Leech Lake Brownfields Program Diane Thompson Hazardous Waste

Leech Lake Brownfields Program • Diane Thompson Hazardous Waste Manager • Mario Reyes Hazardous Waste Technician

What is a Brownfield? • Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

Funding for Tribes in United States • In 2002, Congress passed the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act • the Brownfields Revitalization Act authorizes $50 million in annual grants between 2002 and 2006 to Tribes and States to develop BRPs • Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) awards grants to Tribes and States

Leech Lake Brownfields Response Program (B. R. P. ) • Initiated in 2003, the BRP is an ongoing multi-year effort by the Band’s Division of Resource Management (“DRM”) to develop a dynamic response program. • Expand the Department’s environmental enforcement capabilities. • Assert the Band’s sovereignty and civil regulatory authority. • Protect the health of the Reservation Population and the quality of the Reservation Environment.

B. R. P. Requirements under CERCLA Section 128(a) • Timely survey and inventory of brownfields sites on Tribal lands • Oversight and enforcement authorities • Effective means to approve, verify, and certify cleanup actions • Meaningful opportunities for public participation • Maintenance of public records.

Steps in Conducting a Brownfields Response Program • • Site discovery Initial investigation Site hazard assessment Site hazard ranking Remedial investigation/feasibility study Selection of a cleanup action Site cleanup

Past and Current Sites • Facility Center –Cass Lake Underground Storage Tanks • Enbridge Pumping Station – Cass Lake • Inger Store • Division of Resource Management (DRM) • Waboose Bay Methamphetamine Lab Site

Facility Center U. S. T. ’s • Two 10, 000 gallon fuel oil tanks on northwest corner of Facility Center • These were removed in 2006 • Picture of tanks outside of Facility Center on next slide

South Cass Lake Station Release • Identified in May 2001 during voluntary monitoring well construction program • Source was from an underground weeping flange. Dug up and fixed, accessible impacted soil removed. • Investigation completed in phases in May 2001, September 2001, August 2002 and October 2003 • Ongoing ground water monitoring 4 times/year

South Cass Lake Pumping Station

U. S. G. S. Survey September 2007 • DRM, Ennbridge and United States Geological • • • Survey (USGS) are in collaboration in dealing with the South Cass Lake Pumping Station Spill USGS finished push-probes work on Sept. 21, 2007 Found the dissolved plume of benzene to be 100 meters (328 ft. ) further to the east-southeast than the original survey Map of past and current plume on next page

U. S. G. S. Future Surveys • Data from September survey will be reviewed to see if any more push-probe data are needed • Decisions will also be made on where to put observation wells • A few links to look at regarding this site: http: //www. lldrmenvironmental. com/Brownfields/Page 06 -Cleanup. htm http: //enbridgecasslake. com/go/site/986/

Inger Store • The site was used as a Grocery Store/Gas Station. • Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is the legal owner of this property. • Phase I Environmental survey completed on 7 -22 -91 • 3 tanks were removed from this site – all of which were in poor condition. • Two suction pumps remain at the site. • Suspected source of the release to the unsaturated soil and groundwater system was attributed to tank overfill. *** This site is ready for use as of 2006***

Inger Store Old Location

Leech Lake DRM Site • Planning to have botanical seed garden put on DRM site • Past owners were Wheeler Lumber/Supply Company • Minnesota Chippewa Tribe construction company • Now owned by Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

DRM Phase I and Phase II work • Phase I – consisted of interviews of past owners and people familiar with the site • It also included searching of databases, and old documents regarding the site. • Possibly some contamination from the RCRA vault to the east and St. Regis superfund site just to the north of the DRM property

DRM – Phase II • Phase II soil sampling completed on DRM site on June 20 th, 2007 • Data still being processed • Next step if needed will be the cleanup phase for the site • Photo of soil sample locations on the site on next page

Waboose Bay Site • A clandestine drug laboratory was seized on June 13, • • 2003 The production of methamphetamine potentially provides immediate and long term health and safety concerns This allotment has been and is currently occupied illegally (trespassing) by unknown individuals. Phase I completed and report sent to EPA in November 2006 It was approved by EPA for Phase II testing

Phase II • Soil Sampling of property completed on October 30 th, 2007 • Samples were sent to STL Labs and we are waiting for the results • Photos included on next few pages of location of Waboose bay and aerial of property

Waboose Location Map

Horse Stable Scattered Solid Waste Pit #3 e Cr 2 Small Trailers e ag Port kj BLDG 1 k e BLDG 3 Scattered Solid Waste kj Pit #2 kj !? ! Dock Pit #1 Active Burn Pits BLDG 2 Outhouse Well BLDG 4

Brownfields 2008 • If needed we plan on starting cleanup process of DRM • • • and Waboose Bay Site. Working with foresty on the cleanup of more open (illegal) dumps around the reservation –currently over 70 dumps located around the reservation. Cleanup of S. Lake open dump site and testing for asbestos and lead at the Onigum church site. Working with the community to locate any other sites that would fall under the brownfields program, as well as any other open dump sites that are not already logged in.

Onigum Church • Approved Site Eligible on November 19 th, 2007 by E. P. A. • Will be doing testing for Lead and Asbestos • Three photos of the onigum church on next three slides

S. Lake illegal Dump Site • Received e-mail from Jane Neumann in Chicago • • • stated that this site is eligible for the brownfields Grant 128(a) to do an assessment Site was located by Keith Karnes and DRM Forestry Department Will do Phase I assessment Spring 2008 Picture and Map location on next two pages

S. Lake illegal dump site