SUPERFUND AND BROWNFIELDS
at Work in
North Dakota
2009
Region 8
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North Dakota
Table of Contents
Section Page
Introduction
Executive Summary 1
Congressional District Map 3
1. Remedial Program
Arsenic Trioxide Site 5
Minot Landfill 7
2. Removal Program
Red River Flood 9
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Hxtx l: j ivi; Summary
Years ago people were far less aware of how the mismanagement ol industrial chemicals
and hazardous wastes could aflcct public health and the environment. On thousands of
properties across the nation the result was abandoned waste sites that poisoned land,
water and natural environments, and threatened the health of the inhabitants. Since 1980,
when Congress and the President created the Superllind program. HPA has cleaned up
over one thousand of the worst contaminated sites across the countrv. These cleanups
ha\e helped to make communities safer for millions of Americans. HPA Region N has
had a substantial role in this successful effort.
Many Region N communities were left to deal with the consequences of decades of
en\ ironmental neglect, but Superfund cleanups are changing that. Since PWh 63 Mies in
the Region have been placed on the National Priority List (NPL) which contains the sites
that present the greatest risk to human health, public welfare and the em ironment. By
the end ol 2£!0X, the HP A had completed cleanup at 33 of these sites.
Along with the progress on the NPL sites, hundred of hazardous waste sites in Region N
ha\ e been cleaned up by the Superfund Retmnal program. The remo\al program has
reduced risks to the public and the environment from abandoned drums, derailed train
cars leaking chlorine gas. mine wastes left in towns and sensitive ecosystems, and manv
other similar hazards.
In recent years Region S's Superfund program has increased its emphasis on the reuse
and rede\elopment of contaminated sites. Cleaning up these properties and promoting
reuse can help reinvigorate communities, preserve green space, and protect public health
and the em ironment. In addition, we've begun incorporating new "Green Remediation"
technologies into our cleanups. Hxamples include the use of wind, w ater and solar power
to pro\ ide clean, renewable energy to power treatment systems.
The job of cleaning up hazardous waste sites continues to he a formidable challenge. We
at HPA are blessed with an exceptionally talented and experienced workforce of
em ironmental professionals including engineers, scientists, community imohement
specialists, attorneys, and support personnel. All are dedicated to cleaning up and
restoring contaminated sites to beneficial use. But as talented as the HPA workforce is.
we would not be able to carrv out our mission without the support and commitment of
our partners in state and local government, community groups, and the general public.
Together we can continue to move forward in making the communities and ecosy stems
of this region, safer and healthier places to li\c. work and play.
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Minot
Landfill
50
100 Miles
vvEPA
Spirit Lake
Cleanups (4)
Red Riverj l
Arsenic
Trtoxide
Site
Legend
J
Removals
Brownfields
(S) NPL
North Dakota
Congressional District
North Dakota
Superfund, Removal
and
Brownfield
Sites
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Section I
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wos7*7,
Recent
Accomplishments:
• During the summer of
2008, approximately
60 additional rural
users were connected
to a public water sup-
ply because of elevated
arsen ic concent) ations
in their drinking water
wells (Segment 3).
» The construction con-
tract for Segment 4
was recently awarded.
Construction is antici-
pated to begin in early
June to connect an
additional 150 rural
users to a public water
system.
Superfund Remedial
Arsenic Trioxide
Southeast North Dakota
Congressional District—At Large
About the Site
The Arsenic Trioxide site
is located in southeastern
North Dakota and covers
approximately 26 townships
(about 568 square miles) in
Richland and Sargent coun-
ties. The area is sparsely
populated farmland with a
few small towns, including
Lidgerwood, Wyndmere,
Milnor and Hankinson.
Groundwater aquifer sys-
tems include shallow glacial
drift aquifers, approximately
three to 150 feet deep, and
the Dakota Sandstone aqui-
fer, approximately 200 to
1,000 feet deep.
Groundwater with ele-
vated arsenic levels appears
to be limited to the shallow,
unconfined glacial draft aq-
uifers and does not extend
into the deeper sandstone
unit.
The upper aquifer is com-
monly used as a drinking
water source in the region.
Site Background
The occurrence of arsenic
in groundwater is attributed
to both the historic use of
arsenic-based grasshopper
bait in the 1930s and natu-
rally occurring sources in the
early 1940s.
