Mn: Containing the arsenic in the neighborhood of south Minneapolis

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Containing the arsenic in the neighborhood

Chao Xiong, Star Tribune

December 22, 2004 ARSENIC1222

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5149770.html

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Recent testing by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency shows that

the arsenic contamination in the neighborhood of south

Minneapolis might be more widespread than first thought.

Tests of residential property about four blocks outside an area tested

earlier by the State Agriculture Department found one sample with 1,200

parts per million of arsenic. State testing had shown samples with at

most 300 parts per million; most were between 10 and 200 parts per million.

Arsenic is a poison that in high doses can cause cancer and other

diseases. The Minnesota Department of Health said it has not received

reports of any arsenic-related health problems from residents in the

affected area.

" Right now [the contamination] is relatively small. Right now, " said Ken

Rhame, on-site coordinator for the EPA. " But it's got the potential to

expand to a large [contamination]. I say that because we really saw some

of the samples that were relatively a long distance from the site are

still relatively high in concentration. It doesn't seem to be dropping off. "

State Health Department officials have said anything above 10 parts per

million is a concern; the EPA uses 30 to 40 parts per million as a

benchmark.

Wind might have blown arsenic from a five-acre industrial site at the

corner of E. 28th St. and Hiawatha Av. For 25 years, Reade Manufacturing

Co. made and stored arsenic-based grasshopper pesticides there. Reade

was closed in 1963 and the property was rented to U.S. Borax to store

chemicals and other products.

The so-called " Arsenic Triangle " is now owned by Chicago real estate

company CMC Heartland.

Earlier this month the EPA finished cleaning 29 residential yards that

tested at 95 parts per million or more. About 30 yards that tested

between 30 to 95 parts per million are awaiting cleanup next year, Rhame

said.

CMC Heartland Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Adelson said the company

plans to clean up the Reade site but has not reached an agreement with

the EPA about cleaning nearby private property.

" We don't, at the moment, have the cash on hand to also complete the

project they have proposed for the off site, " he said. " We looked at

possibly either doing a part of it ourselves or contributing part of the

cash. "

U.S. Borax is working with CMC Heartland to clean the industrial site,

said Keefe, manager of internal and external communications for

U.S. Borax, which is based in California.

Following protocol, the EPA identified CMC Heartland and U.S. Borax as

" potentially responsible parties " for the contamination and asked them

to help subsidize cleaning up residential property. The EPA is paying

for cleanup and might sue the companies to recoup costs.

Adelson would not say whether CMC Heartland considers itself responsible

for the contamination of residential property. Keefe said U.S. Borax is

not responsible for the contamination.

" We feel confident that Borax's operation did not affect residential

properties to the extent that residential contamination can be traced to

the ... site, " she said. " It's almost likely attributed to Reade, " Keefe

said.

The EPA plans further testing, Rhame said. The EPA also might conduct

geochemical testing to trace the origin of the contaminants.

Chao Xiong is at cxiong@... <mailto:cxiong@...>

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