Project summary
3M Chemical Operations, LLC (3M) is proposing a project (the Project) to collect surface water upstream of the Abresch Disposal Site (the Site) to reduce polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in stormwater discharge from the Site. The Abresch Disposal Site is the largest of three former disposal sites that comprise the Oakdale Disposal Site, a state and federal superfund site. 3M is working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to remediate soil and groundwater at the Site. The project is proposed to further reduce PFAS impacts to stormwater discharge from the Site.
The proposed project would collect surface water upstream of the Site and divert it in a 0.74-mile-long surface water conveyance pipe to a three-acre flood retention basin, where water would then be re-introduced into the natural flow of the watershed. The conveyance pipe would bypass the Abresch Disposal Site, thus bypassing PFAS detected within the Site. This would reduce the discharge of PFAS in surface water and improve downstream surface water quality in the Twin Cities east metropolitan area.
Environmental Assessment Worksheet
The DNR, as the Responsible Governmental Unit for environmental review of the project, is accepting comments on the EAW.
EAW documents:
- EAW: 3M Oakdale Surface Water Diversion Project
- Appendix A: Project Plans
- Appendix B: Diversion Modeling
- Appendix C: IPac Report
- Appendix D: DNR Natural Heritage Information System Review Letter
- Appendix E: Greenhouse gas calculations
- Appendix F: Figures
Public comment period:
Public notice of the availability of the EAW for public comment is in the May 27, 2025, edition of the EQB Monitor. A 30-day public review and comment period will be open from May 27, 2025, until 4:30 p.m. June 26, 2025.
A hard copy of the EAW is available for public review at the following libraries:
- Oakdale Library, 1010 Heron Avenue North, Oakdale, MN 55128
- DNR Library, 500 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155
- Hennepin County – Minneapolis Central Library, Government Documents, Second Floor, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401
A hard copy may be requested by calling 651-259-5122.
Comments must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26, 2025.
- Email comments should be sent to [email protected] with “3M surface water diversion” in the subject line.
- Mailed comments should be sent to the attention of Becky Horton, EAW project manager, Ecological and Water Resources Division, Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155.
Anyone providing a mailing address or submitting comments via email will receive a copy of the subsequent decision document, which will include responses to comments. Because all comments and related information are part of the public record for this environmental review, commenters’ names and email or postal addresses will be published and publicly available as they appear in the materials commenters submit.