St Peter, Minnesota -- Representative Jeff Brand (15A) is partnering with Clean Water Action and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy to hold a joint town hall meeting at the St Peter Community Center on Saturday, March 18th at 10:00 am in Room 219 to discuss the urgent crisis perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are presenting across Minnesota.
PFAS are a class of nearly 12,000 chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals” because of their inability to break down in nature. PFAS bioaccumulates in humans and scientists have identified a probable link to a variety of health impacts such as preeclampsia, thyroid conditions, low birth weight, cancer, liver issues, and more.
“We’ve got to turn the tap off for these deadly chemicals. Minnesota can’t afford to continue the health impacts of exposure and the economic impacts of this continued costly cleanup,” Representative Jeff Brand said. Representative Brand is the chief author of HF1000, a bill to ban the use of non-essential uses of PFAS chemicals in Minnesota.
PFAS chemicals pose a threat when they enter into the water and either contaminate fish and wildlife or are consumed through drinking or cooking.
“It’s vital that we act swiftly to protect the future of our water health in Minnesota, these toxic chemicals are linked to deadly diseases and Minnesotans can’t afford the cost of doing nothing,” said Avonna Starck, Minnesota State Director of Clean Water Action. Starck also noted that corporate interests are swarming the Capitol advocating for chemical companies’ interests, whereas Representative Brand has been advocating for our fellow Minnesotans and having a healthy environment today and in the future.
The town hall will address the PFAS Prevention Package, a package of bills addressing banning PFAS in non-essential items (HF1000/SF834), the requirement for manufacturers to disclose if they are selling products with PFAS (HF372/SF450), and the ban on the use of firefighting foam with PFAS (SF776/HF742).
###
About Clean Water Action
Clean Water Action works at the national, state and local level to develop strong, community-based environmental leadership and bring together diverse constituencies to work cooperatively for policies that improve lives and protect water. Clean Water Action has been in Minnesota since 1982, focused on finding solutions to health, consumer, environmental and community problems and working to protect our water and our people. Learn more at www.cleanwater.org/MN.
About the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
For nearly half a century, MCEA has worked to enact and enforce smart environmental laws in Minnesota. With offices in St. Paul and Duluth and a team that includes some of the state's foremost environmental law and policy professionals, MCEA educates about issues and supports communities in their fight to protect their environment. MCEA is unique in Minnesota in its use of top legal expertise in the pursuit of environmental justice. For more information, visit www.mncenter.org
