EPA to Oversee Superfund Site in Minneapolis
The General Mills/Henkel Corp. Superfund site was previously overseen by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
- By Alex Saurman
- Dec 09, 2022
The EPA is adding a Minnesota Superfund site to the list of locations it oversees.
According to a news release, previously run by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, (MPCA) the General Mills/Henkel Corp. Superfund in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will now be under the oversight of the EPA. MPCA, which had overseen the site since 1984, requested that it pass the torch to the EPA.
One of the reasons MPCA made the request is because the site is close to another Superfund site—Southeast Hennepin Area Groundwater and Vapor—that the EPA already oversees. The EPA said that “the possibility that the contaminant plumes of both sites currently overlap or may in the future” was another factor.
These sites also share a “primary contaminant concern:” trichloroethylene. Exposure to this carcinogen can lead to dizziness, confusion and liver problems, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health said.
In addition, having the agency oversee both sites would be “more efficient, straightforward, and cost-effective,” according to the news release.
Training and an open house will be held on December 14 as an opportunity to talk to the public about the process. The event, hosted by the EPA, will take place at the Van Cleve Recreation Center Gym in Minneapolis. Superfund training will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The open house will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Photo credit: Bob Korn / Shutterstock.com
About the Author
Alex Saurman is the Content Editor for Environmental Protection.