Freeway Sanitary Landfill

Overview

The Freeway Sanitary Landfill covers 150 acres in Burnsville, Minnesota. It has been on the National Priorities List (NPL) since June 1986. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is leading cleanup through its Closed Landfill Program, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stepped back from direct enforcement to let that state program take the lead.

The landfill contains battery casings and aluminum furnace slag. These materials have leached hazardous chemicals into groundwater. Gas probes have detected explosive levels of methane next to the landfill, and no gas venting system is currently in place. Methane detectors and air exchange systems are running inside on-site buildings to protect workers. Contaminated groundwater flows into nearby Kraemer Quarry, which supplies drinking water to several communities. That water is treated to meet safety standards. When quarry operations eventually stop, groundwater is expected to flow directly into the Minnesota River, just north of the site. Contaminants in the groundwater already exceed many regulatory standards for human health and environmental protection.

EPA's performance measures show that groundwater migration is under control with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. However, human exposure status is listed as insufficient data, meaning current assessments have not produced enough reliable information to determine whether exposures are controlled. Construction cleanup is not complete, and the full range of risks to human health and the environment is not yet fully understood.

The MPCA completed a Focused Remedial Investigation Report and a Focused Feasibility Study Report, both in October 2019. The feasibility study is being used to evaluate cleanup options. Key remaining steps include completing the remedial investigation, selecting a remedy, finishing construction, and completing a five-year review before the site can be removed from the NPL. Remedial action is estimated to begin between December 2027 and February 2028. One business currently operates at the site, employing five people and generating roughly $8,010,000 in annual sales revenue.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. State-level questions can be directed to the MPCA. Site records are available for public review at the MPCA office at 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.