SERVICE COMES A RETIREMENT GIFT
BETTER THAN ANY GOLD WATCH?
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
EAST METRO FAMILIES WHO'S
DRINKING WATER IS AFFECTED BY A
3M CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION ARE
SPEAKING OUT TONIGHT.
THEY'RE DISAPPOINTED ABOUT A
SETTLEMENT BETWEEN A COMPANY
AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
WE THINK THE SETTLEMENT WILL
HELP SOLVE A PROBLEM FOR
MINNESOTA.
IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM THAT HAS
BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING
FOR MANY DECADES.
THESE CHEMICALS AS I MENTIONED
WERE PUT INTO THE GROUND.
WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE
SETTLEMENT CAN HELP FIX THAT.
Reporter: TODAY 3M AGREED TO
PAY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA $850
MILLION.
STATE INITIALLY WANTED $5
BILLION.
MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL
LOYCE SWANSON SAYS THE MONEY
WILL BE USED TO PAY FOR WATER
QUALITY PROGRAMS IN THE EAST
METRO.
FOR YEARS, 3M ILLEGALLY DUMPED
THE WASTE FROM CHEMICALS USED
TO MAKE PRODUCTS LIKE SCOTCH
GUARD AT THREE DIFFERENT SITES.
THE CHEMICAL WASTE CAUSED
HIGHER CASES OF CANCER AND
PREMATURE BIRTHS.
3M DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY
CAUSED HIGHER CASES OF CANCER.
WE NEED WATER EVERY DAY.
THE WATER COMES IN FROM THE
CITY AND IT RUNS THROUGH HERE.
Reporter: WANDRUP USES A
SPECIAL FILTER IN HIS COTTAGE
GROVE HOME HE SAYS IT MAKES
SURE THE WATER IS SAFE FOR HIS
FAMILY TO USE AND DRINK.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S
IMPOSED ON US.
THAT'S WHERE I GET A LITTLE BIT
UPSET.
Reporter: WHEN THEY MOVED
INTO THEIR HOUSE, TALK OF
CHEMICALS OR PFCs IN THE WATER
WAS JUST STARTING IN THE CITY.
3M HAD BEEN DUMPING CHEMICALS
AT SEVERAL KTVU CHANNEL 2
SITES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
THEY HAVE TO TAKE A WATER
BOTTLE.
IF THEY FORGET THEIR WATER
BOTTLE.
THEY GO THIRSTY.
IF WE GO TO THE PARK WE DON'T
LET THEM DRINK FROM THE
MOUNTAINS.
Reporter: A SETTLEMENT WAS
REACHED FOR $850 MILLION.
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE 5
MILLION THE STATE ORIGINALLY
ASKED FOR.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO
OUR PROPERTY VALUE?
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE
TAX BASE AND COMMUNITY ONCE
PEOPLE FIND OUT THAT THERE'S
PFCs IN THIS AREA?
Reporter: IN A STATEMENT 3M
SAID IN PART WE ARE PROUD OF
OUR RECORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP.
WHY WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S AN
ISSUE 3M WILL WORK WITH THE
STATE ON THESE IMPORTANT
PROJECTS.
THEY'RE NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES
BUT DON'T WANT TO UPROOT THEIR
FAMILY TO MOVE.
THE SETTLEMENT WILL GO TO
SUPPORT CLEANER WATER AND
PROJECTS IN THE METRO.
LAW EXPERTS SAY THERE ARE
MANY REASONS WHY A CASE THIS
BIG DID NOT GO TO TRIAL.
PROFESSOR ALEXANDER CLASS
TEACHES ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.
SHE SAID WHILE EACH SIDE HAS
THEIR ON REASONS FOR SETTLING
IT DID NOT HELP THAT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL OF HEALTH DID NOT
PROVE CERTAIN TYPES OF CANCER.
PROFESSOR CLASS ALSO SAYS,
WHILE THE STATE SETTLED WITH
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS MONEY THAN
IT WAS HOPING FOR.
THE CASE STILL SETS A
PRECEDENT.
IN THIS CASE, EVEN THOUGH
THIS RESOLVES THE STATE CLAIMS
FOR NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGES
AGAINST 3M IT HAS NO IMPACT ON
THE POTENTIAL FOR INDIVIDUAL
RESIDENTS TO BRING THEIR OWN
SUITS IF THEY ARE IN A POSITION
TO TRY TO PROVE DAMAGE EITHER
TO THEIR PROPERTIES OR TO THEIR
HEALTH.
IT'S HARD TO TELL IN A
SETTLEMENT WHO WINS AND WHO
LOSES.
YOU COULD SAY THAT THE PUBLIC
HAS WON.
BECAUSE NOW THERE'S A LOT MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THESE
CHEMICALS.
THERE'S A LOT MORE AWARENESS
ABOUT CONTAMINATION.
PFCs ARE A FAMILY OF MANMADE
CHEMICALS USED FOR DECADE TO
MAKE HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF POLLUTION
AGENCY HAVE INVESTIGATED A
NUMBER OF SITES WHERE PFC WERE
RELEASED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS A LOOK AT THE MOST
CONTAMINATED.