Meeting to review 3M site findings

3M to discuss groundwater contamination at Woodbury public meeting.

Last update: January 4, 2008 - 7:54 PM

Representatives from 3M Co. will hold a public meeting in Woodbury next week to review an environmental assessment conducted at the company's former disposal site in the Washington County city.

The meeting is part of an agreement that 3M struck with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in May after perfluorobutanoic acid, or PFBA, was discovered in private and public wells. That chemical is part of a family of compounds called perfluorochemicals, which 3M once used to produce stain removers, lubricants, fire retardants, film and other products.

Maps issued by the state Health Department in July show low levels of PFBA in groundwater beneath 99 square miles of Washington County, a quarter of its land mass. The Health Department is continuing to investigate the extent of contamination, and Woodbury officials are awaiting further results before sinking new municipal wells. The state considers the chemical a pollutant but is still studying its long-term health effects.

The 3M "consent order" agreement with the MPCA also includes former disposal sites in Oakdale and Cottage Grove.

The Health Department has issued a drinking-water advisory to about 20 residences of Cottage Grove south of Hwy. 10 but no advisories elsewhere in Washington County.

The Woodbury meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in Middleton Elementary School, 9105 Lake Road, and will be preceded by an informal "poster session" that begins at 6 p.m. A similar meeting will be held Jan. 31 in Cottage Grove.

In addition to presenting environmental data, Thursday's meeting will cover the company's recommendations to the MPCA regarding technical work at the former disposal site near Dale Road and Woodbury Drive.

KEVIN GILES

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