The removal action at the residential component of the Western Mineral Products site began in October 2000. Since that time over 1600 residential properties have been inspected for the presence of asbestos containing materials at surface level. Of those, over 260 have been remediated. The asbestos containing materials are suspected to have come from the former Western Mineral Products exfoliation plant, owned and operated by WR Grace until the late 1980's. This facility processed ore from the Libby Montana mine. There is evidence the waste material from the exfoliation process was piled outside the plant and made available to the general public free of charge. Hundreds of neighbors took this waste home and used it as fill in their yards, gardens and driveways.
This year, 2005, we are back to address contamination at a park, Gluek Park, property of the Minneapolis Park District. The Park site is a former brewery and seems like waste from the Western Mineral plant was used as fill when the brewery was demolished. EPA inspected the Park in 2003, found it to be contaminated, and the Park has been closed since. On June 13, 2005, we began removal activities at the site, which encompasses about 2.6 acres including 550 lineal feet along the Mississippi River. The scope of work for this removal includes the stabilization of the slope, excavation and off site disposal of contaminated soils, and the restoration and re-vegetation of the Park. It is expected this project will last at least 4 months.
