Registration for the AIPG MN Section's Tuesday, April 7th, 2026, technical talk is now open online!

The cost is $10 for non-members and $5 for members. Students may attend free of charge. 

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Multimedia Fate and Transport of PFAS in Minnesota

Presented by Michael Ginsbach, Hydrogeologist with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Presentation Overview

Minnesota has been working to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) since 2002 when perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were discovered in groundwater in southern Washington County. In the subsequent two decades, additional investigations have been performed across the state with samples being collected not only from groundwater but surface water, soil, sediment, air, and wildlife. These investigations, along with actions such as the MPCA’s 2021 PFAS Blueprint and 2022 PFAS Monitoring Plan, have provided insight into the movement of PFAS throughout the environment in Minnesota. The aforementioned southern Washington County has been the focus of numerous investigations since 2002 due to the presence of several disposal sites and a PFAS manufacturer in the county. Recent investigations have provided additional information about the fate and transport of PFAS through various environmental media in southern Washington County and northern Dakota County, which has helped identify impacted drinking resources in the area and allowed for the development of a site-specific water quality criteria for five PFAS in an eight mile stretch of the Mississippi River between the two counties.

Biography

Michael Ginsbach is a senior hydrogeologist in the Superfund Remedial section of the MPCA where he oversees investigations and cleanups of sites in the Superfund and RCRA Remediation programs. He also aids in the development of technical and programmatic guidance for the MPCA and serves as a technical resource for the Agency’s compliance and enforcement programs. He has been with the MPCA for nine years, is a board member for the Minnesota Ground Water Association, and has served on a number of Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council teams. Michael holds a bachelor’s in earth science education and a bachelor’s in geology from North Dakota State University and a master’s in geology from Idaho State University.