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 […]
DHS Announces Next Priority Groups for COVID-19 Vaccination
Date Fri, Jan. 29, 2021 - 9:05am By Hamilton
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 […]
PFAS Update: AG Kaul Leads Coalition Supporting EPA Regulation, WI PFAS Action Council Meets
Date Thu, Jun. 18, 2020 - 10:58am By Hamilton
AG Kaul & EPA Action Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul recently led a 22-state coalition urging the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate PFAS chemicals. The comments from the multistate coalition Urge EPA to regulate specific PFAS chemicals PFOA and PFOS under the Safe Drinking Water Act, setting national drinking water standards. Request EPA […]
Gov. Evers Appoints New DATCP Secretary
Date Wed, Jun. 17, 2020 - 4:06pm By Hamilton
Gov. Tony Evers has appointed Randy Romanski as the new secretary of the state Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (DATCP). Romanski had been serving as interim secretary since late 2019, when the state Senate rejected the nomination of Brad Pfaff for the top DATCP position. Before serving as interim secretary, Gov. Evers had […]
DNR Changes High Capacity Well Environmental Review Processes After Act 21 AG Opinion Withdrawn
Date Wed, Jun. 17, 2020 - 11:54am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin considering cumulative environmental impacts when reviewing high capacity well permit applications. The DNR policy change comes after Attorney General Josh Kaul withdrew an opinion from his predecessor interpreting 2011 Wisconsin Act 21’s effects on DNR permitting. In 2016, former Attorney General Brad Schimel issued an opinion concluding that […]