After Tuesday’s announcement on water quality in Cottage Grove, more information is being released from representatives of those connected with the issue. A general statement was released late on Tuesday by Dr. Carol Ley, 3M’s vice president and corporate medical director, which cites their belief that the advisory levels announced by MDH are overly conservative and that PFOS and PFOA exposure does not present health risks at levels typically found in the environment or in human blood. A settlement in 2007 with the State EPA and 3M involved a clean up of a dumping ground on 3M property and the installation of various drinking water protections for those in the east metro area. According to records, the cost to 3M for this remediation has been $13 million as of 2016. Nearly 7 years ago, in 2010, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson filed a lawsuit accusing 3M, also known as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, of damaging natural resources, however that case is not expected to be heard until next year. “We err on the side of caution to protect the most vulnerable as best we can,” said Dr. Ed Ehlinger, a Minnesota health commissioner. Current Cottage Grove Mayor Myron Bailey has addressed the issue by taking one of the city wells offline until a carbon filtering system can be installed. Public Works personnel will also monitor the water usage now that an emergency water ban has been enacted. Residents affected by issue have been directed to attend one of two meetings that will feature more dissemination of information by the Minnesota Department of Health, city officials and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Those are scheduled for Tuesday, June 6, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Oak-Land Junior High School cafeteria in Lake Elmo and on Wednesday,June 7th from, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Cottage Grove City Hall.