EPA conducted a Reme-
dial Investigation in
1985 to determine the nature
and extent of arsenic con-
tamination in the groundwa-
ter in southeastern North Da-
kota.
The RI identified several
groundwater wells that ex-
ceeded the Safe Drinking
Water Act (SDWA) Maxi-
mum Contaminant Level
(MCL) for arsenic, which, at
the time, was 0.05 milligrams
per liter fmg/L).
Once the Rl was com-
pleted. EPA conducted a
Feasibility Study to evaluate
options, or remedies, to pro-
tect human health and the
environment in the areas
identified in the Rl where
the arsenic contamination
was not only naturally oc-
curring but could be attrib-
uted, at least in part, to the
bait application or storage.
Percent of
Construction Complete
100
Cleanup Approach
50
25
The remedy for the Arse-
nic Trioxide site provided for
the expansion of three water
treatment plants, approxi-
mately 300 miles of water
distribution pipeline, addi-
tional water storage reser-
voirs and tanks, and addi-
tional water supply wells.
The remedy was com-
pleted in June 1993, and the
site was removed from the
National Priorities List (NPL)
in 1996. At the time of the
remedy, the SWDA MCL for
arsenic was 0.05 mg/L, which
became (he cleanup action
level.
Then, in 2001, the MCL
for arsenic was lowered from
0.05 mg/L to 0.01 mg/L.
The new standard became
enforceable in January
2006. The new MCL
prompted a Five-Year Re-
view in June 2003 that de-
termined the remedy was no
longer protective of human
health.
As a result of the review.
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Arsenic Trioxide
Cleanup Approach Continued
the communities of Wyndmere and
Hankinson were connected to the
public water supply system. Con-
struction activities also included
the expansion of the Southeast Wa-
ter Users District water treatment
plant.
These construction activities
were conducted between 2005 and
2007.
In addition to these activities, sam-
pling was conducted to determine if the
wells of rural water users exceeded the
new arsenic standard.
EPA is working with the state of
North Dakota to provide safe drinking
water to area residents whose well wa-
ter exceeds the arsenic MCL. If well
water exceeded the arsenic standard,
users were provided bottled water as a
temporary measure.
EPA completed the third Five-Year
Review in September 2008, The review
indicated that human health will be pro-
tected in the long-term upon completion
of the planned remedial actions and the
implementation of institutional controls.
Construction activities at the site arc
expected to be completed in 2011. The
next Five-Year Review will be completed
by September 2013.
Points of Interest
The Arsenic Trioxide site has
received $10 to S25 million in new
funding through the American Re-
covery and Reinvestment Act of
2009. The additional funds will be
used to provide 180 households in
the Richland, Ransom and Sargent
counties with safe drinking water.
EPA and the state of North Dakota
will connect rural water users to a
public water supply because many
drinking water wells in the area arc
contaminated with elevated levels
of arsenic. The funding will also pay
for the expansion of water treatment
and distribution facilities. When these
homes arc connected to the water sys-
tem, the cleanup work at the Arsenic
Trioxide site will be complete.
EPA is working with the state of
North Dakota to ensure that residents
within the site boundary have safe
drinking water. EPA has developed an
additional decision document that de-
scribes: I) the rationale for connecting
approximately 330 additional rural users
to the rural water service; 2) the expan-
sion of the rural water treatment plant and
storage capacities; and 3) institutional
controls necessary to protect future airal
users from unknowingly drinking arsenic-
contaminated water. The decision docu-
ment (Explanation of Significant Differ-
ences) was developed in cooperation with
(he North Dakota Department of Health,
and signed in February 2009.
Contacts
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver, CO 80202-1129
Fran Costanzi
Remedial Project Manager
Phone; (303) 312-6571
E-Mail; Costanzi.France5@EPA.gov
John Daltgn
Community Involvement Coordinator
Phone: (303) 312-6633
E-Mail: DaltonJohn@EPA.gov
P North Dakota Department of Health
918 East Divide Avenue, 4th Floor
Bismarck, ND 58501
Carl Anderson
Supervisor, Ground Water Protection
Program
Phone: (701) 328-5213
E-Mail: cjanders@nd.gov
EPA Web Site: www.epa.gov/region8
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NORTH DAKOTA - Superfund Remedial
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Minot Landfill
Superfund Remedial
Minot, North Dakota
Congressional District—At Large
Recent
Accomplishments:
,-1 Five- Year Review was completed in
September 2006 which determined
that the remedy remains protective of
human health and the environment.
