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 […]
PFAS Update: AG Kaul Leads Coalition Supporting EPA Regulation, WI PFAS Action Council Meets
Date Thu, Jun. 18, 2020 - 10:58am By Hamilton
DNR Changes High Capacity Well Environmental Review Processes After Act 21 AG Opinion Withdrawn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 […]
AG Kaul Withdraws Act 21 Opinion on High Capacity Wells
Date Mon, May. 11, 2020 - 12:31pm By Hamilton
On May 1, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul sent a letter to the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stating he has withdrawn an opinion from his predecessor interpreting 2011 Act 21’s effects on DNR permitting. In 2016, former Attorney General Brad Schimel issued an opinion concluding that DNR lacks regulatory authority to require cumulative […]
AG Kaul Asks EPA to Strengthen PFAS Regulations
Date Mon, Apr. 27, 2020 - 11:14am By Hamilton
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul on April 20 joined 17 other state attorneys general in comments asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen its proposed regulations on importation of PFAS products. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of thousands of man-made chemicals found in many everyday products, including nonstick pans, cleaning products, […]
DNR Stakeholder Meeting on PFAS Rules
Date Tue, Mar. 24, 2020 - 12:52pm By Hamilton
On March 23, 2020, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) held its second stakeholder meeting on rules to set water standards for PFAS chemicals in Wisconsin (agenda). Due to COVID-19 concerns, the meeting was held remotely via Zoom. First, DNR gave an update on the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) process for setting standards for […]
Wisconsin PFAS Action Council (WisPAC) Advisory Groups Meet
Date Fri, Mar. 6, 2020 - 11:41am By Hamilton
WisPAC Background In accordance with Executive Order 40, issued by Gov. Tony Evers in August 2019, Wisconsin state agencies have convened the Wisconsin PFAS Action Council (WisPAC). The executive order directs the council to develop an action plan due to the governor and legislature by July 1. WisPAC has convened two sub-advisory groups: Local Government group headed by […]
PFAS Update: Status of PFAS Legislation, Agency Council Meets, EPA Action
Date Fri, Feb. 21, 2020 - 1:49pm By Hamilton
PFAS Legislation – New Provisions Passed Assembly, Final Status of Other Bills In what is likely the last Assembly floor session of 2019-20, the Assembly passed provisions to address PFAS contamination in Wisconsin. As an amendment tacked on to SB 559 (an unrelated bill), the Assembly passed on a party line vote language that: Directs […]
Signed by Governor: Protecting Health Care Professionals, Banning PFAS-Containing Firefighting Foam
Date Thu, Feb. 20, 2020 - 4:07pm By Hamilton
After several floor sessions this month and in January, there are many bills awaiting the governor’s review. Gov. Tony Evers recently signed into law several notable bills: SB 310 (2019 Act 101) prohibits the use of firefighting foams that contain intentionally added PFAS in training, unless the testing facility has appropriate containment and treatment measures. […]
PFAS Update: Regulations Moving in Legislature & DNR
Date Mon, Jan. 27, 2020 - 12:00pm By Hamilton
Regulation of PFAS chemicals continues to develop in the Wisconsin Legislature and state agencies. Last week the Legislature passed a bill regulating PFAS-containing firefighting foams. Meanwhile, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposed rulemaking has been approved by the DNR Board. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are man-made chemicals found in many everyday products, including […]
Water Quality Task Force Releases Recommendations
Date Thu, Jan. 23, 2020 - 2:13pm By Hamilton
This month, the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality released their bipartisan report and recommendations after holding public hearings throughout the state over the summer. The report proposes 13 new bills related to water quality and endorses several others already introduced in the Legislature. The Task Force has introduced the following bills, many of which […]