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Ramsey County, Minnesota: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Ramsey County is 141 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. Federal databases place 1,209 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Rail grade crossing (216), Air permit holder (minor source) (187), Small hazardous waste generator (178). 2 correctional facilities operate in the county. EPA AirToxScreen estimates a lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics of 30 in a million, driven mainly by formaldehyde.

Rates are age-adjusted per 100,000 people. A cancer signal is marked significant when the lower bound of its 95 percent confidence interval is above the U.S. rate. Facility counts use active federal records located inside the county boundary. Approximate county center: 45.0033, -93.0962.

How this county ranks in Minnesota

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Cancer deaths and new cases versus the United States

Source: NCI and CDC State Cancer Profiles, both sexes, all ages. Sorted by the ratio of the county rate to the U.S. rate.

Cancer rates for Ramsey County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	39.3	23.8	1.65xSignificant	37 to 41.6	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	10.5	8.7	1.21xSignificant	9.4 to 11.7	2019-2023
Thyroid	Deaths	0.6	0.5	1.2x	0.3 to 0.9	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	21.8	18.5	1.18xSignificant	20.1 to 23.5	2019-2023
Leukemia	New cases	16.3	14.5	1.12xSignificant	14.9 to 17.9	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	5.2	4.8	1.08x	4.4 to 6.1	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6.7	6.2	1.08x	5.8 to 7.7	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	15	13.9	1.08x	13.6 to 16.4	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	488.4	453.4	1.08xSignificant	480.5 to 496.5	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	4.7	4.4	1.07x	3.9 to 5.6	2020-2024
Stomach	Deaths	2.8	2.7	1.04x	2.3 to 3.5	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	6.8	6.6	1.03x	5.9 to 7.8	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	New cases	53.1	51.8	1.03x	50.5 to 55.7	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	11.4	11.3	1.01x	10.3 to 12.7	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	18.7	18.7	1x	17.2 to 20.3	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.4	3.4	1x	2.8 to 4.1	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.6	6.6	1x	5.8 to 7.6	2020-2024
All cancer	Deaths	141	143.2	0.98x	136.8 to 145.3	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	5.5	5.7	0.96x	4.7 to 6.4	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	17.2	17.9	0.96x	15.8 to 18.8	2019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	15.6	16.4	0.95x	12.4 to 19.4	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	3.5	3.7	0.95x	2.8 to 4.2	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	4.3	4.6	0.93x	3.6 to 5	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	27.9	30.2	0.92x	26.1 to 29.8	2020-2024
Bladder	Deaths	3.6	4.1	0.88x	3 to 4.4	2020-2024
Thyroid	New cases	9.4	13	0.72x	8.3 to 10.7	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	1.4	2	0.7x	1 to 1.9	2020-2024

Mortality measures versus the U.S. county median

Source: County Health Rankings, built from CDC National Vital Statistics System death records. The comparison value is the median of all U.S. counties.

Mortality measures for Ramsey County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	7,827	9,842.6	-20%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	77.6	75.3	+3%	years
Child mortality	49.4	59.8	-17%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	5.7	6.2	-8%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	90.4	96.9	-7%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	36.8	28.6	+29%	deaths per 100,000

Air toxics and air quality

EPA AirToxScreen 2020

Lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics: 30 in a million. EPA treats 100 in a million as the upper end of acceptable risk and 1 in a million as the goal.

Formaldehyde17.47 per million
Naphthalene3.54 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.97 per million
Benzene2.66 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 256 good, 9 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 34, peak 170.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,209 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

Rail grade crossing216
Air permit holder (minor source)187
Small hazardous waste generator178
Brownfield property132
Gas station (mapped facility)129
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)102
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)42
NPDES wastewater discharge permit42
Large hazardous waste generator38
TRI reporting facility35
Hazardous waste transporter27
Industrial wastewater discharge26
Major air pollution source14
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)13
EPA air quality monitor6
Large greenhouse gas emitter5
Superfund (NPL) site3
Airfield2
Correctional facility (prison or jail)2
Heliport2
Landfill (mapped facility)2
Public airport1
Commercial airport1
Biomass power plant1
Hydroelectric plant1
Gas power plant1
Oil-fired power plant1

Highest-severity records

The 25 records with the highest Envyrofax severity in the county, with the agency identifier to cite in a records request.

