The Whittaker Corp. site covers 7.5 acres in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It operated as an industrial facility dating back to the 1940s, including wartime production of antifreeze and oil packaging, and later expanded into industrial coatings and steel distribution. Storage of large chemical volumes in above-ground and underground tanks contaminated both soil and groundwater. The main contaminants are heavy metals, including cadmium and lead, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are carbon-based chemicals that evaporate easily and can be harmful when inhaled or ingested.
The Whittaker Corporation, acting as a responsible party, led early cleanup work. Between 1983 and 1985, the company removed waste drums and tanks and treated contaminated soil. Groundwater was pumped and treated from 1985 to 1994. Construction of the cleanup remedy finished in April 1992. EPA and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) conducted five-year reviews in the 1990s and found the response actions were protective of human health and the environment. A 1998 groundwater report confirmed that groundwater no longer presented a risk, and EPA deleted the site from the National Priorities List (NPL) in February 1999.
Today, EPA has determined that human exposure is under control. There are no unacceptable human exposure pathways, and contaminated groundwater is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Physical construction of the cleanup is complete across the entire site. However, the site has not yet achieved "sitewide ready for anticipated reuse" status, meaning some criteria, such as meeting all cleanup goals or putting all required land-use restrictions in place, have not been fully satisfied. EPA continues monitoring to confirm that affected groundwater stays within the original area of contamination. Seven businesses currently operate on site, employing 51 people and generating about $5.1 million in annual sales.
Institutional controls remain in place to limit exposure to any remaining contamination. Zoning restrictions prohibit residential uses and other land uses that would be inconsistent with the cleanup level. These protections are intended to ensure the remedy continues to work as intended over the long term.
Community members with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly. Records related to Superfund work at this site are available for public review at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency office at 520 Lafayette Road North in St. Paul, Minnesota.
