University of Minnesota (Rosemount Research Center)

Overview

The University of Minnesota Rosemount Research Center is an agricultural research station in Rosemount, Minnesota. It was added to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986 after contamination was found in soil and groundwater. Past tenants, including George's Used Equipment, Porter Electric and Machine Company, and U.S. Transformer, operated a burn pit and three disposal areas that left behind the contamination. The site was later deleted from the NPL on February 6, 2001, after cleanup goals were met.

Four contaminants drive the cleanup at this site. Chloroform, a volatile organic compound (VOC), was found in groundwater. Lead and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found in soil. Copper was also present in soil. These contaminants posed risks through ingestion or direct contact.

Cleanup was handled by the University of Minnesota under oversight from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and EPA. The work was split into four operable units (OUs), each targeting a specific type of contamination. Groundwater cleanup used extraction wells, hydraulic containment, and treated-water reuse for irrigation, plus permanent replacement of water supplies for 27 nearby residences. Lead-contaminated soil was excavated and hauled off-site, with revegetation completed in 1990. PCB-contaminated soil was excavated, treated on-site using thermal desorption, and had off-gas treated as well. Overall construction finished on June 29, 1994. An update in 2014 added institutional controls, such as zoning restrictions, to the PCB soil remedy.

Today, human exposure to contamination is under control across the entire site. Contaminated groundwater migration has been stabilized and there is no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site achieved "Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use" status on September 18, 2015, meaning all cleanup goals for current and expected future land uses have been met. Zoning restrictions remain in place to prevent residential use and limit activities that could conflict with cleanup levels. EPA completed its sixth five-year review on June 9, 2022, to confirm the cleanup continues to protect people and the environment. The next five-year review is expected between June and August 2027.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.