East Bethel Demolition Landfill

Overview

East Bethel Demolition Landfill is a former 60-acre landfill in East Bethel Township, Minnesota, that accepted demolition debris and hazardous industrial wastes from 1974 to 1994. The site holds roughly 1.2 million cubic yards of waste. Volatile organic compounds turned up in on-site monitoring wells in 1981, and EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986. EPA deleted the site from the NPL in 1996 after key cleanup actions were completed and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) took over long-term management through its Closed Landfill Program.

Six contaminants of concern have been identified in groundwater at the site. They are 1,1-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, benzene, chloroethene (vinyl chloride), cis-1,2-dichloroethene, and dichloromethane (methylene chloride). All six are being addressed through a groundwater pump and treat system that extracts contaminated water through vertical wells, treats it in an aeration basin, and discharges treated water to surface water under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

Cleanup also included constructing a new landfill cap and installing an active gas control system in 2006 and 2007. Institutional controls, including a zoning change to "Closed Landfill Restricted" made by Hampton Township in 2004, limit land uses and provide additional protection. MPCA continues to operate and maintain the landfill and groundwater treatment systems. The agency has also planted native grasses on portions of the property to create wildlife habitat.

Human exposure to contaminants is currently under control, meaning no unacceptable exposure pathways exist at this time. However, EPA has insufficient data to determine whether the migration of contaminated groundwater is stabilized, and the site has not yet achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status. EPA conducts five-year reviews to verify the cleanup stays protective. The most recent review was completed in August 2021 and concluded that response actions continue to operate and function as designed. The next five-year review is estimated to occur between August and October 2026.

Community members who have observations about site conditions or concerns about the cleanup can share them with EPA as part of the ongoing five-year review process. Site records are available at East Bethel City Hall, located at 2241 221st Avenue NE in Cedar, Minnesota. Questions can be directed to the EPA staff assigned to the site or to the MPCA.