On Monday, April 5, a three-judge panel from the District IV Court of Appeals ruled against Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) and in favor of Governor Tony Evers, his administration, and the media in a case involving information about businesses whose employees have contracted COVID-19. The lawsuit was filed in October 2020 in Waukesha County […]
Appeals Court Rules State Can Release Records on Businesses with COVID-19 Cases
Date Fri, Apr. 9, 2021 - 11:15am By Hamilton
PFAS Update: Governor Approves Two DNR Scope Statements Including New PFAS Standards
Date Fri, Mar. 26, 2021 - 9:53am By Hamilton
Earlier this month, Governor Tony Evers approved two scope statements from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that propose new regulations related to groundwater and drinking water. These statements are the first step in the rulemaking process that state agencies must use to create new regulations. The first scope statement, SS 029-21, proposes changes to […]
PFAS Update: DNR and EPA Actions
Date Fri, Mar. 12, 2021 - 11:05am By Hamilton
EPA Announces Rulemaking Plans Related to PFAS On February 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced two regulatory actions related to PFAS in drinking water. First, the EPA reissued final regulatory determinations for its fourth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 4), which lists substances that the agency may decide to regulate under the Safe Drinking […]
DHS Announces Next Priority Groups for COVID-19 Vaccination
Date Fri, Jan. 29, 2021 - 9:05am By Hamilton
On Tuesday, January 26, the Department of Health Services (DHS) announced which groups of Wisconsinites will be eligible for the next phase of COVID-19 vaccinations. As we reported a few weeks ago, the vaccine subcommittee of the State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC) was soliciting public comments and formulating recommendations to the administration on who […]
PFAS Update: State Seeks Outside Lawyers to Litigate Against PFAS Dischargers
Date Fri, Jan. 29, 2021 - 9:03am By Hamilton
On Friday, January 22, Governor Tony Evers announced that his administration is soliciting bids from law firms to find a legal team to litigate against companies responsible for discharging PFAS compounds in Wisconsin. This is one of many recommendations from the state’s PFAS Action Plan, published late last year by the governor’s PFAS Action Council. […]
SDMAC Vaccine Subcommittee Considers Next Vaccination Phase Framework
Date Thu, Jan. 14, 2021 - 5:06pm By Hamilton
This week, the State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC) vaccine subcommittee met twice to discuss the groups covered in the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination (Phase 1B). Similar to the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Wisconsin’s SDMAC provides recommendations to the Department of Health Services (DHS) for vaccine prioritization and distribution. Currently, […]
PFAS Update: JCRAR Suspends DNR’s Foam Rule; Tyco Settles Lawsuit with Peshtigo Residents
Date Thu, Jan. 14, 2021 - 5:03pm By Hamilton
Since the last edition of Tidbits, there have been several updates on the PFAS front. On December 18, the Department of Natural Resource’s (DNR) emergency rule on firefighting foam was partially suspended by the Legislature’s Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR). The emergency rule is a result of 2019 Wisconsin Act 101, […]
PSCW Releases Draft Order on EVs Pilot Program Plan
Date Wed, Sep. 9, 2020 - 10:02am By Hamilton
In August, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) voted to require Wisconsin’s major electric utilities to submit an electric vehicle pilot program plan for PSCW review and approval by May 15, 2021. Last week, PSCW opened a public comment period on the draft Commission order. Per the order, PSCW directed utilities to include in […]
PFAS Update: Natural Resources Board Tables Emergency Firefighting Foam Rule and WisPAC Releases Draft Action Plan
Date Fri, Aug. 14, 2020 - 9:09am By Hamilton
Earlier this year, the legislature approved and the governor signed into law 2019 Wisconsin Act 101, legislation that regulates firefighting foam that contains PFAS. The Department of Natural Resources drafted Emergency Rule WA-06-20(E), as directed in Act 101, and it was put on the agenda for the Natural Resources Board (the board) to approve this […]
PFAS Update: Drinking Water Rules Advisory Group, Agency Council Meet
Date Fri, Jul. 17, 2020 - 9:01am By Hamilton
Drinking Water Rules Advisory Meeting Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is in early stages of promulgating rules that would regulate PFOA and PFOS in drinking water, surface water, and ground water. The state Department of Health Services (DHS) has recommended a combined groundwater standard of 20 ppt and a preventive action limit of 2 […]