AGO
TODAY, MORE
THAN
% 13,000
PEOPLE
WERE OUT O
F
POWER
% IN MADISON
WHEN
!
ON
ONE OF
THE
HOTTEST
% DAYS OF
THE
YEAR
DUE
TO A
% TRANSFORMER EXPLOSION
AT
MADISON
% GAS AND
ELECTRIC.
% YOU MAY
HAVE
SEEN
DRAMATIC
% PHOTOS LIKE THIS
ONE,
% FIREFIGHTERS
BATTLING THE
BLAZE
% WITH WATER
AND A
TYPE
OF
FOAM
% THAT
SOMETIMES
CONTAINS
% POLYFLUOROALKYL,
KNOWN
AS
PFAS
% FOR
SHORT.
% IT'S AN
EXTREME
HEALTH
HAZARD
TO
% HUMANS
WHEN
IT
FINDS
ITS
WAY
% INTO
THE
SOIL
OR
GROUNDWATER.
% IT'S AN
EMERGING THREAT
TO
THE
% HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENT AND
SOME
% CALL
IT A
CRISIS
THAT'S
NOT
% GETTING ENOUGH
ATTENTION.
% TONIGHT
WE
LOOK
AT
TWO
WISCONSIN
% COMMUNITIES
DEALING
WITH
PFAS
% CONTAMINATION IN
DIFFERENT
% WAIST.
% MARISA WOJCIK
REPORTS.% >> I
GOT
THE
LETTER
IN
% NOVEMBER OF
2017.
% >>
IT
STARTED
WITH A
LETTER.% >>
I
STARTED
HAVING
NEIGHBORS
% COME TO
ME
WITH A
LETTER
SAYING
% WHAT
DOES
THIS
MEAN?
% >> DID
YOU
KNOW
WHAT
TO
TELL
% THEM?%>>
YES,
I
DID.
% ESSENTIALLY
IT'S
NO
GOOD.
% >>
THE
2017
LETTER
THAT
MANY
% RESIDENTS IN
AND
AROUND
% MARINETTE WAS
FROM
TYCO, A
% COMPANY
THAT
SPECIALIZES IN
FIRE
% SUPPRESSION.%THEY
WERE
ASKING AREA
RESIDENTS
% IF THEY
COULD
TEST
THEIR
PRIVATE
% WELL
WATER,
LOOKING
FOR
PFAS.% >>
THEY
HAD
SUSPECTED
THAT THERE
% WAS
THESE
COMPOUNDS
LEAVING
% THEIR
SITE
AND
THAT
KIND
OF
% KICKED IT
OFF.% >>
JEFF
LAMONT
IS A
RETIRED
% HYDROGEOLOGIST.
% DURING
HIS
CAREER HE
SPECIALIZED
% IN
CONSULTING
COMPANIES
LIKE
% TYCO WHEN
DEALING
WITH
CHEMICAL
% CONTAMINATION AND
CLEAN-UP.% >> ALL
RIGHT.% >>
BUT
HE'D
NEVER
SEEN
ANYTHING
% LIKE
THIS.% >>
AND
SO IT
WAS,
OH,
BOY, WHAT
% IS THIS
AND
THAT
THEY'RE
% EXTREMELY
TOXIC,
YOU
KNOW,
EVEN
% AT
THE
PARTS
PER
TRILLION
LEVEL.
% IT
WAS A
SHOCK.% >>
THE
CHEMICALS
KNOWN
AS
PFAS,
% SHORT
FOR
PER
AND
% POLYFLUOROALKYL
SUBSTANCES,
ARE
% SOMETIMES REFERRED
TO
AS
FOREVER
% CHEMICALS BECAUSE
THEY
DON'T
% BREAK
DOWN
NATURALLY.
% THERE
ARE
NEARLY
5,000
OF
KNEES
% HUMAN-MADE
CHEMICALS
USED
IN
% ELECTRICAL
PRODUCTS.
% IT'S THEIR
PRESENCE
IN
% FIREFIGHTING FOAM THAT'S
% CONSIDERED A MAJOR SOURCE
OF
% GROUNDWATER
CONTAMINATION.
% >> THIS
IS
MY
HOME
HERE.
% AND I'M
IN
THE
CENTER OF
THE
% PLUME.
% I
HAVE
ISSUES
WITH
MY
WATER.
% THEY
WERE
CONTAMINATED.
% THIS
HOME
IS
CONTAMINATED.
% THESE
PEOPLE
ARE
CONTAMINATED.% >>
IN
2013,
TYCO
BECAME
AWARE
OF
% PFAS
ON
THEIR
PROPERTY
AT
THEIR
% FIRE
TRAINING
FACILITY,
WHERE
% THEY USED
FOAMS
THAT
CONTAINED
% THE
FOREVER
CHEMICAL.% >>
ONCE
THEY
DO
THEIR
TRAINING,
% THEY HOSE
ALL
THE
FOAM
DOWN
INTO
% THE ADJACENT
DITCHES AND
THE
% DITCHES
CARRY
IT
INTO
THE
LAKE.
