Our Mission

Keeping the water clean, the landfill secure, and the future bright.

The story of Freeway Landfill in Burnsville is a simple one. It’s been a three-generation, family-owned business since its start, 40 years ago. Bordering 35W south and the Minnesota River, the property comprises roughly 150 acres of landfill that the McGowan family has maintained safely for its entire existence. In fact, the landfill has been capped for over 30 years and poses no imminent threat to public health or the environment. In addition to the landfill, the McGowan property includes a 40-acre quarry with a concrete recycling business, a 10-acre Freeway Transfer Station that sorts and moves waste offsite, and a 30-acre golf driving range on the east side of Highway 35W.

 

The business. The family. The future.

Freeway Facts

Here are the real facts, from experienced engineers, scientists, and the family, who still work on the property. One key fact: while development proposals have been made in recent years, for a variety of reasons none have moved forward. Without a solution that involves the owner’s interests fairly, the future of the McGowan’s land could remain in limbo for decades to come.

Value of the land

Post-closure, groundwater and landfill gas monitoring for more than twenty years, has never shown any results that indicate that the Freeway Landfill creates an imminent risk to groundwater, surface water, or landfill migration gas.

Vision for the future

Plans already exist for developing the property without taxpayer dollars, while increasing the tax base, and avoiding costly litigation. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Working with mpca & epa

Owners of Freeway Landfill have cooperated with State and Federal inspections, statutes, and requirements when properly notified.

Ground Water Testing

Freeway Landfill has conducted post-closure groundwater and landfill gas monitoring for more than twenty years. This monitoring has never shown any results that indicate that the Freeway Landfill creates a risk to groundwater, surface water, or landfill migration gas.

Seeking a Resolution

Over the years, the owners have proposed numerous solutions that address the future of the property – solutions that would treat all parties fairly.

Not Active For past 33 Years

Freeway Landfill has been dormant, accepting no new waste since 1994.

What the experts are saying

Mark Olson
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“As an environmental consultant who’s been involved with landfills since the early 1980s, I see no need to have a huge expenditure of money to address and move Freeway Landfill as the landfill poses no past, future, or any immediate threat at all to human health and the environment.”

Mark Olson
Senior Environmental Scientist, Stantec

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“I believe Freeway Landfill is as safe or safer than other landfills I’ve been involved with over my career in the state of Minnesota. I feel that way because it’s in a groundwater discharge area and there’s no direct recipients of the groundwater, from under that landfill.”

John Lichter
Senior Environmental Engineer, Carlson McCain

BY THE NUMBERS

32

NUMBER OF TESTING WELLS ON FREEWAY LANDFILL (MORE THAN ANY OTHER LANDFILL IN MINNESOTA)

all

INSPECTIONS PASSED SINCE LANDFILL CLOSED IN 1990

33

YEARS LANDFILL
HAS BEEN CLOSED TO NEW WASTE DEPOSITS

$200-$700 Million

ESTIMATED VALUE OF LIMESTONE BENEATH THE FREEWAY LANDFILL

$735 MIllion

estimated economic development value of freeway properties by the City of burnsville

3

GENERATIONS OF CONTINUOUS FAMILY OWNERSHIP SINCE OPENING