DEPARTMENT: Environmental Resources
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Amend Joint Powers Agreement With Scott And Washington Counties For South Metro Private Well Pesticide Mitigation Program
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize amendment of the joint powers agreement (JPA) between Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties for the South Metro Private Well Pesticide Mitigation Program (Program). The purpose of the JPA amendment is to allow the Dakota County Authorized Representative the flexibility to reallocate pesticide mitigation funding between the counties, as needed.
SUMMARY
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Dakota County identified private drinking water wells in Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties exceeding the Minnesota Department of Health-established Health Risk Limits (HRL) for total cyanazine. In 2024, MDA identified a total of 105 wells in Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties as exceeding the total cyanazine (cyanazine and cyanazine breakdown products) concentrations at or above the HRL of one microgram per liter (?g/L). As of July 2025, the total number of identified wells impacted has increased to 152 private wells serving 168 residences. MDA monitoring is continuing in these counties, and the number of impacted wells is expected to grow as previously untested wells are being identified and evaluated each year. Since cyanazine has not been used in Minnesota for over 20 years (registration ended in 2002), it is anticipated that concentrations in groundwater will begin to decline eventually.
The MDA provided funding for pesticide mitigation to cover 100 percent cost-share to households with a private well equal to or exceeding the total cyanazine, or other established pesticide HRL. By Resolution No. 24-428, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized Dakota County to execute agreements with the MDA and Scott and Washington counties to act as the fiscal lead agency to receive funding from MDA and ...
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