Brian Barton
Lake Superior, the cleanest of the five Great Lakes, has faced several environmental challenges over the years. While the lake's massive size helps dilute pollutants, it continues to be vulnerable to climate change, algal blooms, microplastics, and harmful chemicals. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is working to address these issues and protect the lake's ecosystem. Historically, Lake Superior faced issues with asbestos discharge from Reserve Mining beginning in 1955, and barrels dumped by Honeywell Corp. in the 1960s. More recently, PFAS contamination from 3M Co. impacted the drinking water of communities in Minnesota, resulting in an $850 million settlement. Additionally, the pulp mill AV Terrace Bay has been identified as a source of polluting chemicals, including arsenic, lead, and phosphorus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Honeywell Corp. |
| Year of Pollution | 1960s |
| Pollutants | Barrels |
| Current Action Taken | Locating and recovering the barrels |
| Pollution Source | AV Terrace Bay |
| Pollutants | Arsenic, lead, phosphorus, nitrate, hexavalent chromium, and six other pollutants |
| Year of Pollution | 2019 |
| Pollution Source | Reserve Mining |
| Year of Pollution | 1955 |
| Pollutants | Rock waste, or “tailings” slurry, contained approximately 40% of asbestos fibers |
| Pollution Source | WLSSD |
| Pollutants | PFAS |
| Pollution Source | 3M Co. |
| Pollutants | PFAS |
| Pollution Source | Zebra mussels and quagga mussels |
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What You'll Learn
- Honeywell Corp dumped barrels of pollutants into the lake in the 1960s
- Reserve Mining discharged rock waste containing asbestos fibres into the lake from 1955
- Pulp mill AV Terrace Bay has released arsenic, lead, phosphorus, nitrate, and other pollutants
- Zebra and quagga mussels, an invasive species, may be disrupting the lake's ecosystem
- Agricultural runoff has contributed to degraded water quality and increased sediment
Honeywell Corp dumped barrels of pollutants into the lake in the 1960s
Lake Superior, which spans the United States and Canada, is the largest lake in Minnesota. Despite its immense size, it has a simple and fragile food chain due to year-round cold temperatures and a small amount of nutrients entering the lake. Over the past 150 years, habitat loss and the harvest and management of select species have caused dramatic changes to wildlife communities. Eighteen animal species in the lake's watershed are listed as endangered by the federal government.
In the 1960s, Honeywell Corp dumped 1,457 industrial steel drums, each 55 gallons in volume, into Lake Superior. These drums were trucked from a Honeywell weapons plant in the Twin Cities to Duluth and secretly dumped off barges into the lake. The barrels formed a line from the eastern Duluth city limits to Two Harbors, between one and five miles off the shore.
Since the dumping was confirmed in 1977, several attempts have been made to retrieve and examine the barrels. Between 1990 and 1994, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency spent over $400,000 on these efforts. While some barrels were recovered, their contents were not deemed highly toxic or dangerous. PCA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials eventually concluded that leaving the remaining barrels under 200 feet of water posed no major health or environmental risk.
Despite this, concerns about the contents of the barrels have lingered, with some alleging that the military is covering up the existence of dangerous materials. In 2013, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa released information on their efforts to find, raise, and test the contents of the barrels. They recovered 25 barrels, which contained parts from cluster bombs or a composite of incinerated metal.
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Reserve Mining discharged rock waste containing asbestos fibres into the lake from 1955
The Reserve Mining Company discharged rock waste containing asbestos fibres into Lake Superior from 1955. The company was built to extract iron from taconite, a sedimentary rock containing 25-30% iron. For every ton of iron ore produced, two tons of waste material were left over. This waste, known as tailings, was dumped into Lake Superior. The waste rock slurry contained approximately 40% asbestos fibres.
Initially, the waste material was considered no more harmful than sand. However, by the late 1960s, local environmental groups, commercial fishermen, and sport-fishing groups began to complain about the taconite sediment. They argued that the tailings were killing fish, clouding the water, and spoiling Lake Superior as a freshwater source. In response, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studied the lake's currents to understand the impact of the sediment on the lake's ecosystem.
In 1972, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the Reserve Mining Company on behalf of the EPA. The trial lasted over a year, with scientists on both sides presenting their findings. The government's scientists argued that the discharge was spreading a plume of pollution across the western end of the lake, and that the asbestos-like particles in the water supply posed a significant health risk to residents. In contrast, the mining company's experts disagreed, claiming that the fibres in the waste rock were not identical to asbestos and that the exposure levels were too low to cause health concerns.
The case, United States v. Reserve Mining Company, gained widespread attention in the media and among residents of Lake Superior cities. It resulted in the determination that the Reserve Mining Company was responsible for amphibole asbestos fibres found in the public drinking water of Duluth, Minnesota, and other North Shore communities. The discovery of these fibres in the water supply led to a search for safe drinking water alternatives, as asbestos was known to cause cancer.
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Pulp mill AV Terrace Bay has released arsenic, lead, phosphorus, nitrate, and other pollutants
Lake Superior, which straddles the Canada-US border, is a spectacular waterbody known for its immense size and year-round cold temperatures. Despite its pristine appearance, the lake is surprisingly vulnerable to pollution. One of the sources of pollution in Lake Superior is the AV Terrace Bay pulp mill, which has been in operation since 1947 and has released various pollutants into the lake.
