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water at low levels. In Minnesota, 1,4 Dioxane has been detected in several municipal water 1 <br />supplies including New Brighton, St. Anthony, and Fridley. As the Minnesota Department of 2 <br />Health has not been granted the authority to regulate this chemical by the Environmental 3 <br />Protection Agency (EPA), it created and propagated Health Based Guidance Values for 1,4 4 <br />Dioxane starting three years ago. 5 <br /> 6 <br />Mr. Kelly stressed that the levels found in St. Anthony’s public drinking water system are small 7 <br />and do not exceed the Guidance Value that has been developed by the MDH. He credited City 8 <br />staff for operating the City’s water system in a matter that has kept those levels low to provide 9 <br />clean, safe drinking water. Mr. Kelly explained why the MDH set the guidance of 1,4 Dioxane 10 <br />in drinking water at 1 part per billion and indicated there have never been any cases of liver 11 <br />cancer in people linked to 1,4 Dioxane. He explained that while the existing levels of 1,4 12 <br />Dioxane in municipal water supplies is not an immediate health concern, when drinking that 13 <br />water daily over a lifetime the exposure can very slightly increase the likelihood of cancer. Mr. 14 <br />Kelly stated in Minnesota, that is taken seriously so very protective guidance was established to 15 <br />assure that does not happen. 16 <br /> 17 <br />Mr. Kelly stated the MDH first reviewed 1,4 Dioxane in 2011 and adopted the guidance as a rule 18 <br />in 2013. He stressed that the risk of developing cancer from exposure to 1,4 Dioxane at the 19 <br />amounts found in the City’s drinking water is very low, 1 in 100,000, and the use of water in 20 <br />other activities will also not create increased risk for health problems. Mr. Kelly commended St. 21 <br />Anthony for being proactive in addressing the 1,4 Dioxane issue. He explained that carbon 22 <br />filters and other household systems are not very effective in removing this chemical so treatment 23 <br />at the source will be the most effective remedy. 24 <br /> 25 <br />Michael Fix, United States Army, stated the Army is appreciative of the professional and 26 <br />cooperative working relationship exhibited by the City in working through this problem. He 27 <br />stated the City’s issue is also very evident in the Army’s environmental program, noting that 28 <br />Pentagon staff have been here to visit and are closely monitoring the process. Mr. Fix stated the 29 <br />Army intends to be supportive of the City so it can proceed to protect its population. 30 <br /> 31 <br />Mayor Faust stated his appreciation to the team, noting the City is proceeding with caution and 32 <br />he appreciates the professionalism shown towards the City. He stated the City’s word is its bond 33 <br />and the City will continue to take steps to ally any public concerns and assure they have clean 34 <br />drinking water. 35 <br /> 36 <br />Mr. Hubmer described the work done over the past year and provided a PowerPoint presentation 37 <br />on 1,4 Dioxane; project coordination with the US Army, MPCA and MDH; location City wells; 38 <br />and, levels of Dioxane found in each City well. He explained that Well 4 is not being used as the 39 <br />level of 1,4 Dioxane has risen from .9 to 1.4-1.5 parts per billion. Mr. Hubmer noted by 40 <br />blending water from Wells 3 and 5, the level of 1,4 Dioxane is well below the guidance of 1 part 41 <br />per billion. That is the water currently being delivered to St. Anthony. 42 <br /> 43 <br />Mayor Faust stated it is important the public realizes there are two arms-length transitions 44 <br />occurring: the State’s tests and the City’s tests that are completely separate. Mr. Hubmer 45 <br />12