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: Several PFAS-Related Lawsuits Filed in Wisconsin
Date Fri, Mar. 12, 2021 - 11:06am By Hamilton
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. […]
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, […]
PFAS, Climate Change and Rural Wisconsin Reports Released
Date Fri, Dec. 18, 2020 - 8:56am By Hamilton
Year-end brings the holiday season, winter weather and… task force/commission reports. This month, so far, the governor has announced the release of three different reports, each a result of a distinct multi-year effort: Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change, Blue Ribbon Commission on Rural Prosperity , and Wisconsin PFAS Action Council (WisPAC). Each report provides […]
PFAS Update: DNR Stakeholder Meeting and WisPac Releases Draft Plan
Date Thu, Oct. 22, 2020 - 2:02pm By Hamilton
Stakeholder Group for PFAS Rules On Friday, October 9, the Department of Natural Resources held another Stakeholder Group for PFAS Rules. The meeting focused on the background regarding the economic impact analysis (EIA), the EIA conceptual framework for Water Quality Standards rule and wastewater and drinking water sampling efforts. From a high-level perspective, the DNR […]
PFAS Update: DNR Stakeholder Group for PFAS Rules Meets, Firefighting Foam Emergency Rulemaking
Date Wed, Sep. 9, 2020 - 10:06am By Hamilton
On Thursday, August 27, the DNR Stakeholder Group for PFAS rules met virtually to focus on the rule-making for PFAS Surface Water criteria in NR 105. The agenda included a recap of previous meetings and a discussion on how DNR intends to identify the economic impact of the developing standard. DNR reiterated their overall approach “used […]
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 […]
Governor Evers’s Task Force on Climate Change Wraps Up Public Comment
Date Fri, Aug. 14, 2020 - 8:49am By Hamilton
The Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change, headed by Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, has been meeting periodically since December 19, 2019. Overall, the task force is charged with advising the governor in developing a strategy on climate change by: Evaluating the science surrounding the impacts of climate change on Wisconsin citizens and the environment. Reviewing […]
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 […]