Data from Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory in 2019 revealed that the AV Terrace Bay pulp mill released arsenic, lead, phosphorus, nitrate, hexavalent chromium, and six other pollutants into Lake Superior. This is not an isolated incident, as the mill has a long history of pumping effluent through Blackbird Creek, which flows into the lake. The creek normally contains more wastewater effluent than natural water when the mill is operational.
The impact of the mill's pollution on the ecosystem is significant. Blackbird Creek, which serves as a canal for the mill's effluent, has suffered from industrial activity for nearly 70 years. However, after the mill's closure in 2024, the creek's resilience is evident, with increased oxygen levels and the presence of trout fry, indicating a revival of aquatic life.
The AV Terrace Bay pulp mill has faced penalties for its environmental impact. The Environment Ministry initially imposed penalties on the mill for discharging contaminants, but these were later revoked as the order specifically pertained to discharges of contaminants to water or land and not to discharges into the air. Nonetheless, the mill's contribution to the pollution of Lake Superior is undeniable, and it has been identified as one of the Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
The pollution in Lake Superior is a complex issue with various sources, including agriculture, mining, hydroelectric dams, industrial effluents, and waste. While the lake's remote location and limited industrial activity have kept it relatively pristine, efforts are underway to address the pollution challenges it faces. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is actively working towards restoring and protecting Lake Superior through initiatives like the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative and the Lake Superior Binational Program, which aim for zero discharge and emission of toxic chemicals.
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Zebra and quagga mussels, an invasive species, may be disrupting the lake's ecosystem
Zebra and quagga mussels are aquatic invasive species that are native to eastern Europe. They are small, freshwater, bivalve shellfish with a distinct, flat-bottomed 'D' shape to their shells, growing to a maximum length of around two inches. They were likely brought to the U.S. as stowaways in the ballast water of ships and have since become widespread in both Europe and the U.S.
Zebra and quagga mussels have been documented as having some positive effects on receiving ecosystems. For example, their filtration of water as they extract food removes particulate matter, improving water clarity and reducing eutrophication in polluted lakes. This may have benefited local fishing industries in some cases.
However, the highly efficient removal of phytoplankton and other suspended material from the water can deprive other aquatic species of food, disrupting the food web. Increased water clarity allows more light to penetrate to greater depths, promoting algal blooms, decreasing water quality, and potentially rendering recreational beaches unusable. Furthermore, the dense colonies formed by these mussels can clog water intake lines and structures, increasing maintenance costs for water treatment and power.
In Lake Superior, zebra and quagga mussels are among the invasive species that are causing concerns about pollution and disruption to the lake's ecosystem. Lake Superior has relatively low pollution levels, but it faces challenges from invasive species, agricultural runoff, mining waste, industrial effluents, and other sources of contamination. Efforts are underway to protect and restore the lake, with various programs focusing on its entire ecosystem.
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Agricultural runoff has contributed to degraded water quality and increased sediment
Lake Superior's nearshore and open-water habitats are of high quality, and the lake supports a rich population of trout, whitefish, and herring. However, agricultural runoff has contributed to degraded water quality and increased sediment in the lake's tributaries and embayments.
Agricultural practices have been identified as a significant source of eutrophication, a process where nutrients accumulate in a body of water, leading to increased organism growth and oxygen depletion. Excessive concentrations of nutrients, particularly phosphates and nitrates from agricultural fertilizers and animal waste, are released into the lake through runoff. This has resulted in algal blooms, reduced water clarity, and contaminated sediments, impacting the delicate food chain within the lake.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is actively working to protect and restore Lake Superior through initiatives like the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative and the Lake Superior Binational Program. These programs aim to address toxic chemical pollution and achieve zero discharge and emission goals.
To combat agricultural runoff, sustainable practices such as reducing erosion, implementing buffer zones, and minimizing land degradation can help lower the amount of sediment and nutrient pollution entering the lake. Additionally, efficient waste disposal technologies and the protection of forest cover can further mitigate the effects of agricultural runoff on Lake Superior's water quality.
While Lake Superior faces challenges due to agricultural runoff, collective efforts by scientists, policymakers, and citizens are crucial to restoring and maintaining the health of this spectacular waterbody.
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Frequently asked questions
Several companies have contributed to the pollution of Lake Superior. In the 1960s, Honeywell Corp dumped barrels into the lake. 3M Co. has also polluted the lake, affecting the drinking water of 170,000 Minnesotans. Additionally, the pulp mill AV Terrace Bay continues to release polluting chemicals, including arsenic, lead, phosphorus, nitrate, and hexavalent chromium.
Various efforts are being made to address the pollution in Lake Superior. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is working on restoring and protecting the lake through initiatives such as the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative and the Lake Superior Binational Program, which aims for zero discharge and emission of toxic chemicals. The MPCA is also developing a blueprint to address "forever chemicals" like PFAS, which have been detected in the lake.
Lake Superior faces pollution from various sources. Agricultural runoff, deforestation, and climate change are significant contributors. The lake is also affected by sediment runoff, microplastics, and harmful chemicals, including mercury, PCBs, and toxaphene.
