distillation and wood preserving
from 1917 to 1972. The site was sold to St. Louis Park and converted to
recreational and residential uses in 1972. Waste was disposed of on-site in
several ditches that flowed to an adjacent wetland. The wastes generated by
Reilly Tar were mostly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which
contaminated the soil and ground water beneath the site. About 43,000
people use the ground water from aquifers near the site, but the treated
drinking water is safe from site pollution.
In 1982 EPA provided funds to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to
clean two contaminated wells that had been used to dispose of site wastes.
In 1984 EPA issued a legal order, and Reilly Tar & Chemical constructed
a treatment system to clean two contaminated municipal wells, restore
drinking water, and stop site wastes from contaminating additional wells.
The company, EPA and MPCA subsequently signed a consent decree in
September 1986. Additional pumping wells and treatment facilities were
installed from the late 1980s to mid-1990s.
To monitor these cleanup activities, the federal Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA known
as the Superfund law) requires a five-year review process for contaminated
sites such as Reilly Tar.
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The purpose of this
requirement is to make sure
that sites that are cleaned up
continue to protect human
health and the environment.
There have been three five-
year reviews conducted by
MPCA and EPA for the Reilly
Tar site in 1996,2001 and
2006.
The second five-year review in
2001 concluded that cleanup
actions were protecting human
health but recommended
additional ground water
monitoring and testing be
performed to ensure long-term
protection.
In September 2006, the third
five-year review concluded the
treatment system to clean the
contaminated wells continues
to provide safe drinking water
and protect human health and
the environment. However,
ground water testing indicated
the potential for contamination
in the Prairie du Chien aquifer
and possible vapor intrusion
into buildings near the site.
Recommendations of
2006 review
The following are some of the
recommendations and follow-
up actions from the 2006 five-
year review:
Evaluate the need for additional monitoring and
pumping schemes of wells.
Monitor the possible vertical flow of contamination
between underground drinking water aquifers.
Evaluate the potential for vapor intrusion into on-site
buildings.
Prepare site controls, such as signs, to restrict access
and protect human health.
Evaluate monitoring, well construction and
compliance with Minnesota Department of Health
well codes.
Site Location
Frequently asked questions
O Why are some households being asked to participate and
others not?
A Properties have been identified for testing, because
they are located on or near the Reilly Tar & Chemical
Superfund site where EPA would like to test for
possible PAH contamination. PAHs are chemicals that
are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil,
gas, garbage and other organic substances, and are
found in coal tar, crude oil, creosote and roofing tar.
() Is the drinking water safe?
A Yes, the city's drinking water is safe. Drinking water
is drawn from deep aquifers that have been treated
and tested.
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() Why is the sub-slab testing necessary?
A Testing is necessary to identify specific locations
where contamination may be present so that cleanup
activities can be planned, if necessary, to ensure the
health of residents. For more information on the health
effects of PAHs go to the Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry information page at
www. atsdr. cdc. gov/substance s/toxsubstance.
asp?toxid=25.
O How will sampling be done?
A With the owner's permission, EPA will test the soil gas
under properties to determine if any contamination is
present. It will take about two weeks for workers to
test all of the homes near the site. EPA contractors will
drill a small hole in the basement or crawl space floor
to collect a sub-slab sample. The hole will be filled
or patched once the sampling has been completed.
Collecting the samples for PAHs will take a few
hours (partially automated). Collecting samples for
another class of chemicals called volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) will take 24 hours (automated).
Sub-slab samples will be taken because they can
be more accurate than indoor air samples, which
can be compromised by the presence of common
household products such as cleaners and paint. The
sub-slab sample will be sent to a certified laboratory
for analysis. If contamination is detected below
the surface, EPA may conduct further sampling, or
facilitate installation of cleanup systems.
() Why are we concerned about PAH contamination?
A There is usually no detectable odor from low levels
of PAHs. Breathing these low levels for long periods,
however, may increase the risk of health problems.
EPA wants to protect people's health by identifying
and eliminating any harmful vapors in people's
basements, even if the risks are very low.
() If PAHs are detected under my property, what then?
A If the sample results indicate PAHs above safe levels,
EPA will quickly work with the affected residents and
owners to determine if further testing or mitigation
is needed. EPA will facilitate a response to any
immediate health threat using its emergency authority
under federal law, if necessary.
O Where can I learn more about vapor intrusion?
A If you would like more information, go to
www.epa.gov/ada/gw/vapor.html.
A vapor removal system.
Sub-slab sampling canister and probe.
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Question & Answer Sessions
EPA is holding informal question and answer sessions about the air quality
testing and the Reilly Tar & Chemical site on:
Thursday, March 3
St. Louis Park Public Library
3240 Library Lane
2-4 p.m. or 6-8 p.m
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