New Brighton/Arden Hills/TCAAP (USARMY), New Brighton
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 59.2. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MN7213820908 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Koppers Coke, St. Paul
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 55.1. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MND000819359 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
MacGillis & Gibbs/Bell Lumber & Pole Co., New Brighton
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 48.3. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MND006192694 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Rexam Beverage Can Co, Saint Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, n-Butyl alcohol, Formaldehyde, Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size) and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 671,666 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55107MRCNN139EV (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9
Brenntag Great Lakes Llc, Saint Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Methyl tert-butyl ether, N,N-Dimethylformamide, Toluene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 39,130 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55108WRMCH2130E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Interplastic Corp, Vadnais Heights
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Methyl methacrylate. Reports carcinogens. 38,876 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55110NTRPL1219W (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Viking Drill & Tool Inc, Saint Paul
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $22,944.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000424194 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8
Co-Operative Plating Co, Saint Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: 1-Bromopropane, Nitric acid, Cyanide compounds, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution) and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 19,490 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55104CPRTV1605I (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.8
Elliott Auto Supply Co. Inc, Saint Paul
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $75,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000424425 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.6
Viking Drill & Tool Inc, Saint Paul
Major air pollution source. Penalties $22,944.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000424194 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
Northern Iron & Machine, Saint Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Nickel, Copper, Chromium and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 7,715 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55106NRTHR867FO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.5
Univar Solutions Usa, Saint Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: N,N-Dimethylformamide, Methanol, Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 3,802 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55101VNWTR845TE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
Minuteman International Multi-Clean Div, Shoreview
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Certain glycol ethers, Phosphonic acid, perfluoro-C6-12-alkyl derivs.. Reports PFAS. 2,688 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55126MLTCL600CA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.1
Co-Operative Plating Co, Saint Paul
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000424069 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.1
Gerdau Ameristeel St Paul Mill, Saint Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Lead And Lead Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,816 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55119NRTHS1678R (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7
Viking Drill & Tool Inc, Saint Paul
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $22,944.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000424194 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Cemstone - Midway, Saint Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Lead. Reports carcinogens. 1,418 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55108CMSTN258EN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Central Sandblasting, New Brighton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Zinc (fume or dust). 94,605 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55112CNTRL2299C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.8
Cemstone - Childs Road, Saint Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Lead. Reports carcinogens. 917 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55106CMSTN936CH (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.8
Elliott Auto Supply Co Inc Dba Splash Products, Saint Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Ethylene glycol. 58,743 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55117FXPCK51EAS (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.7
Abbott, Saint Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol. 47,258 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5511WSTJDM177EA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.6
3m Co 3m Center St Paul, St. Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylene glycol. 14,143 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 551443MC3M251CN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.2
Pier Foundry & Pattern Shop Inc, Saint Paul
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Copper, Manganese, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 119 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5510WPRFND51STA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.1
Ascentek Inc., Roseville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Ethylene glycol. 8,726 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 55113LBRCT2420W (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6
Interplastic Corp - Vadnais Heights Plant, Vadnais Heights
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000424256 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6

Correctional facilities

Prisons, jails and corrections operations with an EPA facility record, and the drinking water and wastewater compliance attached to them.

Ramsey County Corrections Fac, Maplewood
EPA FRS registry ID
110008660127
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Mn Department Of Corrections - Osi, Saint Paul
EPA FRS registry ID
110070491412
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Ramsey County

Minnesota state cancer registry
Cancer incidence counts by census tract or ZIP code, by cancer type and year (de-identified). Any cancer cluster inquiries or investigations in Ramsey County, and their findings.
Minnesota vital statistics office
Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.
Minnesota health department, environmental epidemiology
Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.
Minnesota environmental agency and the U.S. EPA regional office
Compliance history, inspection reports, notices of violation, penalties and enforcement actions for each facility above, cited by EPA FRS registry ID.
Minnesota drinking water program
Violation notices, sampling results and sanitary surveys for the public water systems serving the county, including any system serving a correctional facility.
Department of corrections or county sheriff
Water testing, grievances and environmental health inspections for the correctional facilities listed above.

Each Envyrofax address report includes a printable records request worksheet with the custodian and the exact request wording per finding.

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