Report: Gunpowder plant's remains create hazards at U's Rosemount site

The ruins of an old gunpowder plant on University of Minnesota land in Dakota County have left contaminated soil and pose physical risks to workers.

That's the conclusion of a newly released Minnesota Department of Health report on UMore Park.

The Rosemount site, once called the Gopher Ordnance Works, was used by the federal government to make gunpowder and acid during World War II. The University bought portions of the site in the 1940s. It's commonly known now as UMore Park or Vermillion Highlands.

There is contaminated soil in very limited areas, including lead, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other chemicals, though there's no indication so far that pollution on the site is contaminating drinking water, the health department said.

Health officials are recommending fencing parts of the area off, cleaning up debris and contaminated soil and closer monitoring of groundwater.

UMore stands for University of Minnesota Outreach, Research and Education Park. It's a 5,000 acre parcel used mainly by the U for research.

University officials, however, hope to transform the site into a "a unique, sustainable, university-founded community of 20,000 to 30,000 people" over the next several decades.