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 […]
PFAS Update: DNR Will Ask NRB to Approve Three PFAS Rules in February
Date Tue, Dec. 21, 2021 - 1:08pm By Hamilton
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 […]
PFAS Update: Several PFAS-Related Lawsuits Filed in Wisconsin
Date Fri, Mar. 12, 2021 - 11:06am By Hamilton
On Thursday, March 4, the City of La Crosse filed a lawsuit against 23 companies that manufactured, marketed, or sold firefighting foam containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of chemicals commonly known as PFAS. The foam, known as aqueous firefighting foam (AFFF), is used to extinguish fires involving flammable liquids like airplane fuel. PFAS […]
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 […]
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. […]