HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 78-24 - Requesting Participation by Lower Minnesota Watershed District in Hazardous Waster Disposal Site Selection Process - 01/31/1978 CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 78-24
RESOLUTION REQUESTING PARTICIPATION BY THE
LOWER MINNESOTA RIVER WATERSHED DISTRICT IN
THE HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL SITE SELECTION
PROCESS
WHEREAS, the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee of the Metropolitan Waste
Control Commission, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Metropolitan
Council has chosen a 150 acre site at the southwest corner of Flying Cloud
Airport within the City of Eden Prairie for further study as a potential
site for hazardous waste disposal facility, and;
WHEREAS, said proposed hazardous waste disposal site is located
within the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, and the establishment
of such a facility may pose a serious threat to the water resources and
natural environment of lands within said Watershed District, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Eden Prairie remains totally opposed to the
hazardous waste facility within the Eden Prairie site for several reasons,
among which are listed as follows:
1. Soils
• Soils in and around the site are a result of glacial outwash
action, consequently are sands with granular substrata. These
sands are very fine and susceptible to erosion. During the
heavy rainstorm in August of 1977, a massive earth slide oc-
curred on the southern edge of the sanitary land fill within
close proximity of the proposed site. Approximately 40,000
cubic yards of fine sand washed down a steep slope into the
Minnesota River floodplain area. Such soil conditions are
incompatible with a chemical waste landfill .
2. Hydrology
The proposed site is characterized by permeable surface soil .
Approximately 300 acres of the Flying Cloud Airport is tribu-
tary to depressions within the site. These depressions have
no surface outlets and drainage seeps vertically into the
ground water system and eventually into the Minnesota River
floodplain. Thus, any accidental spills of toxic materials
or leachate from the disposal process could seriously contami-
natethe Minnesota River and its floodplain areas, including
Grass Lake, which have recently been designated as part of the
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Recreation Area. Also,
there is a natural artesian well frequented by hundreds of
users in the metropolitan area and also several private wells
that could be contaminated by leachate from the proposed facility.
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3. Topography
Suitable topography for a chemical waste facility is con-
sidered to be gently rolling. Steeply sloping land is
considered to have a limited acceptability due drainage,
erosion problems and accessibility. The proposed site
has slopes ranging from 10 to 35 percent over most of the
area, which will lead to extensive grading and land alter-
ation and this in turn could result in serious erosion and
surface drainage control problems. Also, direct driveway
access to the site from T.H. 169 would be virtually impos-
sible without serious disruption of the most sensitive areas
of the river bluff in terms of erosion potential .
WHEREAS, there are other deep concerns related to transportation,
land use and community planning that the City of Eden Priarie considers
vitally important and totally incompatible with a hazardous waste disposal
facility.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Eden Prairie City Council
as follows:
That the Board of Managers of the Lower Minnesota Watershed
District are herein urgently requested to become actively
involved in the review of the proposed hazardous waste facil-
ity siting process and that they take all necessary and ap-
propriate action to insure the protection and preservation
of water resources and,the natural environment of lands within
the Lower Minnesota -River Watershed District, which are poten-
tially threatened by the possible sitfnq of the hazardous
waste disposal facility, prior to February 20, 1978.
ADOPTED by the Eden Prairie City Council on the 31st day of
January, 1978.
f garA OH.6Penzel , Mayor
ATTEST: SEAL
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hn D. FraTre, Clerk