Public health nuisance update in Douglas-Oronoco area

May 14, 2026 update

Following a district court order issued April 28, 2026, Olmsted County initiated cleanup activities at the property located at 6502 75th Street NW in the Douglas/Oronoco area. The court directed the county to begin abatement of public health nuisance conditions present on the site. 

Under the terms of the court order, the property owner continues to be allowed access to the property and may assist with cleanup activities as work progresses. Olmsted County is required to comply with the conditions outlined in the court order while environmental testing, debris removal, and remediation activities continue.

Initial site cleanup efforts

Olmsted County began initial site cleanup efforts on May 1, 2026, with the installation of secure fencing around the property to help protect public safety and control access during the cleanup operation. Due to debris that had spilled onto a neighboring property, fencing could not initially be installed around the entire site. Once debris is removed from the neighboring property and a safe access pathway can be established, the remaining fencing will be completed to fully secure the area.

Next phases of work

In the meantime, Olmsted County has been coordinating with qualified environmental and demolition contractors to prepare for the next phases of work. This has included environmental sampling of the burned structure to determine whether asbestos-containing materials are present and identifying contractors properly licensed and qualified to handle removal and disposal of potentially hazardous debris. The burned structure on the property will be handled by a contractor specializing in the removal of potentially asbestos-containing materials to ensure the work is completed safely and in compliance with all applicable regulations.

On May 12, 2026, abandoned vehicles were removed from the property as part of the ongoing cleanup effort. In addition, a junk removal contractor was scheduled to begin sorting and removing materials and debris not directly associated with the burned structure. To support recycling efforts during the cleanup, a metal collection bin was also placed onsite for the recovery and recycling of scrap metal materials.

As cleanup activities continue, propane tanks, chemicals, electronics, and other potentially hazardous materials are being identified and separated from the debris stream. These materials will be transported to facilities permitted and equipped to properly manage and dispose of hazardous and special waste. This sorting process is an important step to ensure hazardous materials are safely removed from the site before broader debris removal and remediation activities proceed.

Assessing environmental impacts

Following removal of debris and hazardous materials from the property, Olmsted County plans to conduct soil and well sampling to evaluate potential environmental impacts associated with the site. The results of this assessment will help determine whether any additional environmental remediation measures are necessary to protect public health and groundwater resources.

The cleanup process is being conducted carefully to ensure the protection of public health, worker safety, and the surrounding environment. Due to the condition of the fire-damaged structures and materials on the property, portions of the cleanup require specialized assessment and handling procedures before debris removal can begin. Olmsted County will continue coordinating with contractors, regulatory agencies, neighboring property owners, and the property owner as work progresses toward full site remediation and nuisance abatement.

Questions?

If you have any questions about Olmsted County’s work on this public health nuisance cleanup effort, please contact reducewaste@olmstedcounty.gov.