EPA tests previously decontaminated Minneapolis homes

by Ambar Espinoza, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will begin testing for asbestos in as many as 50 North Minneapolis homes that underwent a cleanup a couple of years ago.

The initial program was designed to remove asbestos contamination in 260 homes near the long-closed Western Mineral Products plant. The plant manufactured insulation.

The yards of the homes to be tested were contaminated when residents used free crushed rocks from the plant for driveway or yard fill, or gardens and barbeque pits.

The asbestos cleanup project wrapped up in 2006, and now the EPA wants to confirm that no trace of asbestos has gotten into any homes.

In the days to follow, the EPA will contact several residents to get permission to do the assessment, which is scheduled to begin on September 24.

The EPA expects the tests to take about two weeks to complete.