LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder has asked state Attorney General Bill Schuette to begin legal proceedings against 3M, the Minnesota manufacturer of products such as Scotchgard, AFFF and AR-AFFF firefighting foam in connection with contamination of public water supplies.

A press release from Snyder’s office said “the vast work undertaken by Michigan’s state government and outside experts brought in by the state in the past year have found these products to be the determining contributor to the presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, particularly perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid in the environment, which have been mostly identified at current and former military installations.”

Both PFOA and PFOS have been found near the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda Township and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center.

In June, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the results of a study conducted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a branch of HHS, regarding potential health impacts from exposure to to the toxins. In January, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality said tests done on the wells within a one-mile perimeter of the CRTC showed little or no trace of PFOA or PFOS was found at the base.

In February, 3M agreed to pay the state of Minnesota $850 million to settle a case alleging the manufacturer damaged natural resources and contaminated groundwater by disposing of chemicals.

“Michigan has made extensive progress in identifying sites that have been contaminated by PFAS, raising awareness of this national public health threat and working to eradicate the products that caused the contamination,” Snyder said. “Because of the scale and the scope of this problem and the associated expenses, it is necessary to pursue legal action against those who continued to produce and market these products, even once they were identified as the cause of this environmental contaminant.”

The Associated Press reported Schuette’s office said the letter is being reviewed. A 3M spokeswoman said the company acted responsibly in connection with products containing PFAS, and will vigorously defend its environmental stewardship.

The state put into effect rules setting limits in groundwater and surface water for PFAS in 2011, 2014, and 2018. Last year, Snyder also created the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team to address the emerging public health threat.

Michigan agencies continue to lead extensive testing efforts in communities across the state conducting meetings and workshops for residents and working on further awareness efforts. The presence of this ongoing public health threat requires resources from the federal government, as well, in addition to compensation from the company that manufactures the products that resulted in the PFAS contamination.

To help find answers about PFAS testing, identified contaminated sites and community toolkits, visit michigan.gov/pfasresponse/.