The Green Bay Innovation Group and the Wisconsin Paper Council are working with a coalition of manufacturing organizations to oppose PFAS enforcement legislation which is rapidly making its way through the Legislature. Our coalition is united against Assembly Bill 131 and Senate Bill 128 which exempt government entities and targets Wisconsin’s manufacturing industries.
PROPOSED PFAS ENFORCEMENT LEGISLATION TARGETS WISCONSIN’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
(Senate Bill 128 and Assembly Bill 131)
Senator Eric Winberger (R – Green Bay) and Jeff Mursau (R – Crivitz) have proposed identical bills which target the Paper, Pulp, and the Manufacturing Industries in Wisconsin. Simply put, manufacturers could be made unfairly liable for PFAS pollution which they did not cause. This would cost Wisconsin Manufacturers and the Citizens of Wisconsin Billions of Dollars with an unending liability. It also means that papermakers and manufacturers could be liable and subject to DNR Enforcement for past, present, and future liabilities! The DNR would be given even more control over all the resources in the State of Wisconsin. We do not need more restrictions overly burdensome and unfair regulations placed on the Business community.
The Paper and Pulp Manufacturing industries in the 1970’s employed from 40,000 to 45,000 people. The industry created seven jobs for each job in the Paper and Pulp Industries. Paper and Pulp Manufacturing was the largest employer in the State of Wisconsin. The Paper and Pulp industry created one of the largest Printing, Packaging, Converting, Forestry, and supporting Manufacturing in the World. The jobs created an economic boost for Northern Wisconsin.
Today, the Paper and Pulp Manufacturing Industries employ 8,000. Wisconsin shouldn’t have to import fiber from outside Wisconsin and around the world. Many communities and local businesses built around these mills have struggled with the impact. Wisconsin has one of the largest Printing, Packaging, and Converting Industries dependent on Paper Manufacturing. It makes NO SENSE for Wisconsin to depend on Foreign Companies for Paper and Pulp Production. Wisconsin has vast water, forests, and transportation to support the Paper Industry.
One big reason for the closure is the strict DNR rules imposed on Paper and Pulp Manufacturing. The Paper Mills, once a Powerhouse in Wisconsin, do not have the financial resources to reinvest in the company. The Paper and Pulp Industries operate on a 2 – 3% profit margin with massive investment to keep them running. With two exceptions, the Paper Industry has not put in any new paper machines. The current paper machines are from fifty to one hundred and twenty years old!
We must oppose the bills sponsored by Senator Eric Wimberger (R – Green Bay) and Representative Jeff Mursau (R – Crivitz) targeting the Paper, Pulp, and the Manufacturing Industries in Wisconsin
