On April 12, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bohren ruled in favor of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) in a lawsuit involving two environmental cleanup programs managed by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR). WMC, the state’s chamber of commerce and largest business lobby, filed the lawsuit last year along with dry cleaning […]
Judge Rules DNR Should Have Promulgated a List of Hazardous Substances
Date Tue, Apr. 19, 2022 - 9:08am By Hamilton
DNR Board Approves, Modifies, Rejects PFAS Rules
Date Wed, Mar. 2, 2022 - 2:43pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) recently voted on three proposed rules affecting PFAS. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) developed three proposals to regulate the allowable levels of certain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and other compounds in surface water (NR 105), groundwater (NR 140), and drinking water (NR 809). DNR presented the rules […]
Legislative Update: Remaining Floor Dates; State of the State Address
Date Thu, Jan. 13, 2022 - 11:26pm By Hamilton
Remaining Session Dates Each house of the Wisconsin Legislature is expected to meet once or twice monthly in January, February, and March, and then adjourn for the remainder of the year. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) has confirmed that the Senate plans to finish its work by March 10, the final day of the […]
PFAS Update: DNR Will Ask NRB to Approve Three PFAS Rules in February
Date Tue, Dec. 21, 2021 - 1:08pm By Hamilton
In December and January, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting public hearing and comment periods for three rules regulating the allowable levels of certain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and other compounds in surface water (NR 105), groundwater (NR 140), and drinking water (NR 809). DNR plans to present its final proposed […]
Environmental Policy: State Developing Equity Tool; UW Hosts Climate Forum
Date Thu, Nov. 4, 2021 - 6:26pm By Hamilton
Evers Administration Developing Environmental and Health Equity Map On October 7, Governor Tony Evers (D) announced that his administration is “developing a comprehensive environmental and public health mapping system known as the Wisconsin Environmental Equity Tool [WEET] which will analyze and visualize data online so users can pinpoint Wisconsin’s most impacted communities, identify the environmental […]
PFAS Update: DNR Proposes Permanent Foam Rule, Provides Fiscal Analysis
Date Thu, Oct. 7, 2021 - 9:36pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced a public hearing and comment period on its proposed final rule related to firefighting foam containing PFAS. The rule is a result of Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) board order WA-07-20. A public hearing on the rule will take place on November 4, 2021, while written […]
PFAS Update: State Hires California Firm to Litigate PFAS Claims; Other Lawsuits in Progress
Date Thu, Sep. 9, 2021 - 2:26pm By Hamilton
On August 25, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul (D) and Governor Tony Evers (D) announced that the state had hired a law firm, Sher Edling LLP, to litigate against companies responsible for discharging PFAS compounds in Wisconsin. According to a press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Sher Edling “represents state and local governments […]
PFAS Update: Natural Resources Board Approves Hearing, Comment Period for PFAS Drinking Water Rule
Date Fri, Jun. 4, 2021 - 1:19pm By Hamilton
At its May 26 meeting, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) authorized the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to hold a preliminary public hearing and comment period on the agency’s scope statement for board order DG-31-20. The scope statement is an early version of the agency’s proposal to amend chapter NR 809 of the Wisconsin […]
PFAS Update: Legislators Reintroducing CLEAR Act; DNR Releases Economic Impact Analysis for Cycle 10 Groundwater Rule
Date Fri, May. 21, 2021 - 9:47am By Hamilton
A group of Democratic state legislators backed by Wisconsin’s governor are reintroducing legislation called the Chemical Level Enforcement and Remediation or “CLEAR” Act. The bill includes a variety of provisions to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a family of thousands of manufactured chemicals commonly known as PFAS. In addition to legislative efforts regarding PFAS, the […]
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 […]