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PFAS
Click the image below and watch the webinar video on our YouTube channel
The webinar on PFAS class action settlement between public water providers and 3M and DuPont that was held on October 31st, 2023 by attorneys from Napoli Shkolnik, a firm involved in the class action. The webinar covered important settlement details, including the important time frames relating to the settlement. The League’s hosting of this webinar does not constitute endorsement of Napoli Shkolnik.
Watch the webinar on the League's YouTube channel
Municipalities must soon decide how to proceed in a class action lawsuit brought by public water providers against 3M and DuPont, which has a preliminarily approved settlement. Prior to the deadlines, municipalities must evaluate the settlement to decide whether to 1) opt out, or 2) stay in and file a claim. The settlement contains significant liability releases and municipal decisions have important implications and consequences. Municipalities that do not opt out but do not file a claim will be giving up significant rights.
Resources: settlement allocation table and settlement website.
Status Updates & Resources
League PFAS Municipal Grant Testimony (PDF)
Municipal Water Coalition JFC Budget Memo on PFAS Funding (PDF)
EPA Strategic Roadmap: EPA's Commitment to Action 2021-2024 (PDF)
WIDNR list of certified testing labs.
In the News:
Wisconsin's PFAS standards are on track to take effect. What happens next? June 15, 2022
Wisconsin Republicans allow PFAS standards to take effect June 13, 2022
Municipal Water Coalition
The coalition is comprised of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Rural Water Association, Municipal Environmental Group – Wastewater Division, the Municipal Environmental Group – Water Division, and the Wisconsin Section of the American Water Works Association an alliance of groups representing municipal water and wastewater utilities.
The Municipal Water Coalition’s goals are:
• To work collaboratively with DNR on developing science based PFAS standards that consider relative cost, benefit, and feasibility of different PFAS removal and treatment options.
• To work collaboratively with DNR and industry stakeholders to find ways to reduce sources of PFAS before they enter public water or sewer systems.
• To educate the public about the background presence of PFAS in our homes and environment from common household products and make clear that drinking water systems and wastewater treatment facilities are not producers or users of PFAS, but only recipients of the compounds.
The Municipal Water Coalition consists of municipal utilities providing the most essential of public services - safe drinking water and wastewater treatment. We acknowledge and fully embrace our role as environmental and public health stewards committed to ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation services now and for future generations. To that end, we support legislative actions and regulations intended to ensure safe delivery of these critical services if they are based on credible science and developed after due deliberation.
League Communications
Comments on DG-24-19: Revisions to ch. NR 809 related to the promulgation of new drinking water MCLs for PFOA and PFOS (PDF) by the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Municipal Environmental Group - Water Division, and Wisconsin Rural Water Association. February 8, 2022
Comments on DG15 NR140 Groundwater PFAS (PDF) January 11, 2022
Comments on WY-23-19 Revisions to chs. NR 102, 105, 106, and 219 relating to the Proposed Surface Water Quality Standards for PFOA and PFOS, including narrative criteria (PDF) December 15, 2021
Comments on DG-24-19 Revisions to ch. NR 809 Related to the Promulgation of Drinking Water MCLs for PFOA and PFOS (PDF) December 8, 2021
Statement of Scope (SS-029-21) on the revision to ch. NR 140 related to numerical standards for 16 new per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including 4 combined standards (PDF) June 10, 2021
All communications on Rulemaking and Regulatory Matters
Municipal Water Coalition Articles
PFAS and Wisconsin Drinking Water (PDF) by Lawrie Kobza in the March 2021 The Municipality
PFAS and Wastewater Facilities (PDF) by Paul Kent in the March 2021 The Municipality
General Information on PFAS
American Water Works Association Briefing Paper on PFAS (PDF) 2019
Additional resources on the American Water Works PFAS website.
The Wisconsin Legislative Council issue brief on PFAS October, 2019
Wisconsin DNR PFAS Technical Advisory Group
The PFAS Technical Advisory Group is a working group formed in 2019 to discuss issues related to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Wisconsin. The group does not have an appointed membership; any interested party may attend and meetings are open to the public. The group will meet on a quarterly basis, with additional subgroup meetings scheduled as needed.
Governor’s PFAS Executive Order. Governor Evers issued an executive order instructing state agencies to address water contamination from PFAS. August 22, 2019
What are PFAS? Where can they be found? What are possible health concerns with PFAS? What are current exposure limits for PFAS in drinking water? Background on PFAS Contamination (PDF) July 24, 2019
Update on Recent PFAS Regulatory and Legislative Activities (PDF) July 24, 2019
PFAS Talking Points (PDF) July 24, 2019
The National League of Cities (NLC) partnered with the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues (AAAS EPI Center) to offer a stakeholder engagement summit. Topics related to water pollution and management, including contamination from persistent chemicals such as PFAS were discussed. The summit included an opportunity to connect with scientific experts actively working to address PFAS, explore whether the existing scientific evidence is accessible and useful for decision-makers, and address the specific concerns of participants.
(Jerry Deschane attended this Summit in Washington DC on Feb. 7, 2020.)