The sites include Dison’s Cleaners and Launderers in Rochester, a former dry cleaner site in St. Paul at Selby Avenue and Grotto Street North, and Electronic Industries in New Hope. Each site poses risks due to contamination, with no responsible party available to conduct cleanups.
The two former dry-cleaning sites could pose vapor intrusion and groundwater risks from the solvent tetrachloroethylene (PCE, PERC) and trichloroethylene (TCE). The former manufacturing and metal plating site, Electronic Industries, had a TCE release from an underground storage tank that caused soil, soil vapor, and groundwater contamination.
The MPCA has been actively investigating these sites. At Dison’s Cleaners, a vapor mitigation system was installed, and soil vapor testing continues. In St. Paul, vapor mitigation systems were installed in 20 buildings after high PCE levels were detected. At Electronic Industries, New Hope redeveloped the site, installing a soil vapor extraction system operational since 2006.
Long-term exposure to PCE and TCE, chemicals found at these sites, can have severe health effects, including increased cancer risk.
Residents can review and comment on the proposal by visiting the SmartComment portal on the MPCA website or sending mail to the MPCA office in St. Paul. Following the comment period, the MPCA will review feedback and finalize decisions on site additions to the priority list.
Read the original article on kimt.com
