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,.~r ~~ Item 5.3 <br />ty of ~~ MEMORANDUM <br />River TO: Mayor & City Council <br />lk • <br />FROM: Steve Rohlf, BZ Administrator <br />DATE: May 8, 1995 ~~' <br />SUBJECT: Proposal by Alliant Techsystems to <br />Dismantle Military Explosive <br />Projectiles <br />Alliant Techsystems, located approximately five miles northeast of Elk River <br />in the City of St. Francis, has applied to the Minnesota Pollution Control <br />Agency (MPCA) for a permit to dismantle eight inch military explosive <br />projectiles. <br />Concerns <br />Groundwater -Alliant Techsystems' site is close enough to Elk River that <br />• spills could affect our groundwater. However, staff is satisfied that with the <br />secondary containment at their site, leak detection, and the nature of the <br />materials involved, groundwater concerns are being adequately addressed. <br />Haul Routes -Amore important concern to the residents of the City of Elk <br />River is that the materials involved with the dismantling of these military <br />projectiles would be hauled in and out of Alliant Techsystems site through <br />Elk River via Highway 169. The current proposal would last for <br />approximately eight to twelve months. An additional three year contract <br />could be awarded to Alliant Techsystems in the future. <br />Materials Hauled to the Facility -Approximately seven trucks per week <br />containing eight inch projectiles would pass through Elk River on route to <br />Alliant Techsystems' site. These explosive projectiles date as far back as <br />World War II. They are a type of explosive projectile that was designed to <br />penetrate concrete bunkers. According to representatives of MPCA, these <br />shells would be extremely stable during a vehicle accident. The shells <br />themselves are submitted to an eighteen foot drop test to ensure that they <br />are stable. Detonators are also removed. <br />Staff's concern with these shells being hauled to the Alliant Techsystems site <br />• is if an accident involved a fire. Although it is unlikely, it is possible that a <br />fire could detonate these shells. It has been reported to city staff that in case <br />13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River, MN 55330 • (612) 441-7420 • Fax: (612) 441-7425 <br />