By Patrick Tepoorten

Due in part to more stringent standards put forth by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the five-year gasoline cleanup effort at the site of the former Rush City schools bus garage will likely continue for another year, if not longer.

Paul Meisch, of Meisch and Associates, informed the school board last Thursday night that MPCA requirements have evolved in regards to vapor traces over the last couple of years. That will prolong the effort to clean up a gasoline spill that left more than three feet of gasoline floating on the water table.

According to Meisch, the MPCA will not allow any detectable concentrations of vapors related with the spill, especially in regard to benzene. Based on that, the MPCA asked Meisch to expand the number of sites around the spill site that are tested for traces of benzene and other vapors. Although Meisch noted, ìWe are seeing a nice reduction in benzene,î traces of it are still being found in basements around the former bus garage site. The highest concentration was found at Needs to Party, at which 6.7 micrograms per cubic meter of benzene was measured on March 21.

Based on those readings and others, Meisch informed the board that it is likely the MPCA will require the full-time clean-up to continue for at least another year. He hoped that a meeting with the MPCA this fall would result in more concrete expectation guidelines for the clean up. Meisch cautioned the board that, even after the MPCA allows the full-time clean-up to cease, the district will be required to conduct intermittent clean-up for some time and monitor ground water for up to two years after that.

To date, the clean-up has resulted in the recovery of 2,060 gallons of gasoline, and various apparatus involved in the project are currently recovering three-quarters of a gallon per day. Meisch attributed the leak to faulty pipes on a fuel tank that he estimated leaked small amounts of gasoline into the ground for decades. ìThis was a huge release,î he said, guessing that it was anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 gallons.

The district is financing 25 percent of the clean-up and the Department of Commerce the remaining 75 percent.

In other school news:

ï A refund in the districtís health care plan that led teachers to file a grievance to claim the funds was before the board.

Superintendent Vern Koepp sought permission from the board to pursue using the funds to provide a preventative care element to the districtís health care plan. The plan, which would cost from $8 to $20 depending on the policy, could ultimately result in lower premiums down the road, according to Koepp. The board agreed that the idea should be pursued further.

ï The board conducted an extensive policy review and is in the process of making subtle changes to those relating to online learning, food service operations, disposition of obsolete equipment, and student activity accounting.

Changes were approved for policies regarding student transportation safety and vending machines.

Another policy, 806, relating to crisis management, will be subject to a more extensive review. Koepp hoped to have the revised policy, which hasnít been updated in roughly 10 years, before the board in November.