Minnesota Governor Pushes Forward with Miner Cancer Studies

By Alison Gonzalez

Published on July 17, 2007

Last Thursday, in a letter to a group of lawmakers in Minnesota's northeastern region, Pawlenty pledged his commitment to rebuild trust in the health department and determine what is responsible for the cancer deaths of numerous taconite miners.

Pawlenty’s plans include working with the University of Minnesota to compare asbestos and taconite dust exposure among Iron Range miners who developed mesothelioma and among those who did not. The studies will also look into the respiratory health and causes of death of taconite miners.

The governor said $100,000 of the studies’ costs will come from Health Commissioner Diane Mandernach’s office. Last month, it was discovered that Mandernach withheld information on the mesothelioma deaths of 35 miners, prompting lawmakers to demand her resignation. The governor criticized her actions, but did not ask her to resign.

Pawlenty added he will work with legislators next February to approve more funding once protocols for the studies are developed.

Some lawmakers, however, believe Pawlenty is moving too slowly on the issue, arguing that the studies should be funded sooner to determine potential health risks faced by the miners.

Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said Iron Range workers who go home and potentially expose their families to harmful materials deserve to know the dangers associated with their jobs.

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