If you've been following the Gopher Resource facility situation in Eagan, there are a few important updates worth knowing about – especially if you live or work near the facility.
Class Action Settlement Notices Going Out
Some Eagan residents are receiving letters about a class action settlement related to the Gopher Resource facility.
Here's what it's about:
A Florida court approved a settlement involving Gopher Resource facilities in both Eagan and Tampa. The case covers alleged harmful emissions between January 2000 and July 2024. Anyone who lived, worked, or attended school within a mile of the Eagan facility during that time may be eligible to participate.
About 425 households near the facility are just now getting these notices due to an administrative error – they should have received them last year along with other residents.
Important context: This settlement is separate from the elevated lead levels the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) identified earlier this year. Those are two different issues.
If you receive a notice, it'll include instructions and contact information for the settlement administrator. The City of Eagan isn't involved in the lawsuit, so questions about the settlement should go to GopherSettlement.com.
Air Quality Back to Normal
Good news on the air monitoring front: the MPCA confirmed in April that lead levels have returned to within state standards.
The MPCA and Minnesota Department of Health held community meetings earlier this year for residents to get information and ask questions. If you're interested in learning more, you can watch the virtual meeting recording or visit the MPCA's dedicated webpage at pca.state.mn.us/local-sites-and-projects/eagan-gopher-resource.
Testing Shows Water and Soil Are Safe
Eagan conducted testing to verify safety in the surrounding area:
Water testing: The city's water system remains secure. Tests of the Yankee Reservoir showed no detectable lead in the water supply.
Soil testing at parks: Three locations were tested – Thresher athletic fields, Thresher Off-Leash Dog Park, and Bur Oaks Park. All results came back well below the EPA's residential soil threshold for concern, meaning the lead levels are low and not considered a health risk.
The Takeaway
Air quality has returned to normal levels, water and soil testing results are reassuring, and affected residents are being notified about the class action settlement opportunity. For ongoing updates, the MPCA's webpage is the best resource for current information.