The Southeast Hennepin Area Groundwater and Vapor site is a federally listed Superfund site in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A large plume of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mainly trichloroethylene (TCE), has spread through the area. The contamination was first identified through sampling at a nearby Superfund site and is migrating toward it. The area has hosted commercial and industrial operations since the 1930s, including foundry work, motor manufacturing, metal finishing, dry cleaning, and a gravel pit used for disposal until around 1977. All of these activities may have contributed VOCs to the environment.
TCE has been found in soil vapor, building sub-slab spaces, and indoor air at levels above EPA screening thresholds. Shallow groundwater also contains TCE above both the Safe Drinking Water Act maximum contaminant level and the Minnesota Department of Health health risk limit. The contaminated plume affects commercial properties and residential areas along and south of Hennepin Avenue. Human exposure is not currently under control, meaning unsafe contamination levels have been detected and people could reasonably be exposed.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) managed contamination at the site for several years through state voluntary programs and enforcement actions but was not able to complete a full investigation and cleanup. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) on March 16, 2022. An initial assessment was completed in September 2015. The remedial investigation began on September 23, 2024, and covers the entire site as one operable unit. The combined remedial investigation and feasibility study is expected to finish between December 2027 and February 2028. No cleanup remedy has been selected yet, and no remedial construction has begun. Data on whether groundwater contamination migration is stabilized is also insufficient at this time.
Community members can stay involved through the Community Involvement Plan, which EPA developed after conducting interviews with residents and stakeholders in March and April 2023. The plan guides public participation throughout the cleanup process. Two EPA staff members are available to answer questions directly.
