6. MPCA Failed to identify Water Gremlin’s airborne carcinogenic pollution
Problem: Water Gremlin was emitting carcinogenic chemicals for at least 17 years before state agencies caught on. Water Gremlin describes itself as the world’s market leader in lead battery terminals. Until 2019, the company used a battery terminal coating called trichloroethylene (TCE) to prevent corrosion. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies it as carcinogenic to humans “by all routes of exposure.” The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) would determine in 2019 that the company had been violating its air quality permit since at least 2002. TCE was the main emission of concern. Another concern was the presence of lead in the blood of some employees’ children, apparently brought home on the parents’ work clothes.
Regulatory failures: The Minnesota State Legislature asked the Legislative Auditor to do a special report. Released in 2021, it began: “We concluded that there were actions MPCA could have—and should have—taken before 2019 to properly regulate Water Gremlin. We cannot be certain that such actions would have prevented the problems identified in the stipulation agreement or enabled MPCA to intervene sooner, but there were missed opportunities.” The MPCA should have done more to ensure it issued a timely and effective air quality permit, the report said. It approved an amended permit in 2002 with inadequate provisions “that remained in effect for many years.” The agency also had a backlog of air permit applications.
Links:
Minnesota Department of Health: Water Gremlin Public Health Assessments
MinnPost Community Voices, April 2023: Water Gremlin seems to be yet again disregarding MPCA and the White Bear community