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Minnesota PFAS ban: Youth motorsports hit under new law

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Published  December 30, 2024 5:46pm CST
Minnesota
FOX 9

Youth motorsports hit by PFAS ban

A new law taking effect on Jan. 1 in Minnesota will limit the use of PFAS "forever chemicals" in products – in turn creating a ban on certain youth motorsports equipment.

The Brief

    • Minnesota's ban on PFAS in products extends to products made for juveniles, which includes smaller dirt bikes and ATVs.
    • PFAS is used for heat resistance and/or waterproofing, but the "forever chemicals" are linked to cancer and other health troubles.
    • Some Minnesota dealers discovered late that the ban applied to their products, so they'll be stuck with inventory that can only be legally sold in other states.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota youth motorsports are hitting a bigger hill to climb in 2025.

The state’s new ban on PFAS products means nobody can sell the forever chemicals in 11 categories of products, including things made for kids.

Forever threat

Dirty dirt bikes: Most if not all of the dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) made for kids are currently made with PFAS for heat resistance or waterproofing, but some dealers only realized that in the last week – so they may be stuck with products they can’t sell.

Whether it’s the Yamaha TTR50 or the Honda CRF110F, kid-sized dirt bikes and ATVs are the starter set for a lifelong motorsports hobby.

Davis Motorsports in Delano sold three or four of them a month, but not anymore.

"Starting Jan. 1, we cannot sell these products," said Davis Motorsports general manager Tom Stifter.

Minnesota is banning any juvenile products except electronics that are intentionally built with PFAS, the chemicals linked to an increased risk for cancer and other health troubles.

Minnesota communities monitor new PFAS rules

At least 22 communities throughout Minnesota have been flagged by the health department as impacted under the new federal guidelines for PFAS in drinking water.

Dealer's dilemma

Late realization: Davis dealer Tom Stifter says he’s sensitive to the environmental concerns.

But he just realized last week the ban hit his business because Honda told him he couldn’t sell them starting Jan. 1.

He wishes youth motorsports were exempted from the Minnesota law, like they were in Colorado.

"There's a lot of ways kids can get hurt on dirt bikes," Stifter said. "Eating the fender is not one of the most popular."

"When these motorsport vehicles, when motorcycles are no longer usable, at the end of the day, everything ends up in a landfill one way or another," said Avonna Starck, Minnesota state director for Clean Water Action. "Ninety-eight out of 101 of Minnesota's landfills are leaching into the groundwater."

Why banned

Awaiting alternatives: Starck helped get the law passed.

She points out PFAS wastewater cleanup alone is already projected to cost Minnesota at least $14 billion. So she believes big companies should be innovating alternatives.

"Are you truly telling me that this toxic chemical is the only thing that you can use in your products?" she asked rhetorically.

Davis is likely stuck with about $35,000 in unsalable inventory.

They’re more concerned that competitors in other states can still sell them and parents might also buy less safe alternatives.

MinnesotaHealthPolitics