The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released a blueprint to address PFAs. According to a release, priorities for this legislative session include designating PFAs, or per- and polyflouralkyl substances, as hazardous, and will require manufacturers to disclose contaminant information.
The blueprint also includes plans on how to identify, evaluate and respond to PFAs contaminations in landfills and wastewater treatment plants as well as protecting wildlife from the chemicals.
Bemidji’s drinking water has some levels of these PFAs, and a $16 million treatment plant to remove it is under construction.
The PFAs contamination in Bemidji’s wells has been sourced to a firefighting foam used at the Bemidji Regional Airport above the well field.
The city received $10 million in state bonding dollars to offset the cost of construction, with a stipulation that if the city is successful in litigation with the firefighting foam manufacturer, the state would be reimbursed $4 million.
