SAINT PAUL, MN – Legislation was passed Thursday banning the use of trichloroethylene (TCE) in Minnesota, beginning June 1, 2022. The push for a ban of TCE comes in response to the discovery in 2019 that the Water Gremlin company had failed to report accurate emissions standards for more than 15 years.
“We have been working for well over a year to take action in preventing a Water Gremlin from ever happening again and ending the use of TCE in our state once and for all,” said Senator Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood). “This is a compromise that represents the hard work of community leaders, legislators, and state regulators that will make a real impact on our state and prevent future harm from this dangerous chemical.”
For more than a year, Senators Wiger, Chamberlain, Isaacson, Representatives Wazlawik, Fischer and others have been working with the “Neighborhood Concerned Citizens Group” in response to local issues that have arisen as a result of the Water Gremlin violation. The group, led by its President Sherry Hastings, and board members Sheri Smith, Kelli Tapkan, and Leigh Thiel, who have been instrumental in fighting for the passage of a ban.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the reason we are here today is because Sherry and the other members of NCCG refused to give up, and fought relentlessly to get this bill done,” said Senator Wiger. “Thanks to their leadership, Minnesota will now become the first state in the country banning TCE.”
In appreciation of their leadership, Senator Wiger offered an amendment on the Senate floor to rename the bill the “The White Bear Area Neighborhood Concerned Citizens Group—Ban TCE Act.” More information on this group is available here: https://wbanccg.org/.
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