PFAS, also known as forever chemicals due to their difficulty in removing them from water systems, are a known health risk. Gov. Tony Evers may have reached a deal with Republican lawmakers to secure the release of $125 million in PFAS investments to address PFAS contamination across the state.
The release of the funding, which was approved in the 2023-2025 biennial budget, is being discussed at a public hearing of the Assembly Committee on Environment on Wednesday.
Amendments to the PFAS investment represent a bipartisan compromise.
Substitute Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 130 and Substitute Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 131, respectively, secure protections for innocent landowners, invest $80 million of the $125 million in the PFAS Trust Fund to support local communities, invest $35 million of the $125 million in the PFAS Trust Fund for an expanded Well Compensation Grant Program and provide funding for emergency bottled water for private well owners in situations in which PFAS contamination in drinking water is discovered, among other provisions.
Staffing resources at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources still stand as a major barrier to the deal.
“I met with Republican lawmakers and the DNR last week about critical PFAS bill changes that will be necessary to garner my support, and I’m really optimistic we’re finally going to be able to get something good done here after months of successful and productive negotiations,” Evers said in a statement.
“I’m grateful Republican lawmakers have formally introduced an amendment that reflects the changes we’ve agreed to so far as a sign of good faith. We still have some important details to iron out to make sure DNR has the resources they need, but we’ve made a lot of progress. So, I’m really hopeful.
PFAS are linked to a decrease in immunity, an increase of risk of certain types of cancer, birth defects and liver and kidney disease.
