MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – Governor Tony Evers says his administration is preparing to take legal action against companies responsible for PFAS contamination in Wisconsin. Evers, in consultation with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, asked the Department of the Administration (DOA) to begin the selection process for an outside law firm to help the state evaluate and pursue litigation against companies responsible. The decision comes following recommendations from the Wisconsin PFAS Action Council’s PFAS Action Plan released in December 2020.
“PFAS can have devastating effects not only on our state’s ecosystem and vital natural resources, but on the health of our families and communities across the state,” Evers said in a statement on Friday. “It is unacceptable and those companies responsible for the contamination of our land and water should be held accountable so we can move forward in cleaning up this pollution for the health and safety of our communities.”
The Wisconsin PFAS Action Council, which was created by Executive Order #40, aims to address the issue of PFAS in Wisconsin. The Action Council’s PFAS Action Plan includes 25 action items to address PFAS contamination, centered around environmental justice, health equity, and pollution prevention. One of the action items recommended from the plan is pursing appropriate legal action against corporations deemed responsible for the harmful discharges.
“PFAS cause severe harms to people’s health and result in long-term environmental contamination,” said Attorney General Kaul. “As this announcement reflects, Governor Evers’ administration and the Wisconsin Department of Justice take this issue very seriously and are working together to get contaminated sites cleaned up, support for those who have been exposed to dangerous levels of PFAS, and accountability from those responsible for the harms that PFAS have caused in Wisconsin.”
Other states, including Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Vermont, have already pursued litigation against corporations deemed responsible for PFAS contamination. They’ve also leveraged the funds derived from the litigation to support the communities most impacted. Currently, Wisconsin monitors nearly 50 sites across the state for PFAS contamination.
This announcement comes after the state Department of Natural Resources announced Thursday that elevated levels of PFAS have been found in Madison-area lakes. Additionally, earlier this month, Tyco reached a $17.5 million settlement with Town of Peshtigo residents over PFAS found in drinking water in the area. Tyco says it used the chemicals at its Fire Technology Center in Marinette.
PFAS are man-made chemicals found in a number of products, including fire-fighting foam. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PFAS can increase cancer risk, affect growth, learning, and women’s fertility.
