Oops

Star Tribune Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:08:05 GMT
Tainted ballpark dirt ends up near river

Tons of contaminated soil from the site of the new Twins stadium is piled in a flood plain beside the Minnesota River while the Ballpark Authority, contractors and the state wrangle over its disposal. Thousands of tons of contaminated soil excavated from the site of the new Twins ballpark was improperly placed in a flood plain last summer, and the stadium's owner estimates it now could cost up to $1 million to correct the problem. The Minnesota Ballpark Authority said it learned only last month that 30,000 cubic yards of dirty soil was not deposited inside a lined Burnsville landfill, as ordered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The dirt -- contaminated with petrochemicals from downtown industrial sites and parking areas -- was instead diverted by Waste Management Inc. to an area near but outside the lined facility so the company could use it to build a levee to expand its 220-acre landfill on the Minnesota River. That plan was put on hold when officials from the MPCA and Dakota County found out about the diversion. The county has threatened fines and possible prosecution against the company if the soil is not moved. The large pile of dirt, equivalent to 2,800 dump-truck loads, has been sitting in a flood plain near the river since June while the company, government agencies and the Ballpark Authority wrangle over disposing of the dirt and who should pay for moving it a second time.

Note: I have often wondered where the dirt goes when I watch trucks leaving a contamination site. Stephan
[[keywords: LandUse;Metro;]]