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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 12, 2016 Page 4 1 water at low levels. In Minnesota, 1,4 Dioxane has been detected in several municipal water 2 supplies including New Brighton, St. Anthony, and Fridley. As the Minnesota Department of 3 Health has not been granted the authority to regulate this chemical by the Environmental 4 Protection Agency (EPA), it created and propagated Health Based Guidance Values for 1,4 5 Dioxane starting three years ago. 6 7 Mr. Kelly stressed that the levels found in St. Anthony's public drinking water system are small 8 and do not exceed the Guidance Value that has been developed by the MDH. He credited City 9 staff for operating the City's water system in a matter that has kept those levels low to provide 10 clean, safe drinking water. Mr. Kelly explained why the MDH set the guidance of 1,4 Dioxane 11 in drinking water at 1 part per billion and indicated there have never been any cases of liver 12 cancer in people linked to 1,4 Dioxane. He explained that while the existing levels of 1,4 13 Dioxane in municipal water supplies is not an immediate health concern, when drinking that 14 water daily over a lifetime the exposure can very slightly increase the likelihood of cancer. Mr. 15 Kelly stated in Minnesota, that is taken seriously so very protective guidance was established to 16 assure that does not happen. 17 18 Mr. Kelly stated the MDH first reviewed 1,4 Dioxane in 2011 and adopted the guidance as a rule 19 in 2013. He stressed that the risk of developing cancer from exposure to 1,4 Dioxane at the 20 amounts found in the City's drinking water is very low, 1 in 100,000, and the use of water in 21 other activities will also not create increased risk for health problems. Mr. Kelly commended St. 22 Anthony for being proactive in addressing the 1,4 Dioxane issue. He explained that carbon 23 filters and other household systems are not very effective in removing this chemical so treatment 24 at the source will be the most effective remedy. 25 26 Michael Fix, United States Army, stated the Army is appreciative of the professional and 27 cooperative working relationship exhibited by the City in working through this problem. He 28 stated the City's issue is also very evident in the Army's environmental program, noting that 29 Pentagon staff have been here to visit and are closely monitoring the process. Mr. Fix stated the 30 Army intends to be supportive of the City so it can proceed to protect its population. 31 32 Mayor Faust stated his appreciation to the team, noting the City is proceeding with caution and 33 he appreciates the professionalism shown towards the City. He stated the City's word is its bond 34 and the City will continue to take steps to ally any public concerns and assure they have clean 35 drinking water. 36 37 Mr. Hubmer described the work done over the past year and provided a PowerPoint presentation 38 on 1,4 Dioxane; project coordination with the US Army, MPCA and MDH; location City wells; 39 and, levels of Dioxane found in each City well. He explained that Well 4 is not being used as the 40 level of 1,4 Dioxane has risen from .9 to 1.4 -1.5 parts per billion. Mr. Hubmer noted by 41 blending water from Wells 3 and 5, the level of 1,4 Dioxane is well below the guidance of 1 part 42 per billion. That is the water currently being delivered to St. Anthony. 43 44 Mayor Faust stated it is important the public realizes there are two arms - length transitions 45 occurring: the State's tests and the City's tests that are completely separate. Mr. Hubmer