Although we successfully passed legislation establishing the per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reduction initiative last session, our work on PFAS issues has not abated. Here are a few highlights of our recent PFAS-related activities:

  • PFAS Monitoring Strategy. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) unveiled its PFAS monitoring plan last month that outlines how the agency will monitor PFAS at solid waste, wastewater, stormwater, and other facilities. The proposal explains how the agency plans to prioritize locations and what the monitoring will entail. MPCA is accepting comments through Jan. 21, 2022, and CGMC will likely submit a letter. Earlier this week, CGMC staff met with a group of wastewater personnel who had participated in the MPCA stakeholder group that provided input on the plan. The meeting helped us gain better understanding of the proposal and the facets that CGMC should comment on.
     
  • PFAS Source Reduction Strategy Stakeholder Group. CGMC worked for two years to pass the PFAS Source Reduction Initiative that the Legislature passed last summer. This month, MPCA pulled together an advisory group required under the statute, which includes CGMC lobbyist Elizabeth Wefel and Marshall City Administrator Sharon Hanson as representatives of the CGMC. Attorney Gretel Lee from Flaherty & Hood, P.A. and staff from Moorhead and Hutchinson participated on behalf of the Minnesota Environmental Science and Economic Review Board (MESERB). With Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association, League of Minnesota Cities, and Rural Water also on the advisory group, municipal wastewater is well-represented.

    The purpose of the advisory group is to provide input to the agency as it develops the source reduction strategy. The goal is to help cities keep PFAS out of their wastewater stream by identifying typical sources of PFAS entering wastewater, identifying strategies that can effectively reduce the amount of PFAS in the wastewater stream, and provide guidance for local governments on these issues.

    A primary charge of the group is to identify what would be helpful to municipalities coming out of this source reduction strategy. If you or your operators have any thoughts on what a useful end product would look like or have suggestions in general on the work, please contact Elizabeth Wefel at eawefel@flaherty-hood.com.
     

  • PFAS Summit. CGMC and the League of Minnesota Cities were invited by Clean Water Alliance to participate in a “Clean Water Summit.” The goal of this summit is to bring together environmental groups, legislators, city groups and others to discuss how to tackle the problem of PFAS. Gretel Lee has been attending on behalf of the city groups. The first two meetings focused on the problem of PFAS and some legislative work that has been done elsewhere on product stewardship. We will continue to monitor and participate as appropriate.

If you have any comments or suggestions on our PFAS efforts, please contact Elizabeth Wefel at eawefel@flaherty-hood.com.