MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Prevention of future pollution from forever chemicals known as PFAS, while also developing ways to reduce the use of the chemicals, are among the recommendations included in a Wisconsin action plan released Wednesday by Gov. Tony Evers’ administration after a year of study.
Nearly 20 state agencies, along with the University of Wisconsin, worked on the report to tackle the growing pollution and public concern around PFAS, which is shorthand for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The chemicals have been linked to cancer, liver disease and reproductive health problems.
The chemicals don’t easily break down in the environment and have been used for decades in a range of products, including firefighting foam and stain-resistant sprays. They have been detected in humans, wildlife, fish and in the groundwater, surface water, soil and air. They have also been found in more than 40 rural and urban areas across the state, including in Marinette, Superior, Madison and Milwaukee.
Evers issued an executive order in 2019 calling on the state Department of Natural Resources lead the work to come up with an action plan to address both the environmental and public health risks posed by PFAS contamination. The DNR is also in the process of developing standards for two of the most studied compounds — PFOS and PFOA — in ground, surface and drinking water.
“We look forward to continuing to work with other state agencies, the university system and Wisconsin communities to put forth and implement solutions that will protect the public and support our businesses,” said DNR Secretary Preston Cole in a statement.
The report, which also included input from the public and an advisory group, outlines 25 action items centered on environmental justice, health equity and pollution prevention. It calls for:
— Establishing science-based PFAS standards for soil, groundwater and other environments.
— Reducing the use of PFAS through a variety of ways, including greater education, new laws and grants.
— Identifying PFAS discharge locations, facilitating more timely collections of samples and developing sampling protocols for public water systems.
— Partnering with the firefighting community to minimize the use of firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals.
— Engaging the public more and including environmental justice and health equity in public management efforts.
— Developing new ways to identify PFAS contamination and streamlining ways to deliver safe drinking water to communities affected by PFAS pollution.
— Supporting veterans, their families and those who live near military sites who may have a higher risk of exposure to PFAS.
Evers said in a statement he looked forward to examining the plan, which he said will be a blueprint for tackling the environmental and public health concerns posed by PFAS chemicals.
