Vs/EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency For more information Please contact any of the following team members with questions: For general questions: Charles Rodriguez Community Involvement Coordinator EPA Region 5 312-886-7472 rodriguez .charles||epa.gov For questions about the EPA Order: Jennifer Wilson Environmental Engineer EPA Region 5 wilson.jennifera@epa.gov For questions about PFAS: J Kim Harris Multi-Media PFAS Advisor EPA Region 5 312-886-4239 harris.kimberly@epa.gov You may also call EPA toll- free: Illinois Hotline: 800-621-8431, Iowa Hotline: 800-223-0425 weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30p.m. local time Webpage For more details, visit EPA's webpage at: www.epa.gov/il/3m-cordova EPA Settlement Reached for 3M to Sample and Treat Drinking Water 3M Cordova PFAS Investigation Cordova, Illinois November 2022 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued an Administrative Order on Consent and 3M has agreed to sample and provide treatment to address contamination from per- and polyfluoroakyl substances, collectively called "PFAS," found in drinking water in the vicinity of 3M's Cordova, IL facility. Why is EPA Taking Action Now? Recent sampling results provided by 3M indicate the widespread presence of a mixture of at least 19 different PFAS chemicals in drinking water within a 3-mile radius of the Cordova facility. Given the unique circumstances affecting this community, including more than five decades of PFAS discharges and the many types of PFAS chemicals found, EPA has concluded that the situation constitutes an imminent and substantial endangerment under the Safe Drinking Water Act. ^ ^ - Next Steps As required in the settlement, 3M will offer treatment to all private well owners within three miles of the facility and to the Camanche Water Supply, in an effort to remove PFAS from their drinking water (see map, below). In addition, 3M will offer drinking water sampling to private well owners out to four miles from the facility. Sampling will also be offered to the public water systems out to 10 miles from the facility and to the Quad Cities public water systems. Sampling will begin within a few months and may take several months to complete. Sampling will be conducted using EPA protocols and conducted under EPA oversight. Results will be shared by 3M shortly after they are validated by the laboratory. © - © f | McCausland UJyJ jet * § ¦ulton -\i EJ Beaver island 3-mile radius around the 3M Cordova facility (center) where 3Mwill offer treatment to all private well owners and 4-mile and 10-mile radii showing where 3M will offer drinking water sampling of private wells and public water systems. ------- PFAS EXPLAINED What are PFAS? PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. There are thousands of different PFAS—some are more widely used and studied than others. Perfluorooctanoic Acid, or PFOA, and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate, or PFOS, are two of the most widely used and studied, and have been replaced with other PFAS in recent years. For more information, please visit EPA's PFAS website at www.epa.gov/pfas What EPA Has Learned About PFAS So Far o PFAS are widely used, long lasting chemicals which usually break down very slowly over time. o Because of their widespread use and persistence in the environment, many PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals and are present at low levels in a variety of food products. o Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. PFAS Can Be Found in Many Places There are thousands of PFAS chemicals, and they are found in many different industrial, commercial, and household products, including: o Drinking water - public drinking water systems and private drinking water wells; o Soil and water at or near waste sites; o At landfills, disposal sites, and hazardous waste sites such as those that fall under the federal Superfund and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) programs; o Fire extinguishing foam - in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) used to extinguish liquid-based fires, such foams are used in various emergency responses; o Manufacturing or chemical production facilities that produce or use PFAS - such as chrome plating, electronics, textile, and paper manufacturers; PFAS Cycle RESIDENTIAL HOMES How PFAS enters the environment Source: Kfichivan Department of Great T,ak.es. Environment and Rnerov o Food - for example in fish caught from water contaminated by PFAS, and dairy products from livestock exposed to PFAS; o Food packaging - in grease-resistant paper, fast food containers/wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, and candy wrappers; o Household products - in stain and water-repellent used on carpets, upholstery, clothing, and other fabrics; cleaning products; non-stick cookware; paints, varnishes, and sealants; o Personal care products - in certain shampoos, dental floss, and cosmetics; and o Biosolids - for example in treated wastewater that is used on agricultural lands. ------- |