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The watery home of Duluth’s retired ore carrier William A. Irvin is one
step closer to being cleaned up: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has
selected a remedy that caps Minnesota Slip’s contaminated sediment.
All options considered by the agency and the public were weighed
against four goals: to minimize exposure
to sediment contaminants that contribute to fish-consumption advisories;
minimize exposure of aquatic organisms to contaminated sediments; preserve
water depth to enable the current use of the slip; and, enhance deep water
aquatic habitat where possible.
The selected remedy, with an estimated $1.6 million cost to complete,
met those goals. It was also the least expensive because it moves 2,500 cubic
yards of contaminated sediments to the slip’s deeper areas, covers the levelled
sediment with a three-foot cap and requires no offsite disposal.
In partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers – Detroit office, MPCA staff has begun the design
process. This effort will include a more extensive environmental review and
allow for additional public comment. Funding for the construction portion of
the cleanup is dependent upon the state legislature passes the bonding bill
which contains money for this and other St. Louis River Area of Concern
clean-up projects. Barring unforeseen design or funding delays, construction
could begin in 2018.
The slip’s contamination is the result of a century of industrial and
shipping activities in the Duluth-Superior harbor that left “legacy pollutants”
likely destined for cleanup. The site is one of 10 identified in Minnesota for
cleanup as part of the St. Louis River Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan.
Minnesota Slip is located within the St. Louis River Area of Concern,
one of 43 so-designated Great Lakes basin locations where historic shoreline
alterations and industrial contamination caused impairments affecting its
ability to support wildlife habitat and aquatic life. Successful completion of
the Minnesota Slip remediation project would contribute to a healthier St.
Louis River ecosystem and AOC-wide goals of removing beneficial use impairments
and the AOC designation.
For more information, visit the MPCA’s related web page at http://arcg.is/2bfjTiN or contact Project
Manager Heidi Bauman at Heidi.bauman@state.mn.us,
218-302-6607 or 800-657-3864.
Broadcast version
The watery home of Duluth’s retired ore carrier William A. Irvin is one
step closer to being cleaned up. Of four proposed Minnesota Slip
contaminated-sediment clean-up alternatives, the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency has selected a cost-effective and environmentally-supportive solution.
With an estimated one-and-a-half million dollars cost to complete, the
remedy was the least expensive because it moves 2,500 cubic yards of
contaminated sediments to the slip’s deeper areas, caps it with three feet of
clean material and requires no offsite disposal.
The agency, in partnership with the U-S-E-P-A and U-S Corps of
Engineers – Detroit office, has begun the
design process. Construction funding is dependent upon a successful bonding
session at the Minnesota legislature. Barring unforeseen design or funding
delays, construction could begin in 2018.
For more information, visit the MPCA’s related web page at http://arcg.is/2bfjTiN or contact Project
Manager Heidi Bauman at Heidi.bauman@state.mn.us,
218-302-6607 or 800-657-3864.
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The mission of the MPCA is to protect and improve the environment and enhance human health.
St. Paul • Brainerd • Detroit Lakes • Duluth • Mankato • Marshall • Rochester • Willmar
www.pca.state.mn.us • Toll-free and TDD 800-657-3864
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