PRECA 07-29-1985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Warren W. Schaber July 1, 1985 Page 5 Our involvemenC has been limited to assisting the MPCA with ground water testing in the park site. They have been contlucting extensive testing regarding the soil conditions in the entire New Brighton area. The County has tinkered into several access agreements with the MCPA to allow them to place monitoring wells an park property. We have recommended cooperation with the MPCA because it is in the public ihtertist and not inconsistent with park purposes. Xvu should alas be aware that, according t4 Dan Schacht, MPCA representatives are willing to make an informational presentation to the County regarding this ground water contamination problem if the Board. so desires. Consequently, we are not directly involved with this issue at the present time except for the monitoring wells. However, it is important to maintain cooperation with the MPCA and New 8rigriton and to be knowledgeable regarding potential ground water contamination because it could have significant legal consequences when the park reaches the operational stages. 3. WILLIAMS BROTHERS PIPELINE A third environmmental issue involves the existence of a petroleum products pipeline within the boundaries of the park which is operated by Williams Brothers Pipeline Company. This issue is being addressed because some Commissioners have _ expressed a concern reyarding the legal implications of its existence on park property. ,The pipeline in question is an eight inch high pressure line which carries petroleum products. While most of the pipeline lies on adjacent property owned by Minnesota Transfer Railway, a 21p0 foot section of it leaves the railroad right of way and crosses into park land. The property in question was originally owned by MTR, acquired in condemnation by the City of New 9~ighton in 1972, and eventually conveyed to Ramsey County in 1982. The later acquisitions were both subject to existing pipeline easement rights. The pipeline was originally constructed in 1957 pursuant to a twenty year Easement Agreement. This easement was extended by MTR in 1977 for another twenty years. Rased upon these legal documents, Williams Bros. has an arguable legal right to be on the property. The pipeline probably cannot be legally removed at the present time because both the New Brighton condemnation and the subsequent conveyance to Ramsey County were taken subject to their easement. However, upon expiration of their ~d