EPA EPA Begins Review of the Burlington Northern (Brainerd/Baxter Plant) Superfund Site Brainerd/Baxter, Minnesota U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a five-year review of the Burlington Northern (Brainerd/Baxter Plant) Superfund site between the towns of Brainerd and Baxter. The Superfund law requires regular checkups of sites that have been cleaned up with waste managed on-site - to make sure the cleanup continues to protect people and the environment. This will be the seventh five-year review. - EPA provided oversight of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. cleanup of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, in the groundwater and another chemical combination called BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) in the soil at the site. The site's long- term cleanup included excavation of visibly contaminated soil and sludge, a groundwater extraction system that was later replaced by an air injection system to treat groundwater, and on-site treatment and capping of remaining contaminated soil and sludge. The air injection system continues to operate. Operation and maintenance activities are ongoing. More information is available at the Brainerd Public Library, 416 S. Fifth St., and at www.epa.gov/superfund/burlington-northern-brainerd. The review should be completed by December 2026. The five-year review is an opportunity for you to tell EPA about site conditions and any concerns you have. Contact: Leslie Patterson Remedial Project Manager 312-886-4904 patterson.leslie@epa.gov Lina Wu Community Involvement Coordinator 312-353-2886 wu.lina@epa.gov You may also call EPA toll-free at 800-621-8431, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. EPA EPA Begins Review of the Burlington Northern ( Brainerd / Baxter Plant ) Superfund Site Brainerd / Baxter , Minnesota U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a five - year review of the Burlington Northern ( Brainerd / Baxter Plant ) Superfund site between the towns of Brainerd and Baxter . The Superfund law requires regular checkups of sites that have been cleaned up with waste managed on - site - to make sure the cleanup continues to protect people and the environment . This will be the seventh five - year review . - EPA provided oversight of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. cleanup of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , or PAHs , in the groundwater and another chemical combination called BTEX ( benzene , toluene , ethylbenzene and xylene ) in the soil at the site . The site's long- term cleanup included excavation of visibly contaminated soil and sludge , a groundwater extraction system that was later replaced by an air injection system to treat groundwater , and on - site treatment and capping of remaining contaminated soil and sludge . The air injection system continues to operate . Operation and maintenance activities are ongoing . More information is available at the Brainerd Public Library , 416 S. Fifth St. , and at www.epa.gov/superfund/burlington-northern-brainerd . The review should be completed by December 2026 . The five - year review is an opportunity for you to tell EPA about site conditions and any concerns you have . Contact : Leslie Patterson Remedial Project Manager 312-886-4904 patterson.leslie@epa.gov Lina Wu Community Involvement Coordinator 312-353-2886 wu.lina@epa.gov You may also call EPA toll - free at 800-621-8431 , 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. , weekdays .