The Pioneer Press reported on Tuesday that Minnesota's Department of Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach will resign her post effective October 2nd; Mandernach's last day on the job will be September 20th. Although no official reason has been given for Mandernach's departure, the announcement comes just months after several Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party lawmakers called for her resignation in June. Iron Range lawmakers pushed for Mandernach's dismissal on the heels of news reports that she delayed the release of important new data regarding the deaths of 35 Iron Range workers from mesothelioma. The Health Department learned of the deaths in March of 2006 but failed to release the information until March 2007, one year later. At the time, Mandernach took sole responsibility for the delay citing the departments' desire to await receipt of federal research money before releasing the information publicly. Previous deaths had raised questions about mesothelioma and mining but this new data has led to a formal study into the possible link between taconite mining and the deadly disease. (See below "University of Minn. to Study Link Between Taconite Mining and Mesothelioma" posted August 10th). Although she has apologized publicly for her decision to withhold the information, her handling of the situation raised concerns from lawmakers and others about her ability to manage the department.

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