The next five year review will he con-
ducted in September 2011.
About the Site
Between 1961 and 1971 the
City of Minot, North Dakota
operated a landfill, where it re-
ceived municipal and industrial
wastes. EPA placed the site on
its National Priorities List
(NPL) in 1989 and, after imple-
menting all cleanup actions at
the site, deleted the site from the
Site Background
NPL in March, 1997.
EPA has completed two
Five Year Reviews since the
site was deleted from the NPL.
In both reviews EPA deter-
mined that the remedy remains
protective of human health and
the environment.
Percent of
Construction Complete
100%
The Minot Landfill Site, lo-
cated about one mile southwest
of downtown Minot, North Da-
kota, covers approximately 26
aeres. Land use in the site vi-
cinity is light industrial and resi-
dential. Areas southwest of the
site are used for agriculture.
Contaminants of concern at
the site included: benzene and
compounds; other volatile or-
ganic compounds (VOCs); met-
als including arsenic, copper
and zinc; and phenol and com-
pounds. Studies addressed
ground water, surface water,
soil, sediment and landfill
gases. Studies also evaluated
risks to adult residents, occupa-
tional workers and children
who live, work or play near the
site.
The cleanup occurred dur-
ing July, August and Septem-
ber 1996. The state of North
Dakota and EPA approved the
Final Remedial Action Com-
pletion Report on November
29, 1996.
Cleanup Approach
The landfill cleanup involved
joint city, state, and federal actions,
and included:
• Installing drains to collect leachate
(water contaminated by percolat-
ing through waste materials buried
within the landfill) for conveyance
to the city of Minot waste-water
treatment facility, and pipes to
vent landfill gases to protect the
clay cap;
• Installing a groundwater monitor-
ing system;
• Implementing "institutional con-
trols" that restrict or control land
use within, and next to, the land-
fill.
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Minot Landfill
Contacts
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver, CO 80202-1129
Kathie Atencio (EPR-SR)
Remedial Project Manager
Phone: (303) 312-6803
E-Mail: Atencio.Kathie@epa.gov
North Dakota Department of Health
j ¦ Missouri Office Building
W Bismarck, ND 58504
Steve Tillotson
Project Manager
Phone: (701) 328-5166
EPA Web Site: http://www.epa.gov/region8
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NORTH DAKOTA - SUPERFUND REMEDIAL
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Superfund Removal
North Dakota-Red River
Flood
North Dakota
Congressional District—At Urge
About the Site
Recent
Accomplishments:
• River levels are
dropping in the Red
River Basin, and it
appears that the
threat has passed. It
does not appear that
EPA will he needed
for long-term JIo od
response in the area.
* EPA continues to
monitor the Devil's
Lake area.
In 2009, snowpack in many areas of
North Dakota was 400% of normal. Heavy
snowmelt and rainstorms increased the risk
of severe flooding in the rivers of North Da-
kota. Many towns and cities were threatened
Cleanup Approach
including Minot, Bismarck and Fargo. The
Governor issued a state-wide disaster declaration
in anticipation of potential flooding. On March
24, 2009, the President issued a Federal Disaster
Declaration.
EPA staff engaged in pre-planning with the North Dakota Departments of Health, and Emer-
gency Services, FEMA, and the Department of Health and Human Services. EPA staff were de-
ployed to serve in the Emergency Operations Center in Bismarck under Emergency Support Func-
tion #10, Oil and Hazardous Materials. Additionally, EPA water sector experts were deployed
under Emergency Support Function #3. Public Works, to work with the Army Corps of Engineers
in consulting with local governments on protecting and assessing damage to drinking water and
waste water systems.
••••••••••••
Percent of
Construction Complete
Points of Interest
EPA sent letters to facilities that store oil
reminding them to review, update and ensure
they are familiar with their facility-specific
Facilities Response Plan. This plan outlines
how the facility will respond if oil is released
in order to prevent contamination to "waters
of the United States."
Because the Red River flows north into Can-
ada. close coordination was required with that
country.
80%
75
50
2b
Contacts
Shun-Ping Chau
On-5cene Coordinator
Phone; (303) 312-6848
E-Mail: Chau. shun-ping@epa.gov
EPA Web Site:http://www.epa.gov/region8
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