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RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) AND THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION PRESERVE THE DULUTH, MINNESOTA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND ITS FRESHWATER MISSION.
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BY COUNCILOR DURRWACHTER:
WHEREAS, the Duluth office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Research and Development Lab ("DULUTH EPA LAB") is a world-class research organization, and the research conducted by scientists in Duluth is necessary to protect water quality in Duluth and in greater Minnesota;
WHEREAS, the DULUTH EPA LAB is recognized as a leader in advancing scientific knowledge on the effects of stressors on the water resources of the Great Lakes and how these stressors impact communities and people;
WHEREAS, all states in the United State use the water quality criteria developed by the DULUTH EPA LAB and the EPA scientists in Duluth are leaders worldwide in freshwater toxicology and environmental assessment;
WHEREAS, by providing 136 jobs, the DULUTH EPA LAB laboratory contributes $6.4 million in disposable income and over $8.6 million on contracts, grants, and supplies and equipment to the local and regional economy, which in turn has a broader impact by creating additional regional jobs and spending;
WHEREAS, the DULUTH EPA LAB is a global leader in studying the ecological risks of PFAS or "forever chemicals" on aquatic life and measuring PFAS in animal tissues, which is critical to protecting the health of Minnesota waterways and the people who enjoy the waterways;
WHEREAS, the five Great Lakes contain 21 percent of the world's surface fresh water, forming the largest body of fresh water in the world and roughly 40 million people in the United States and Canada rely on the Great Lakes as a drinking water source, making them a critical resource for public health; and research and development at the DULUTH EPA LAB includes comprehensive programs to monitor, assess and predict the condition of Great Lakes wa...
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