MADISON, WI – Last week, an article from WPR underscored the pressure on Senator Howard Marklein, Chair of the Joint Finance Committee, to release $10 million from the state’s PFAS trust fund, and his continued failure to do so. The request is intended to provide safe drinking water, test for PFAS levels, and dig additional deep wells. Senator Marklein has yet to respond to the state’s request.

Read more on Democrats’ applying pressure to JFC Chair Howard Marklein to release PFAS funding for Wisconsinites:

WPR: Gov. Tony Evers, Wisconsin DNR urge release of $10M to address PFAS

  • “Governor Tony Evers and state environmental regulators are urging the Legislature’s budget-writing committee to release $10 million from the state’s PFAS trust fund.”
  • “The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources submitted a request Thursday to the Republican co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Finance to release those funds. The money would be spent on safe drinking water in addition to testing and replacement of private wells in an expanded area that Tyco wasn’t required to address under the deal.”
  • “‘I urge lawmakers to act quickly and approve our request by releasing these funds as quickly as possible so we can continue this fight and ensure Wisconsinites have clean drinking water,’ Evers said in a statement.”
  • “The committee’s co-chairs, Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, and Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.”
  • “PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been linked to serious health issues that include fertility issues, thyroid disease, kidney and testicular cancers. The chemicals don’t break down easily in the environment.”
  • “During DNR hearings over the summer, residents in the Marinette and Peshtigo areas said they primarily wanted funds from the $10 million settlement to go toward safe drinking water. In addition, the DNR wants to provide funds for installing new wells, water treatment systems, long-term maintenance of those systems and blood testing for PFAS among residents.”
  • “The DNR supports the community’s priorities of safe water and wants to move quickly to get financial and technical support to those who need it,” DNR Secretary Karen Hyun said in a statement.”