St. Louis River/Interlake/Duluth Tar

Hazardous Waste Site | Duluth, Minnesota | 1890s – Present

What Happened?

As result of historical industrial operations along the St. Louis River numerous hazardous chemicals were released into the environment. The St. Louis River Superfund site was listed on the National Priorities List in 1983.

The St. Louis River/Interlake/Duluth Tar site has been used for industrial purposes since 1890. Activities at the site have included coking plants, tar and chemical companies, the production of pig iron, meat-packing, and as a rail to truck transfer point for bulk commodities. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; a group of organic contaminants that are often the byproducts of petroleum processing or combustion. Many are toxic to aquatic life and several are suspected of causing cancer in humans. are the primary contaminant of concern. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency worked with the responsible parties to conduct a clean-up effort.

What Were the Impacts?

NOAA and other trusteesGovernment officials acting on behalf of the public when there is injury to, destruction of, loss of, or threat to natural resources. have determined that impacts to natural resources and services extend throughout approximately 100 acres of the site. Recreational activities such as swimming and boats are discouraged at the site. Visible sheens and oil blooms have also likely decreased recreational fishing efforts nearby.

What’s Happening Now?

On November 16, 2017 the $8.2 million settlement to restore injuries to natural resources was approved by the U.S. District Court – District of Minnesota. The settlement includes the following restoration projects as described in the Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment:

• Kingsbury Bay, $5,500,000, to enhance and restore a 70-acre shallow, sheltered embayment habitat that will add recreational access areas for fishing and a boat launch, improve habitat and reduce invasive vegetation. 
• Kingsbury Creek watershed, $637,500, to reduce sediment deposition, improve water quality and sustain the shallow sheltered embayment habitat of the restored Kingsbury Bay.
• Wild rice restoration, $332,000, to enhance wild rice stands within the estuary. Efforts typically include removing invasive vegetation and establishing a seed bank to provide a long-term seed source.
• Cultural education opportunities, $30,000, to develop informational displays adjacent to wild rice restoration locations to communicate the importance of wild rice to the health of the St. Louis River estuary and the cultural traditions of local Native Americans.

The remaining settlement balance will reimburse the natural resource trustees for the costs to quantify natural resource damages and identify appropriate restoration projects.

The Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment includes responses to comments made by the public on the draft document as a result of the public comment period that was held July and August 2017.

The Trustees will begin implementing the restoration projects as described in the final document.