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Studying Iron Range miners health (new law)

Published (5/2/2008)
By Mike Cook
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With funding issues resolved, some Iron Range health answers could be found.

Signed April 28 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a new law allocates $4.9 million to study why nearly 60 miners from the Iron Range have died from mesothelioma, and if future deaths can be prevented. The rare, fatal form of cancer comes primarily from asbestos fiber, which is naturally occurring in some Iron Range areas. It can take decades to develop following exposure.

The plan was nearly scrapped because of a funding source.

The law calls for the money to come from an assigned risk plan in the Department of Commerce.

When approved April 10 by the House, the law would have used dollars from the Workers’ Compensation Special Fund, Republicans and Pawlenty thought the money should have come from the Taconite Area Environmental Protection Fund, which is paid for by taconite production taxes collected from mining companies. They argued that it isn’t fair to use a fund that all state businesses pay into.

The Senate amended the funding source before giving its approval, and the House concurred.

“I’m pleased we were able to work with the Legislature to reach a compromise that ensured these important studies will move forward,” Pawlenty said. “We’re hopeful the answers they reveal will help protect current and future mineworkers and bring some measure of closure to the families of those whose lives were taken by this disease.”

The University of Minnesota is to lead the study of workers’ health, including lung health. It will include comparing the effects of different exposure levels, and a comparison of current and former miners on their health status versus how long they worked in the mines. Other family members may also be tested because they were exposed to dust from taconite operations. The university will work on the study with the Health Department, Natural Resources Research Institute at the university’s Duluth campus and other private and public organizations and affected groups. Work must be completed by 2013.

Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia) and Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm) sponsor the law.

HF3569*/SF3300/CH248

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