as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/02/2020 04:34pm
A bill for an act
relating to environment; creating PFAS Task Force; appropriating money; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 115B.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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(a) The PFAS Task Force is created
to review and investigate water and ground contamination of perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across Minnesota. The task force consists of 15 members
as follows:
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(1) the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency;
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(2) the commissioner of health;
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(3) the commissioner of natural resources;
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(4) the commissioner of agriculture;
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(5) the commissioner of public safety;
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(6) the executive director of the Board of Water and Soil Resources;
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(7) one member appointed by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council; and
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(8) eight members appointed by the governor as follows:
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(i) three members representing communities affected by PFAS, including at least one
from greater Minnesota;
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(ii) two members with expertise in PFAS-contaminated water;
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(iii) one member representing fire chiefs;
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(iv) one member representing public water suppliers; and
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(v) one member representing public wastewater treatment facilities.
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(b) The task force is governed by section 15.059, subdivision 6.
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The members of the task force must elect a chair from the members of
the task force.
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Meetings of the task force are governed by chapter 13D.
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Duties of the task force include, but are not limited to:
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(1) gathering and reviewing information about locations where perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances have been detected and creating interagency response plan
strategies;
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(2) identifying significant data gaps in knowledge of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl
substances and developing recommendations to address the gaps;
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(3) identifying opportunities for public education regarding PFAS contamination and
the effects of PFAS exposure on public health and the environment;
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(4) identifying the sources of PFAS contamination and exposure pathways that pose the
greatest risk to public health and the environment;
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(5) examining the benefits and burdens of various treatment and disposal options for
PFAS-contaminated media;
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(6) assessing how state agencies can most effectively use their existing authority and
resources to reduce or eliminate priority risks from PFAS contamination;
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(7) examining data regarding PFAS contamination in freshwater fish and marine
organisms and determining whether further examination is warranted;
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(8) examining and estimating the cost to mitigate PFAS contamination in known locations
across Minnesota and prioritizing areas, excluding the east metropolitan area as defined
under section 115B.52, subdivision 1, where drinking water is threatened; and
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(9) developing strategies and recommendations for meeting the reduction and public
education goals in subdivision 5.
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(a) The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency, in cooperation
with other state agencies and local units of government, must lead an effort to reduce PFAS
contamination of surface water and groundwater by 50 percent by 2026 and 90 percent by
2030.
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(b) The commissioners of health and the Pollution Control Agency, in cooperation with
other state agencies and local units of government, must lead an effort to increase public
awareness of the risks to public health and the environment of PFAS contamination, with
the goal of increasing awareness of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances by 50
percent by 2024.
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The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency
must provide administrative support to the task force.
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By January 15, 2021, and each year thereafter, the PFAS Task Force
must submit a report with the task force's findings and recommendations, including any
draft legislation necessary, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of
representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over health and the
environment and natural resources.
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This section expires July 1, 2025.
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Initial appointments to the PFAS Task Force established in section 1 must be made by
July 15, 2020. The first meeting of the PFAS Task Force must be convened by the
commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency by August 1, 2020. The PFAS Task Force
must select a chair from its membership at its first meeting.
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$150,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of the Pollution Control Agency for the PFAS Task Force under Minnesota Statutes, section
115B.55.
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