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When perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were invented in the 1940’s, they offered some amazing properties. In the decades that followed, they were used in firefighting foam, fabric protectants, and nonstick coatings. While these compounds have unique physical characteristics, they also do not break down in the environment, hence the nickname “forever chemicals.” Unfortunately, as our knowledge about these chemicals has grown, it has become increasingly clear that PFAS also harm human health at extremely low levels in the environment. This combination makes PFAS one of the most vexing and challenging chemical pollutants of our time.
Minnesota claims one of the largest PFAS pollution plumes in the U.S. Beginning in the 1950s, 3M manufactured an array of products in the Twin Cities metro area that contained PFAS. 3M disposed of waste from these manufacturing processes at several sites in the east metro, including Maplewood, Lake Elmo, and Cottage Grove. 3M’s PFAS disposal polluted groundwater in an 150 square mile area of the east metro, contaminating the drinking water of 140,000 Minnesotans. PFAS have also been detected in lakes across Minnesota from spills and the use of firefighting foam. The Minneapolis chain of lakes (including Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet) and lakes in St. Louis County and Olmsted County have fish consumption advisories for PFAS contamination. In all, 33 lakes in Minnesota have PFAS related advisories.
In 2018, 3M agreed to pay $850 million to settle legal claims alleged in a lawsuit brought by then Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson. The settlement funds are to pay for remediating this pollution. Whether this amount will be sufficient to properly remedy the pollution is unknown.
In 2020, MCEA testified at the Minnesota Legislature in favor of a bill offered by Rep. Steve Sandell (DFL-Woodbury) that would have appropriated money to create a state water quality standard for two of the most common PFAS compounds, known as PFOA and PFOS. In addition, MCEA is studying how to most effectively use the settlement funds to ensure east metro residents have access to clean drinking water.
In late 2020, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the two state agencies entrusted to oversee distribution of the settlement money, proposed three options for remediating the PFAS pollution plaguing the East Metro. MCEA retained two PFAS experts to assist a comment letter MCEA sent to the agencies. In the comment, MCEA implored the agencies to prioritize spending the settlement money to repair the East Metro's drinking water supplies. The emerging science is clear: drinking water contaminated with any amount of PFAS is harmful to human health. The agencies should take every measure to ensure nobody in the East Metro has to continue drinking tap water laced with 3M's chemicals.
May 2021
MCEA Attorney Jay Eidsness Published in the Duluth News Tribune
Published on the weekend of the 2021 fishing opener, MCEA staff attorney Jay Eidsness penned an opinion piece aimed at educating the public about the growing threat of PFAS in our lakes and rivers. At a time when thousands of Minnesotans across the state were casting a line hoping to hook dinner, the article explained why PFAS is not just a problem in the East Metro, and that unless meaningful action is taken, more water bodies will be populated with fish with toxic levels of PFAS in their tissue. Read the article here.
April 2021
MCEA Recommends PCA Pursue Statewide Standards for PFAS in Fish Tissue
Fishing is synonymous with Minnesota, yet our storied tradition is fundamentally threatened by the growing spread of PFAS in our lakes and rivers. Dozens of waterways are currently listed as impaired for PFAS, and many of these waters are under strict fish consumption limits. In response to this crisis, the Pollution Control Agency is seeking to establish statewide standards for consuming PFOS, one chemical in the PFAS family, in fish tissue. In a comment letter to PCA, MCEA applauded this effort and encouraged the agency to explore setting additional standards for more PFAS chemicals.
March 2021
MCEA Urges MDH to Adopt Robust Health Risk Limits
In response to the Minnesota Department of Health's announcement of its intention to revise the Health Risk Limits for an array of PFAS compounds, MCEA reminded MDH of its statutory obligation to establish safe drinking water standards based on best available science with a reasonable margin of safety. The pervasiveness and toxicity of PFAS demand an aggressive approach, and MCEA stressed the value of setting exacting standards to allow state regulators to implement best management practices to prevent or minimize the source of PFAS to the extent practicable. Without direct action from the state, PFAS will continue to infect drinking water supplies for thousands of Minnesotans. We cannot allow this to happen.
February 2021
State agencies release PFAS plan for Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency release Minnesota’s PFAS Blueprint, a nearly 200 page reference guide that details the scope of PFAS pollution across the state and identifies potential strategies to address it. MCEA was among a small group of environmental organizations asked to review and respond to the document before it’s public release
February 2021
MCEA staff attorney, Jay Eidsness, testifies at the Capitol
MCEA staff attorney, Jay Eidsness, testifies in favor of House Bill 78. The bill aims to classify PFAS as a hazardous substance under the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act (MERA) and hold polluters financially responsible for cleanup costs.
February 2020
Bill introduced to create water quality standard for PFOA/PFOS
While the MPCA designated surface water quality criteria for PFOA and PFOS in 2006, this bill would have created a numerical water quality standard that would be enforceable through Clean Water Act permits. MCEA testifies for the bill, but it does not become law during the 2020 session.
February 2018
3M, State of Minnesota reach $850 million settlement of suit
The settlement is to pay for the costs of local governments to provide safe drinking water, and to ameliorate the impacts of pollution of lakes and streams.
2010
State of Minnesota sues 3M over PFAS pollution of water
2007
Minnesota, 3M negotiate consent decree for cleanup of 3 PFAS sites
2004
PFAS discovered in drinking water of east metro cities
2003
PFAS found in wells at and near 3M disposal sites in east metro
2002
PFAS found in production well at 3M Cottage Grove facility
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, lacking information about the risk of the compound, asks the Minnesota Department of Health to develop health guidance.
2002
3M phases out use of PFAS
3M announced they had completed phasing out the use of PFAS. They announced their intent to end use of PFAS in 2000.