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Republicans in the State Legislature Floating Bill to Provide Grants to Help Communities Address PFAS Contamination

Thursday, May 18th, 2023 -- 9:00 AM

(By Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) Republican lawmakers are floating a bill that would provide grants to help communities address PFAS contamination, but the legislation would also limit the authority of state agencies overseeing cleanup of the chemicals or projects to address them.

According to Danielle Kaeding with Wisconsin Public Radio, State Senators Eric Wimberger and Rob Cowles, Republican lawmakers from Green Bay, are seeking co-sponsors for the bill by Friday. Rep. Jeff Mursau, R-Crivitz, and Rep. Rob Swearingen, R-Rhinelander, are sponsoring the bill in the state Assembly.

The bill would create a municipal PFAS grant program that would provide money for communities and sewerage districts to test their public water supplies and wastewater treatment plants for the chemicals.

Systems that aren’t owned by communities but are still regulated as public water supplies could receive up to $1,800 in grants to test their drinking water. The bill did not include details about funding for the grants, but Cowles told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel funding would likely be discussed during a Thursday meeting of the Legislature's budget-writing committee.

The GOP draft proposal would also provide funds for communities to test for PFAS at municipally owned or managed properties where the chemicals may be found. Communities could also access grants to dispose of biosolids, or sewage sludge, containing the chemicals.

Those grants would require 20 percent in matching funds from communities. Communities could also apply for funds to make upgrades or build new infrastructure where water or wastewater rates may increase by more than 20 percent in order to address PFAS.

Owners of contaminated properties or fire departments that experience PFAS-related costs could also receive grants, which would also require 20 percent in matching funds.

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