Last year, Minnesota became the first state to ban TCE, an industrial solvent tied to the toxic nightmare at White Bear Lake's Water Gremlin.
Now WCCO reports in Legislative Auditor: MN Pollution Control Agency Did Not Inspect Water Gremlin As Often As It Should:
A special review released by the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor has determined that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency lacked oversight of Water Gremlin.
Water Gremlin, located in White Bear Township, was found to have long-standing violations of air quality regulations. That includes more than 15 years of releasing a toxic chemical, TCE, into the air. . . .
Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles’ special review determined that the MPCA — which is the regulatory agency overseeing Water Gremlin — did not inspect Water Gremlin’s equipment as often as it should or make full use of the company’s self-reported emissions information. The report also found that, after 2002, the MPCA did not require testing of the company’s air pollution equipment.
Other findings include that the MPCA did not act on the company’s initial permit application in a timely manner, and the MPCA’s 2002 permit amendment “did not effectively limit the company’s use of a hazardous chemical.” . . . .
The Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy committee will review the report beginning at 1 on Thursday. The hearing can be watched live on the Minnesota House Information Service YouTube Channel 4.
Update: here's the Minnesota House Information Services' YouTube of the hearing; the video will scroll to the point where the hearing begins/
Here's the report:
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Regulation and Oversight of Water Gremlin uploaded by Sally Jo Sorensen on Scribd
Photo: The Water Gremlin manufacturing plant.
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