Superfund site homes tested

By Molly Miron

Pioneer Editor

      Testing of homes on the St. Regis Paper Superfund site in Cass Lake showed two with levels of dioxin or arsenic that may slightly increase long-term health risks to residents, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

      The St. Regis Paper Co. operated in Cass Lake as a wood preserving plant from 1957 until it was closed in 1985. Champion Paper bought the St. Regis Paper Co. in 1985. It was designated a Superfund cleanup site in 1984. The plant was situated west of Pike Bay, east of State Highway 371, south of U.S. Highway 2 and north of Fox Creek. International Paper bought the site in 2000.

      According to Don de Blasio of the Chicago EPA office, International Paper, as the company currently responsible for cleaning up soil and groundwater contamination around the site, had been ordered by the EPA to evaluate the level and extent of contamination at the site. Of the 42 homes in the area, International Paper collected dust samples from 10. IP conducted the sampling in October as part of a health risk assessment.

      EPA officials are examining what action is necessary.

      “We’re going to do something to help these people,” said de Blasio.

      De Blasio said none of the samples show levels of contamination that require immediate action. However, the EPA representatives will hold public availability sessions on March 21 and 22. De Blasio and Tim Drexler of the EPA will set up a site for the meetings with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Liaison Ed Fairbanks.

      “The Superfund is divided up into two programs: one program for emergency response and one program for remedial, or long-term response,” Drexler said.

      He said the EPA officials are discussing with IP the options for making the homes with health risk levels of contaminants safe. Options could include removing and replacing carpet, arranging for a thorough house cleaning and covering the yards with new soil and sod. They are working with the Minnesota Department of Health and U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry on the health risk assessments.

      Drexler said the EPA would decide on necessary action. Then there would be a 30-day comment period followed by implementation.

      Drexler said EPA officials are also discussing whether more houses should undergo testing for contaminants related to the Superfund Site.

      Information about the St. Regis Superfund is available on the EPA Web site at www.epa.gov/region5/sites/stregis. Technical documents are on file at the Leech Lake Division of Resource Management, Leech Lake Tribal College, Cass Lake City Clerk’s office and Bemidji State University Library.

      Residents received letters concerning the informational meetings. If they have questions, they can call the Region 5 EPA office between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays at (800) 621-8431 and ask for Drexler at extension 34367 or de Blasio.