PFC Quarterly Update

Kathy Sather, Remediation Division DirectorPaul Hoff, Environmental Analysis and Outcomes DivisionJohn Linc Stine, Environmental Health Division Director, MDH

January 27, 2009

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Overview

3M Oakdale Disposal Site3M Oakdale Disposal Site

3M Woodbury Disposal Site3M Woodbury Disposal Site

3M Cottage Grove Site3M Cottage Grove Site

Wastewater Discharge PermitWastewater Discharge Permit

Washington County LandfillWashington County Landfill

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Remediation 3M Oakdale Disposal Site

Decision document signed by Commissioner 11/4/08Decision document signed by Commissioner 11/4/08

Institutional controls Institutional controls

Enhanced groundEnhanced ground--water pumpwater pump--out with carbon out with carbon treatment prior to dischargetreatment prior to discharge

Additional groundAdditional ground--water control wells have been installedwater control wells have been installed

Excavation of contaminated soil, offExcavation of contaminated soil, off--site disposal at SKBsite disposal at SKB

3M has installed Soil Vapor Extraction system in 3M has installed Soil Vapor Extraction system in excavation area to reduce odors during construction excavation area to reduce odors during construction activities. activities.

Remedial Design due 2/19/09Remedial Design due 2/19/09

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Remediation 3M Woodbury Disposal Site

Decision document signed 12/22/08Decision document signed 12/22/08

Institutional controls Institutional controls

Continue existing groundContinue existing ground--water pumpwater pump--out system, with out system, with carbon treatment prior to dischargecarbon treatment prior to discharge

Excavation of contaminated soil, offExcavation of contaminated soil, off--site disposal at SKBsite disposal at SKB

3M approved to install Soil Vapor Extraction 3M approved to install Soil Vapor Extraction system in excavation areas to decrease VOC system in excavation areas to decrease VOC concentrationsconcentrations

Remedial Design due 4/2/09Remedial Design due 4/2/09

Ongoing residential well monitoringOngoing residential well monitoring

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Remediation 3M Cottage Grove Site

Final Feasibility Study Report submitted on Final Feasibility Study Report submitted on 1/6/091/6/09

Additional sediment sampling and groundAdditional sediment sampling and ground-- water pump testingwater pump testing

Independent soilIndependent soil--slope stability evaluation slope stability evaluation conducted for D9 disposal areaconducted for D9 disposal area

MPCA staff to issue proposed cleanup plan MPCA staff to issue proposed cleanup plan with public meeting/comment periodwith public meeting/comment period

Remedy selection approvalRemedy selection approval

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Wastewater Discharge Permit

NPDES/SDS Permit reissuance progressNPDES/SDS Permit reissuance progress

Calculating WQCalculating WQ--based effluent limitbased effluent limit

Evaluating treatment/removal capabilitiesEvaluating treatment/removal capabilities

Public notice spring/summer 2009Public notice spring/summer 2009

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Washington County Landfill

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MPCA Commissioner selected Dig & Line MPCA Commissioner selected Dig & Line remedy, approved June 18, 2008remedy, approved June 18, 2008

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Design incorporates tripleDesign incorporates triple--bottom liner per bottom liner per legislationlegislation

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Soil borings to better ascertain waste volume Soil borings to better ascertain waste volume completed November 2008, final design completed November 2008, final design underwayunderway

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Contractor bids April 2009, construction Contractor bids April 2009, construction starting May/June 2009starting May/June 2009

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Remediation Summary

Decision documents signed for 3M Oakdale Decision documents signed for 3M Oakdale and Woodbury Disposal sitesand Woodbury Disposal sites

MPCA expenses for 2008 invoiced this monthMPCA expenses for 2008 invoiced this month

Settlement Agreement and Consent Order Settlement Agreement and Consent Order actions and requirements continuing to actions and requirements continuing to move forwardmove forward

Excavation activities at sites planned for Excavation activities at sites planned for 2009/20102009/2010

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PFCs in Minnesota’s Ambient Environment

2008 Progress Report

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Background

Perfluorochemical (PFC) Perfluorochemical (PFC) ––

compound in compound in which all available carbon atoms are which all available carbon atoms are bonded to fluorine atomsbonded to fluorine atoms

Produced since the late 1950sProduced since the late 1950s

Production of PFOS and PFOA by 3M Production of PFOS and PFOA by 3M voluntarily ceased in 2002voluntarily ceased in 2002

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Background

Since 2006, it has been apparent that Since 2006, it has been apparent that PFC concentrations in Minnesota’s PFC concentrations in Minnesota’s ambient environment may be a concernambient environment may be a concern

PFOS, PFOA, and PFBA have been the PFOS, PFOA, and PFBA have been the primary focus in Minnesotaprimary focus in Minnesota

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Reasons for Concern

PFCs are persistentPFCs are persistent

Some are bioaccumulativeSome are bioaccumulative

Some exhibit toxicity Some exhibit toxicity

PFCs capable of traveling long distances PFCs capable of traveling long distances in the atmospherein the atmosphere

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Human and Ecological Health: Exposure and Effects

Nearly all people and animals worldNearly all people and animals world--wide wide have some PFCs in their bloodhave some PFCs in their blood

ExposureExposure

Ambient environment, drinking water, food and food Ambient environment, drinking water, food and food packaging, use of consumer products, other unknown packaging, use of consumer products, other unknown pathwayspathways

Effects documented in animals in lab studiesEffects documented in animals in lab studies

Decreased growth, altered development, immune Decreased growth, altered development, immune suppression, endocrine disruption, increased sensitivity suppression, endocrine disruption, increased sensitivity to other chemicals to other chemicals

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Investigative Questions

MPCA is working to address these concerns MPCA is working to address these concerns through investigations of PFCs in the through investigations of PFCs in the ambient environmentambient environment

Where do we find PFCs in the ambient Where do we find PFCs in the ambient environment?environment?

