PFC Quarterly Update

Transcription

1 PFC Quarterly Update Kathy Sather, Remediation Division Director Paul Hoff, Environmental Analysis and Outcomes Division John Linc Stine, Environmental Health Division Director, MDH January 27, 2009

2 Overview 3M Oakdale Disposal Site 3M Woodbury Disposal Site 3M Cottage Grove Site Wastewater Discharge Permit Washington County Landfill 2

3 Remediation 3M Oakdale Disposal Site Decision document signed by Commissioner 11/4/08 Institutional controls Enhanced ground-water pump-out with carbon treatment prior to discharge Additional ground-water control wells have been installed Excavation of contaminated soil, off-site disposal at SKB 3M has installed Soil Vapor Extraction system in excavation area to reduce odors during construction activities. Remedial Design due 2/19/09 3

4 Remediation 3M Woodbury Disposal Site 4 Decision document signed 12/22/08 Institutional controls Continue existing ground-water pump-out system, with carbon treatment prior to discharge Excavation of contaminated soil, off-site disposal at SKB 3M approved to install Soil Vapor Extraction system in excavation areas to decrease VOC concentrations Remedial Design due 4/2/09 Ongoing residential well monitoring

5 Remediation 3M Cottage Grove Site Final Feasibility Study Report submitted on 1/6/09 Additional sediment sampling and ground- water pump testing Independent soil-slope slope stability evaluation conducted for D9 disposal area MPCA staff to issue proposed cleanup plan with public meeting/comment period Remedy selection approval 5

6 Wastewater Discharge Permit NPDES/SDS Permit reissuance progress Calculating WQ-based effluent limit Evaluating treatment/removal capabilities Public notice spring/summer

7 Washington County Landfill 7 MPCA Commissioner selected Dig & Line remedy, approved June 18, 2008 Design incorporates triple-bottom liner per legislation Soil borings to better ascertain waste volume completed November 2008, final design underway Contractor bids April 2009, construction starting May/June 2009

8 Remediation Summary Decision documents signed for 3M Oakdale and Woodbury Disposal sites MPCA expenses for 2008 invoiced this month Settlement Agreement and Consent Order actions and requirements continuing to move forward Excavation activities at sites planned for 2009/2010 8

9 PFCs in Minnesota s Ambient Environment 2008 Progress Report 9

10 Background Perfluorochemical (PFC) compound in which all available carbon atoms are bonded to fluorine atoms Produced Produced since the late 1950s Production of PFOS and PFOA by 3M voluntarily ceased in

11 Background Since Since 2006, it has been apparent that PFC concentrations in Minnesota s ambient environment may be a concern PFOS, PFOS, PFOA, and PFBA have been the primary focus in Minnesota 11

12 Reasons for Concern PFCs PFCs are persistent Some Some are bioaccumulative Some Some exhibit toxicity PFCs PFCs capable of traveling long distances in the atmosphere 12

13 Human and Ecological Health: Exposure and Effects Nearly all people and animals world-wide wide have some PFCs in their blood Exposure Ambient environment, drinking water, food and food packaging, use of consumer products, other unknown pathways Effects documented in animals in lab studies Decreased growth, altered development, immune suppression, endocrine disruption, increased sensitivity to other chemicals 13

14 Investigative Questions MPCA is working to address these concerns through investigations of PFCs in the ambient environment Where do we find PFCs in the ambient environment? What are the sources? How do PFCs move in the environment? Are the concentrations a potential concern for human or ecological health? 14

15 Environmental Investigations Air and precipitation monitoring Aqueous film-forming forming foam (AFFF) use Fish-tissue and surface-water monitoring Food-web studies Ground-water monitoring Lake Calhoun PFOS source investigation Land-use influence of PFOS concentrations in fish tissue 15

16 Environmental Investigations Literature reviews Mississippi River sampling Soil microcosm studies with EPA labs Urban watershed study Wastewater treatment plant PFC release assessment Water-quality criteria development Wildlife/ecological risk assessment 16

17 What are the sources of PFCs, and how do they move in the environment?

18 Sources Release during manufacture Release during use of PFC-containing products Fire-fighting foam, non-stick coatings, stain repellents, paper coatings, food packaging, lubricants, wetting agents, cosmetics, etc. Release in waste streams Wastewater treatment-plant effluent Landfills 18

19 Production Processes Two Two manufacturing processes Electrochemical fluorination (ECF) Telomerization 19

20 ECF Used Used by 3M to produce PFOS and PFOA Only Only process that produces PFOS and PFOA directly 3M ended PFOS and PFOA production in

21 Telomerization Developed by DuPont and others to produce fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) FTOHs FTOHs can breakdown to PFOA and other PFCs in air and during wastewater treatment Over Over 10 million lbs. produced per year 21

22 Where do we find PFCs in Minnesota?

23 Distribution of PFCs in Minnesota To date, some PFCs have been detected in all sampled environmental media Widespread, low-level level contamination Small Small number of hot spots 23

24 Ground Water

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27 Fish

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29 Wastewater Treatment Plants

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31 Wastewater Treatment Plants Some Some PFCs detected in influent, effluent and sludge Elevated Elevated concentrations of PFOS detected at Brainerd plant, traced to chrome-plating operation 31

32 Are environmental concentrations a potential concern for human or ecological health?

33 Relevance to Human and Ecological Health Fish-consumption advisories for PFOS Ecological effects in Minnesota at current concentrations unknown 33

34 Summary PFCs PFCs have numerous beneficial uses They They can also be persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic Ubiquitous, global contaminants 34 In Minnesota, PFCs have been detected in surface water, ground water, stormwater, air, fish, and wastewater treatment plants

35 Outlook Continued study of PFCs in the ambient environment Use data to inform and adapt remediation, regulatory actions Partnerships with state and federal agencies, academia, and industry 35

36 Questions? ml 36

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