La Crosse, WI – Today, Governor Evers announced three actions to address PFAS pollution in Wisconsin. Governor Evers requested the release of $125 million from the state budget to address PFAS pollution, legislation to allow the DNR’s PFAS groundwater standards to move forward, and enacting legislation to regulate and respond to PFAS pollution in Wisconsin. La Crosse area legislators State Senator Brad Pfaff (D – Onalaska), Representative Jill Billings (D-La Crosse), and Representative Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) released the following statement on the announcement:
“Everyone deserves to feel confident knowing that the water coming out of their tap is safe. It is imperative that the legislature release this funding for the residents of the Town of Campbell and all others across the state who have these toxic chemicals in their water,” said Senator Pfaff.
“Communities across Wisconsin have been living with the reality of unsafe drinking water since PFAS contamination was first discovered in the Marinette area in 2017 and the Town of Campbell in 2019, where many don’t have safe drinking. More and more communities are finding PFAS in their private and public drinking water systems and it’s imperative that state government offers relief,” stated Representative Billings.
“Cleaning up and mitigating PFAS pollution in our water is a costly undertaking, this is not something that private well-owners and local governments can bear on their own. We need state action and the release of the state funding to help address this issue to ensure that every Wisconsinite has access to safe and clean drinking water,” said Representative Doyle.
More details on the $125 million funding request can be found below and is attached:
1) Impacted Communities: The Department requests $64.15 million to support local communities working to address PFAS, including temporary and interim water, resources for private well owners, and to supplement principal forgiveness for projects receiving funding through the Clean Water Fund and Safe Drinking Water Loan programs.
a. $60.0 million would be made available as grants to local units of government.
b. $4.15 million would be for contractual, sampling and other support costs.
2) Source Reduction: The Department requests $6.35 million to empower businesses, facilities and local communities working to reduce or eliminate the use or release of PFAS into the environment. This will also help support the transition to alternative products.
a. $4.0 million would be made available as grants to local units of government.
b. $2.35 million would be for contractual, sampling and other support costs.
3) Public Health: The Department requests $32.25 million to provide resources to private well owners and support public health interventions in Wisconsin. Resources would support implementation of federal PFAS limits and the public health response – including efficient identification of and disruption to exposures.
a. $30.0 million would be made available as grants to local units of government.
b. $2.25 million would be for contractual, sampling and other support costs.
4) Research: The Department requests $9.6 million to conduct research activities across the state. These resources will be used to sample drinking water, landfills, wastewater, waterways, and biosolids. The Department will also use these resources to support the ongoing study and analysis of the presence of PFAS.
a. $7.5 million would be made available as grants to local units of government.
b. $2.1 million would be for contractual, sampling and other support costs.
5) Destruction and Disposal: The Department requests $12.65 million to support different destruction and disposal methods for PFAS.
a. $10.0 million would be made available as grants to local units of government.
b. $2.65 million would be for contractual, sampling and other support costs.
