MN Brightfields Initiative

Project

Site / Project Name	Anoka-Ramsey Closed Landfill Brightfield Development for LMI Energy Assistance
Brownfield Site Address	14730 Sunfish Boulevard NW, Ramsey, MN 55303
Site Owner	Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Clear Title	Yes
Owner Contaminator	No
Former Use	The Landfill was operated as a sanitary landfill 'dump' from 1967 until it was permitted in 1972 and closed in 1993. The waste footprint is about 65 acres. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) took over responsibility for the Landfill in 1997 when the MPCA and Waste Management signed the Landfill Cleanup Agreement and the MPCA issued the Notice of Compliance. The Land Management Area (LMA) is currently owned by the MPCA.
Land Use	As listed on the City of Ramsey’s Official Zoning Proposed Map updated March 2011, the portion of the (LMA) containing the waste footprint is zoned Public/Quasi-Public. The intent of this district is to provide for public and private recreational uses, government buildings and facilities, and schools. Two parcels south of the waste footprint, but within the LMA are zoned E-2 Employment District. The intent of this district is to provide for the mix of typically large volumes of bulk commercial goods and services, wholesale or warehouse activities and limited retail activities. Three parcels on the east side of the LMA are zoned R-2 Multiple Family Districts. The intent of this district is to accommodate duplexes, twin-homes, town-homes, or multifamily units at a maximum density of seven units per acre and a minimum density of three units per acres. Lastly, seven parcels on the west side, within the LMA are zoned 2030 Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA) R-1 Residential. The intent of this district is to accommodate single-family dwelling units on suitable land with the Metropolitan Urban Service Area at a maximum net density of three units per acres or four units per acres through the use of Planned Unit Development (PUD).
Infrastructure	Distance to Highway: 0.2 miles Distance to 69 kV (AC) Transmission: 0.2 miles Distance to Rail: 0.93 miles Distance to Substation: 1.73 miles
Assessment Level	Phase 1 VIC - Technical Review of Phase I Report Completed (2002) for Southwest Portion of Site Site Listed on the Permanent List of Priorities (PLP): 10/30/1984 Site Delisted from the Permanent List of Priorities (PLP): 06/30/1998 CERCLIS/ SEMS Listing from 01/01/1987 to 11/09/2005
Contaminants	The groundwater environmental monitoring system consists of approximately 104 wells. The groundwater contamination is in the Upper Sand that is part of the Anoka sand plain aquifer. There is also groundwater contamination in a glacial channel where the Grantsburg Till (that lies below the Upper Sand) is eroded and the Upper and Lower Sand are connected. Contaminants in groundwater that exceed drinking water standards include vinyl chloride, 1,2- dichloroethane and manganese. The Methane Gas Area of Concern (MGAOC) is defined as the area of land surrounding a landfill waste footprint where the presence of certain activities, such as construction of enclosed structures, may be impacted or precluded by subsurface migration of methane gas. Methane gas is an odorless gas produced when municipal solid waste decomposes, and can be explosive in confined spaces such as basements when mixed in air. The MGAOC is used to inform the public about the risks to current and future land owners regarding certain uses they may want to consider. The MGAOC is shown in Appendix E. Soils in the vicinity of the Anoka/Ramsey Landfill are generally coarse sands. Depth to the groundwater table is approximately 20 feet below ground surface. The landfill waste footprint is approximately 65 acres and contains approximately 5,700,000 cubic yards of waste. A low permeability cover system is in place. The closest residences are located greater than 300 feet from the waste footprint The cover system has 43 vertical gas extraction wells connected to an enclosed blower/flare unit. All 16 gas monitoring probes located around the landfill perimeter have had zero percent methane measured in them for more than 5 years, indicating that there likely is no gas migrating off the property. An investigation of the waste quality conducted in 2011 found the waste to be very dry, confirming that the lower gas generation rate being extracted by the flare system was not due to fouled gas wells, but rather a slower degradation rate due to lack of moisture. Based on the large mass of waste present, the highly permeable soils in the area, the potential for an extended shutdown of the gas extraction system due to unforeseen circumstances, the dry waste present, and recognizing the potential for gas to migrate under seasonal low permeable (frozen) conditions, the MGAOC is revised down from the previous estimate to extend 250 feet beyond the waste footprint.
Cleanup Program	Yes Portions of the site have enrolled in the state's Voluntary Investigation Cleanup (VICs) program: VP16770 - Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup. MND071791966: Not on the NPL; NFRAP-Site does not qualify for the NPL based on existing information VIC - Technical Review of Phase I Report Completed (2002) Site Listed on the Permanent List of Priorities (PLP): 10/30/1984 Site Delisted from the Permanent List of Priorities (PLP): 06/30/1998 CERCLIS/ SEMS Listing from 01/01/1987 to 11/09/2005
Remediation	Yes Soil Excavation (125 cubic yards) in 1989; 2 underground petroleum storage tanks removed (1982, 1986);
Developer	No Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL)
Future Use	Industrial Solar PV facility
Financing Tools: Federal Programs	Investment Tax Credit; Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System
Financing Tools: State Programs	Net Metering;
Financing Tools: Funds Committed	In-kind donation of staffing hours (MN Solar Pathways Project)
Challenges	Financing; Adopting a Redevelopment Plan for the site
Technical Assistance	Not sure