PFAS in Minnesota - the Blueprint for Action Zoom Program on November 10 at 11:30

Minnesota's investigation into PFAS contamination began in 2002 when 3M notified the MPCA of PFAS in its Cottage Grove production well. In 2004, PFAS were found to have contaminated drinking water supplies in parts of the eastern Twin Cities, and fish tested in the Mississippi River Pool 2 had high concentrations near the discharge from the 3M Cottage Grove facility. Most of the contamination was traced to four dumps or landfills. The East Metro investigations have identified an area of groundwater contamination covering over 150 square miles, affecting the drinking water supplies of over 175,000 Minnesotans.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, are an enormous family of chemicals now pervasive in the environment. Called “forever chemicals,” they do not break down and can bioaccumulate in both humans and other living organisms, with some known to be toxic. Minnesota created the Minnesota PFAS Blueprint, a strategic, coordinated approach to protecting families and communities.

On Wednesday, November 10 at 11:30 am, LWV MN's Climate Change Task Force will host MPCA Assistant Commissioner Kirk Koudelka, talking about PFAS in Minnesota and the state's response to this wide-spread contamination of our land and water.  This meeting will be hosted on Zoom - click the link below to join at 11:30 on November 10
https://lwvmn-org.zoom.us/j/87846019802

To join by phone:  dial in on 312 626 6799 (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 878 4601 9802

This meeting is a follow-up to UMRR's October 4 PFAS webinar, PFAS The Unfolding Story which took a regional look at PFAS contamination, and then focused on problems in Wisconsin.  You can watch the video of this meeting at this link.  This post also includes supplemental material on PFAS sources and actions.  

Kirk Koudelka, MPCA Assistant Commissioner 

Kirk Koudelka was appointed Assistant Commissioner for Land Policy and Strategic Initiatives in May 2012.

Prior to that, Kirk served as the Legislative Director at the MPCA. He led the agency’s legislative efforts for the 2011 through 2014 legislative sessions in both roles.

Before coming to the agency, Kirk spent 11 legislative sessions at the Minnesota House of Representatives in various capacities. The last six years were spent focused on environmental and natural resources issues, four for which were with the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee. It included administering the Solid Waste, Recycling and Resources Conservation Working Group focusing on state level changes, but also internal changes at the Legislature.
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Kirk has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Hamline University.

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​https://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/pfas-pollution