(KNSI) – Several Minnesota agencies introduced a proposed legislative package to deal with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances Thursday morning at 10:30.
The Maximum Contaminant Levels proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for two ‘forever chemicals’ are well below the guidelines in place at the state level now. Four others will be monitored strictly using a Health Risk Index system.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Assistant Director Kirk Koudelka says public water systems will fail the new thresholds. He also wants money for businesses to address PFAS.
“It’s important they have the technical and financial resources to be able to tackle this problem now, proactively, before we get to the date when these standards are actually enacted. Second is $4.42 million, to help with PFAS prevention for our businesses. These dollars will be made available for grants for early adopters to move away from PFAS.”
Wells in Sauk Rapids and Waite Park are already above existing state guidelines.
Minnesota Department of Health Assistant Commissioner Dan Huff also spoke. Huff says ‘forever chemicals’ affect human health in a couple of ways. Wildlife exposed to PFAS can pass that contamination onto humans when they wind up on our plates.
“84% — right now of what we’ve monitored, 84% from impacted water bodies, that’s PFAS impacted water bodies have significant levels of PFAS in their tissues.”
The governor’s budget proposes $910,000 to monitor PFAS exposure of fish. Several other measures were discussed during the press conference.
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