What are the sources?What are the sources?

How do PFCs move in the environment?How do PFCs move in the environment?

Are the concentrations a potential concern for Are the concentrations a potential concern for human or ecological health?human or ecological health?

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Environmental Investigations

Air and precipitation monitoringAir and precipitation monitoringAqueous filmAqueous film--forming foam (AFFF) useforming foam (AFFF) use FishFish--tissue and surfacetissue and surface--water monitoringwater monitoring FoodFood--web studiesweb studiesGroundGround--water monitoringwater monitoring Lake Calhoun PFOS source investigationLake Calhoun PFOS source investigation LandLand--use influence of PFOS concentrations in use influence of PFOS concentrations in

fish tissuefish tissue

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Environmental Investigations

Literature reviewsLiterature reviewsMississippi River samplingMississippi River sampling Soil microcosm studies with EPA labsSoil microcosm studies with EPA labsUrban watershed studyUrban watershed studyWastewater treatment plant PFC release Wastewater treatment plant PFC release

assessmentassessmentWaterWater--quality criteria developmentquality criteria developmentWildlife/ecological risk assessmentWildlife/ecological risk assessment

What are the sources of PFCs, and how do they

move in the environment?

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Sources

Release during manufactureRelease during manufacture

Release during use of PFCRelease during use of PFC--containing containing productsproducts

FireFire--fighting foam, nonfighting foam, non--stick coatings, stain stick coatings, stain repellents, paper coatings, food packaging, repellents, paper coatings, food packaging, lubricants, wetting agents, cosmetics, etc.lubricants, wetting agents, cosmetics, etc.

Release in waste streamsRelease in waste streams

Wastewater treatmentWastewater treatment--plant effluentplant effluent

LandfillsLandfills

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Production Processes

Two manufacturing processesTwo manufacturing processes

Electrochemical fluorination (ECF)Electrochemical fluorination (ECF)

TelomerizationTelomerization

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ECF

Used by 3M to produce PFOS and PFOAUsed by 3M to produce PFOS and PFOA

Only process that produces PFOS and Only process that produces PFOS and PFOA directlyPFOA directly

3M ended PFOS and PFOA production in 3M ended PFOS and PFOA production in 20022002

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Telomerization

Developed by DuPont and others to Developed by DuPont and others to produce fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs)produce fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs)

FTOHs can breakdown to PFOA and FTOHs can breakdown to PFOA and other PFCs in air and during wastewater other PFCs in air and during wastewater treatmenttreatment

Over 10 million lbs. produced per yearOver 10 million lbs. produced per year

Where do we find PFCs in Minnesota?

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Distribution of PFCs in Minnesota

To date, some PFCs have been detected To date, some PFCs have been detected in all sampled environmental media in all sampled environmental media

Widespread, lowWidespread, low--level contaminationlevel contamination

Small number of “hot spots”Small number of “hot spots”

Ground Water

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Fish

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Wastewater Treatment Plants

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Wastewater Treatment Plants

Some PFCs detected in influent, effluent Some PFCs detected in influent, effluent and sludgeand sludge

Elevated concentrations of PFOS Elevated concentrations of PFOS detected at Brainerd plant, traced to detected at Brainerd plant, traced to chromechrome--plating operationplating operation

Are environmental concentrations a potential

concern for human or ecological health?

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Relevance to Human and Ecological Health

FishFish--consumption advisories for PFOS consumption advisories for PFOS

Ecological effects in Minnesota at Ecological effects in Minnesota at current concentrations unknowncurrent concentrations unknown

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SummaryPFCs have numerous beneficial usesPFCs have numerous beneficial uses

They can also be persistent, They can also be persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxicbioaccumulative, and toxic

Ubiquitous, global contaminantsUbiquitous, global contaminants

In Minnesota, PFCs have been detected In Minnesota, PFCs have been detected in surface water, ground water, in surface water, ground water, stormwater, air, fish, and wastewater stormwater, air, fish, and wastewater treatment plantstreatment plants

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Outlook

Continued study of PFCs in the ambient Continued study of PFCs in the ambient environmentenvironment

Use data to inform and adapt Use data to inform and adapt remediation, regulatory actionsremediation, regulatory actions

Partnerships with state and federal Partnerships with state and federal agencies, academia, and industryagencies, academia, and industry

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Questions?

www.pca.state.mn.us/cleanup/pfc/pfcsites.htwww.pca.state.mn.us/cleanup/pfc/pfcsites.ht mlml

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