Plan Ensures Funds Will Be Used for Local Relief, Not DNR Side Projects

MADISON – Senator Eric Wimberger (R-Gillett) released the following statement after the Joint Committee on Finance voted today spend the $10 million the State received from a civil settlement in State of Wisconsin v. Tyco on a community-approved plan to help affected residents fight pollution:

“Today’s committee is another good legislative step that ensures PFAS settlement funds are actually used to help communities battle contamination. My work in the 2023 state budget ensures any settlement money is placed into Wisconsin’s PFAS Trust Fund and directed for relief. Now, these funds will be put to use on a plan that helps impacted residents in the Marinette and Peshtigo areas instead of funding bureaucratic priorities in Madison.

We streamlined the process to pass this relief plan only nine business days after the DNR’s official request.”

On June 5, the State of Wisconsin reached a settlement in a civil lawsuit against Tyco Fire Products over complaints alleging that Tyco violated Wisconsin’s spills law by polluting the land and water surrounding one of its facilities near Marinette and Peshtigo with PFAS contaminants. However, despite the settlement being brokered on June 5, the DNR did not submit their required request for how to use these funds to the Joint Committee on Finance until August 20.

Under the settlement, Tyco is required to pay the State $10 million, as well as assist in remediating PFAS in the impacted zone, monitor water reports throughout the cleanup process, and offer and provide safe drinking water to households in the affected area.

Senator Wimberger’s work during the 2023-25 budget led to the creation of the PFAS Trust Fund, as well as a statutory requirement that PFAS settlement funds accepted by the State be placed in the PFAS Trust Fund. This ensures they are used to directly help communities impacted by PFAS, instead of other programs or priorities.