Hello from the State Capitol,
On Thursday, the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee visited Hastings to learn about its request for state funds to help the city build 3 PFAS and nitrate decentralized treatment plants.
As you’ll recall, years ago, PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) were found in east Metro city water supplies. 3M was charged with releasing chemicals into the groundwater and eventually reached a $720 million settlement with the state in 2018.
After the Department of Health told Hastings that five of its six wells were above the allowable drinking water standard, Hastings was forced to act, building its first well at a cost of $26.7 million. It was paid for by a significant increase in water rates – not through 3M settlement funds.
Hastings still needs 2 more wells, and is seeking $39 million in state bonding proceeds to help construct them. I spoke to capital investment committee members about the urgent need to help provide clean drinking water to residents.
As it stands, Hastings residents are now paying (significantly) out of pocket to pay for a problem it did not create, and that is so wrong. If no outside money comes forward, residents and business owners can expect to see a 159% increase in their water bills just so it can be drinkable. It’s completely unacceptable.
To me, Hastings should be receiving its fair share of the 3M settlement fund to pay for the problems the company caused. If bonding dollars are eventually allocated for this project, and eventually 3M dollars come forward, the state could actually recover the bonding dollars and use them for another project.
In addition to the bonding proposals, I am also authoring legislation that would force payment from the 3M settlement funds, as well as a different bill that would use funds from the Clean Water Fund in the Legacy Amendment to assist the City of Hastings.
Helping Hastings solve its drinking water problem remains my top priority, and I will continue to do everything in my power to find ways to protect Hastings residents from paying for this 3M-created mess.
Have a good weekend,
Tom