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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.h. Public Comment Letter Regarding Remedial Investigation of UMore 2016 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY City Council Regular Meeting: May 16, 2016 AGENDA ITEM: Public Comment Letter Regarding Remedial Investigation of UMore 2016 AGENDA SECTION: Consent PREPARED BY: Kim Lindquist, Community Development Director AGENDA NO. 6.h. ATTACHMENTS: Remedial Investigation Fact Sheet, Extension Letter APPROVED BY: ddj RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to Approve Public Comment Letter and Authorize the Mayor to Sign the Letter SUMMARY A couple of weeks ago the City was notified that the University would undertake another remedial investigation associated with the UMore property. Many of the Council attended the public open house on April 26, 2016 to hear about the anticipated activities being undertaken this summer. As explained to the City, this work continues environmental review that had occurred in past studies, including in 2011-12. It is anticipated that the work will be completed by the end of 2016. The University is in the midst of their public comment process as it relates to the work plan for the remedial investigation of the UMore Park/Former Gopher Ordnance Works (site) in Dakota County. The deadline for comments has been extended to May 17, allowing the Council to take action on the 16th meeting. Staff has prepared some comments, more general in nature, relating to the importance of fully understanding all of the contamination issues on the site, creating a reasonable remediation plan, and coordinating contamination areas appropriate to specific land uses. In other words the anticipated land uses will impact the necessary clean up since there are differing standards for commercial or industrial development versus residential. Ultimately a reasonable development plan, based upon site constraints and market demand should be identified, in part, using this new information. Other comments relate to some of the issues not being addressed in the current work plan such as asbestos and the physical hazards. Also requested is a future public meeting where all environmental issues could be addressed, rather than piecemeal which has occurred at the start of each environmental investigation. As noted in the recent public meeting, there are questions about various areas within UMore that have been addressed in prior meetings or prior reports. Staff has also suggested that all environmental work be housed in one place and assimilated so the City, public and future developers can have easy access. RECOMMENDATION Approve the letter. Remedial Investigation of UMore Park/Former Gopher Ordnance Works, Dakota County, MN April 2016 Introduction The University of Minnesota has prepared this Fact Sheet to provide an overview to the local and University communities of the University’s planned Remedial Investigation (RI) of the University of Minnesota Outreach, Research and Education (UMore) Park/Former Gopher Ordnance Works in Dakota County, Minnesota. The purpose of the RI is to collect information needed to identify and assess potential risks to human health and the environment associated with historical uses of the property, which will be used to identify alternatives to address potential unacceptable chemical risks that may be present. Site Background and Location In 1942 and 1943, the U.S. War Department acquired about 12,000 acres of farmland in Dakota County for the construction of the Gopher Ordnance Works (GOW), a facility that manufactured smokeless gunpowder and related products. Production began in approximately November 1944 and ceased in October 1945. After the war, the federal government declared GOW to be surplus property, demolished most of the buildings, and transferred approximately 8,000 acres and the remaining GOW buildings and infrastructure to the University. Since acquiring the property, the University has used it for agricultural and other research purposes and has also leased some parcels to agricultural and commercial tenants. The UMore Mining Area is located in the western portion of UMore Park, and since 2013, has been used for sand and gravel extraction. Beginning in 2006, the southern 2,822 acres of the property have been used as Vermillion Highlands: A Research, Recreation and Wildlife Management Area that is jointly managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the University for recreation, wildlife management and agricultural research. The Remedial Investigation The University and state and local regulators are seeking a more comprehensive understanding of the environmental condition of the property, including impacts associated with the construction, operation and demolition of the former GOW, and subsequent University research and tenant activities. A number of environmental studies have previously been completed, which have identified the presence of historical releases of constituents of concern (COCs) including heavy metals (lead, arsenic and mercury), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, semi-volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls and petroleum products in soil at limited areas of the property. Most recently, in 2011-2012, the University completed a Remedial Investigation of UMore East, which comprises the eastern two-thirds of UMore Park. The RI will investigate ten (10) areas of known or potential releases identified through prior environmental studies. These areas were selected based upon comments by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to past studies and CR 42 Rosemount Empire Twp Map: UMore Park/Former Gopher Ordnance Works CR 46 The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. recommendations by the Minnesota Department of Health in its draft Public Health Assessment of the Former Gopher Ordnance Works, Dakota County, Minnesota (September 2014). Through a competitive procurement process, the University selected Barr Engineering Company to conduct the RI. A RI is a technical study that characterizes the environmental quality of soil, groundwater and/or other environmental media. It consists of a formal process established under state and federal rules and is intended to systematically identify areas that will require risk evaluation, and suitable remedial actions as necessary. Barr will use a number of investigative techniques including soil borings, test pit excavations and groundwater monitoring points, and will collect and submit soil, groundwater and soil vapor samples for laboratory analysis. The RI field work is scheduled to begin in May 2016. The MPCA serves as the lead regulatory agency for the site, and will review and approve the RI Work Plan and supporting documents. The University is also committed to working cooperatively with Dakota County, the city of Rosemount, Empire Township, and the general public to share information as the RI proceeds. The findings of the RI, and past environmental studies at the property, will be documented in a Final Remedial Investigation Report, which will be made available for public review in late 2016. This RI is the final step in the investigation phase for this site. The RI findings will then be used to identify and assess potential response action alternatives to address the identified releases, consistent with the current and planned use of the property. Community