Resolution of the CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS
Mead, Herron, Lane, Niland, McDonald, Colvin Roy, Thurber, Biernat, Goodman, Cherryhomes, Campbell and Ostrow

Transmitting to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) the City's comments on dewatering activities at MSP international Airport

Whereas, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) plans to construct a series of tunnels within Minneapolis International Airport property using "dewatering" of construction; and

Whereas, MAC has conducted at least one dewatering project without permits having been issued by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD); and

Whereas, MAC plans to "dewater" each tunnel site continually during Construction, possibly drawing down as much as five billion gallons of groundwater over 36 months in order to construct the tunnels; and

Whereas, lakes in the MCWD that could be affected by the draw-down include but may not be limited to Lake Hiawatha, Diamond Lake, Taft Lake, Mother Lake, Legion Lake, Grass Lake and Lake Nokomis; and

Whereas, Lake Nokomis in particular is a jewel in Minneapolis' nationally known Chain of Lakes, and is linked by Minnehaha Creek to Minnehaha Falls; and

Whereas, the engineering consultants to MAC and the engineering consultants to MCWD report that the groundwater under Lake Nokomis could be drawn down between .5 and 2.5 feet after 700 days and that little is known about the interaction between groundwater and surface water (for examples, lake levels and Minnehaha Creek water levels); and

Whereas, a lake level reduction of more than a foot could affect aquatic animals and vegetation because of changes in water temperatures and oxygen levels; and

Whereas, it would not be known for years following MAC's construction completion whether the dewatering process has caused structural or other damage to public or private infrastructure, buildings or ancillary features such as retainer walls; and

Whereas, the part of Minneapolis that could potentially be affected of as much as four inches includes all of the area within the City located South of 38th Street and east of Fremont Avenue and includes an estimated 25,000 houses the City of Minneapolis alone; and

Whereas, on June 29, 2000, MAC disclosed publicly that the monitoring near 66th street and Cedar Avenue had revealed both a 7 foot decrease in the ground water level there in just a 30-day period and previously unseen levels of petrolium in the groundwater: and

Whereas, MAC staff has indicated that MAC could put in place a contingency raising the level of Lake Nokomis if dewatering lowers it. The staff has suggested that the contingency plan could re-direct "dewatered" groundwater to Lakes through Taft and Mother Lakes, but the quality of that groundwater is unknown.

Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved by The City Council of The City of Minneapolis:

The City of Minneapolis finds that the risks to both the natural and the built environments from proposed dewatering activities are far too great and that the dewatering should not take place; and

The City of Minneapolis urges the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) to reject the dewatering permit applications from the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC); and

The City of Minneapolis urges MAC to develop alternatives, including the following possibilities:

(a) relocation of some activities (such as cargo operations) to other Minnesota airports;

(b) surface alignment alternatives that eliminate or at least minimize the number of tunnels, especially large tunnels;

(C) alternative construction methods (such as interlocking sheet pilings) that limit dewatering effects to MAC property; and

4. Should DNR and/or MCWD issue a permit that allows dewatering activities that could draw down water from beyond MAC property, such permit(s) should require a "protection program" that would include but not be limited to the following requirements:

(a) that, prior to any dewatering activities, MAC will identify any areas of the City of Minneapolis that may be structurally sensitive to dewatering (such as housing built on poor soils) and take appropriate steps to prevent any dewatering damage from occurring;

(b) that MAC monitor daily both surface water and groundwater levels In the potentially affected area and beyond that area and report its findings weekly to MCWD, DNR and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (Park Board). The monitoring should continue beyond the period of construction to ensure that groundwater restoration progresses as projected;

(c) that MAC ensure that its dewatenng activities will not adversely affect existing contamination in groundwater or soils or interfere with correction activities already in place:

(ci) that MAC adopt a "correction plan" under which dewatering would stop immediately at any time a groundwater or lake level falls below the natural fluctuation that has existed since 1995 and that dewatering would not resume unless MAC, DNR, MCWD and the Park Board all agree that dewatering should start again. The correction plan should also require MAC to restore water levels to within natural fluctuations after the construction phase;

(e) that MAC ensure that any water used to replenish either surface water or groundwater levels is not polluted: and

(f) that MAC guarantee that it will repair at its own expense any damage its dewatering activities cause to water resources as well as to public or private infrastructure, buildings or ancillary features.

Be It Further Resolved that copies of this resolution be transmitted both to the DNR and the MCWD on July 13. 2000.

Be It Further Resolved that the City Attorney is directed to report to the City Council's Transportation and Public Works Committee on July 20, 2000 with recommendations for actions the City could take should the DNR and/or MCWD issue permits for dewatering activities at MSP International Airport that are unacceptable to the City.

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