Involvement Opportunities The RI Work Plan, a Community Involvement Plan, a Fact Sheet and further information about the property is available for review at www.umorepark.umn.edu as well at the Information Repository established for the property at the UMore Lease Office, 15325 Babcock Ave, Rosemount, MN 55068. Please contact Mike Waldemar at 651-423-1118 to make arrangements to view documents in the Repository. The University will hold a public meeting on April 26, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Rosemount Community Center, 13885 South Robert Trail (Hwy. 3), Rosemount, MN, to present the Remedial Investigation Work Plan and offer the public an opportunity to provide comments and questions. The MPCA will also accept written public comments to the RI Work Plan and supporting documents from April 11, 2016 to May 12, 2016. Written comments may be provided to the MPCA at the public meeting or by mail or hand delivery to: Mr. Gary Krueger Remediation Division Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 520 Lafayette Road N St. Paul, MN 55155-4194 More Information Please contact Tim Busse, Director of Communications, University Services, University of Minnesota Telephone: 612-624-2863 Email: busse006@umn.edu You may also contact Gary Krueger of the MPCA Remediation Division at 651-757-2509. 4ROSEMOUNT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT May 16 2016 Mr. Gary Krueger Remediation Division Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 520 Lafayette Avenue North ST. Paul, MN 55155-4194 RE: Former Gopher Ordnance Works Remedial Investigation Work Plan April 2016 Dear Mr. Krueger: The purpose of this letter is to submit comments to the MPCA from the City of Rosemount on the Remedial Investigation Work Plan for Umore Park/Former Gopher Ordnance Works. We have reviewed the document and appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback. The City of Rosemount's comments are as follows: There have been numerous site reviews and investigations but there is not one common repository for all the information. As mentioned in the public meeting, areas of the site are not included in the 2016 investigation because they have already been reviewed. However, the current investigation is prompted because 10 areas of significance were not fully investigated in previous environmental reviews. In order to provide the most complete information to the public and affected agencies, Rosemount would request compilation of all date into one document. That would include the results from this investigation as well as the investigations that have occurred over the last fifteen years,including the superfund work. The MPCA should host the document repository and be the contact listed in the community development plan, not the University of Minnesota, as the responsible party While the City appreciates the continued interest in itemizing and defining the extent of contamination on the site,it is unclear why there is not better itemization of the known hazards. For example, at the public comment meeting,it was asked whether this investigation will address the significant deposits of asbestos on the site. Apparently, this study will not address asbestos, although the rationale is not clear. It is understood that asbestos naturally occurs, however, there is general agreement that asbestos related to operation of the GOW continues to exist on site above what would naturally occur. The study should address asbestos or the University should provide a plan regarding how asbestos will be addressed on site. Similarly,it is unclear why other potential hazardous materials are not being identified and categorized to allow future remediation. The City asks that areas that historically had roadways, above and below ground storage tanks and associated lines, pad mounted transformer sites, and any found drywells be investigated and itemized as part of this study or a future one. It is the City's understanding that physical hazards have been fully itemized through work by the University. The University should develop a plan for expeditious removal of these hazards,with priority on the most dangerous to public health and safety. Please submit an action plan to the City addressing this issue for information purposes. SPIRIT OF PRIDE1AND PROGRESS Rosemount City Hall • 2875 145th Street West • Rosemount, MN 55068-4997 651 -423-441 1 • TDD/TTY 651 -423-6219 • Fax 651 -423-5203 www.ci.rosemount.mn.us As the MPCA is aware, extensive redevelopment is planned for much of the site. The City of Rosemount has land-use authority and must make land-use decisions consistent with the level of contamination. Until a full investigation of the site is complete, the site should be secured for the health, safety, and well-being of its citizens as well as our police and fire personal. CERCLA and MERLA must be followed,in order for developers to have confidence in the process that was taken for the investigation and cleanup of the property. The city is ultimately interested in development on the UMore property and has approved a concept plan which is the basis of an AUAR. The University should move forward in aligning the proposed land uses as they relate to known areas of contamination. Analysis of appropriate land uses sited on the property is important to ascertain the level of clean up necessary for differing areas. Under the approved concept, there are significant lands set aside for residential uses which have a higher standard than commercial or industrial uses. The City supports using the Residential Standard for evaluation of known contaminants to assess the feasibility of attaining this standard. There must be more discussion and care in determining future land uses and development standards so the project can become more streamlined and provide a higher level of certainty for future development professionals. The City of Rosemount has worked with representatives of University over the last decade to assist in planning and designing future redevelopment of the UMore property. One of the first steps in facilitating development is to create a financially sustainable remediation plan. The City requests the University, the MPCA, and the Federal Government using the 2016 Remedial Investigation and other environmental documents, to coordinate a reasonable and economically viable plan for site clean-up to permit future incorporation of the property into the development community. There continues to be strong interest in the community relating to contamination, clean up, and future development of the UMore site. As the State agency responsible, the MPCA should provide a public opportunity to review future remediation plans, timing and responsibilities,including the status of the Super Fund site. As an aside, the final Public Health Assessment has not been published. All documentation associated with the environmental review of UMore property should be compiled and easily accessible. We thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Remedial Investigation Work Plan. We look forward to working with the MPCA,MDH and all other agencies with jurisdiction over the former Gopher Ordnance Works on redeveloping the site into a mixed use development within Rosemount that is healthy for our residents and businesses. Sincerely, William H. Droste Mayor cc: George Fischer, Dakota County Environmental Resources Director Dale Glowa, UMore Development LLC President 2