% >>
PFAS
COMPOUNDS
ARE
MOBILE,
% PERSISTENT
AND
BIOACCUMULATE.
% PROLONGED
EXPOSURE
TO
HIGH
% LEVELS CAN
LEAD
TO
CANCER,
LOW
% INFANT BIRTH
WEIGHTS,
IMMUNE
% DEFICIENCIES
AND
THYROID
% DISRUPTION.
% EVEN
THOUGH
PFAS
WAS
ONLY
% DISCOVERED IN
MARINETTE
IN
2013,
% THE
CONTAMINATION
GOES
BACK
MANY
% YEARS.%>>
WE'RE
TALKING
DECADES,
% PROBABLY
50
TO
60,
YEAH.% >>
ALSO,
CINDY
IS
WITHOUT A
% THYROID, TOO.
% SHE HAD
HERS
REMOVED HOW MANY
% YEARS AGO
NOW?
% >>
RESIDENTS ARE
CONCERNED
THAT
% THEIR
ISSUES ARE
TIED
TO
PFAS
% EXPOSURE,
BUT
IT'S
ALMOST
% IMPOSSIBLE TO
PROVE.
% EVERY HUMAN CONTAINS
SOME LEVEL% IN THEIR BLOOD.
% FOR
CHUCK
AND
CINDY
BOYLE,
THE
% DAMAGE HAS BEEN
DONE AFTER
YEARS
% OF
CONTAMINATION.% >>
WE
DID
EVERYTHING RIGHT.
% WE
BUILT A
PLACE
THAT
WE
LOVE
% AND
THEY
TOOK
IT
ALL
AWAY
AND
% THEY JUST
TOOK
ALL OF THE
% CHOICES
AWAY
FROM
US.
% >>
PFAS
IN
THE
ENVIRONMENT
ARE
% UNREGULATED
FEDERALLY EXCEPT
FOR% A
HEALTH
ADVISORY
LEVEL
OF
70
% PARTS
PER
TRILLION.
% WISCONSIN HAS
NO
RULES ON THE
% BOOKS
EITHER.
% DESPITE THE LACK
OF A
CURRENT
% STANDARD, A SEPARATE
STATE
LAW
% GOVERNING
CHEMICAL
SPILLS
% REQUIRED
TYCO
TO
BEGIN
% INVESTIGATING
AND
REMEDIATING
% PFAS
CONTAMINATION, WHICH
IS
WHY
% THEY'RE
TAKING ACTION
NOW.
% BEN
VERBERG
WAS
HIRED
BY
TYCO
TO
% HELP CLEAN
UP
THE
PFAS
% CONTAMINATION.%>> WE
ARE
AT A
LOCATION THAT
IS
% KNOWN
AS
DITCH
A.
% >>
IT
CARRIES
SURFACE
WATER OFF
% THE FIRE
TRAINING WORTH.
% THE MAIN
SOURCE
OF
PFAS
% CONTAMINATION.
% THEY
INSTALLED A
FILTRATION
% SYSTEM
TO
HELP
CLEAN
PFAS OUT
OF
% WATER
BEFORE IT
FLOWS
OFF OF
THE
% PROPERTY
INTO
THE
BAY
OF GREEN
% BAY.%>>
WE
TREATED
TODAY
OVER
15
% MILLION
GALLONS
OF
SURFACE
% WATER.%>>
MARINETTE'S PUBLIC
DRINKING
% WATER SUPPLY
PULLS
FROM
GROWN
% BAY.
% IN
2018
THEY
BEGAN
SAMPLING
AND
% THE
DRINKING
WATER
IS
CONSIDERED
% SAFE.
% BUT
RESIDENTS
WITH
PRIVATE
WELL
% WATER IN
THE TOWN
OF
PESHTIGO
% WERE
FOUND TO
BE
CONTAMINATED.
% JOHN PERKINS
IS
THE VICE% PRESIDENT
OF
ENVIRONMENT,
HEALTH
% AND SAFETY
FOR JOHNSON
CONTROLS.% >>
WE
FEEL
CONFIDENT
WE
KNOW
% THAT
THE
ULTIMATE SOLUTION FOR
% THE
AFFECTED
RESIDENTS
WITHIN
% THE AREA
AND
THE
MOST
QUICKEST
% ALTERNATIVE
IS
THE
OPTION
OF
% RUNNING A MUNICIPAL
WATERLINE
% FROM
THE CITY
OF
MARINETTE
TO
% PESHTIGO.%>>
FOR
THOSE
LIVING ON
THE
% PLUME,
ACTION SHOULD HAVE
BEEN
% TAKEN
SOONER.
% THEY
DISCOVERED
PFAS
IN
2013
BUT
% DIDN'T
ACT
UNTIL
2017.% >>
MY
NEIGHBORS
DRANK
THIS
WATER
% FOUR
YEARS
LONGER
THAN THEY
% NEEDED
TO.
% >>
THEY
CLAIM THEY WERE
NOT
% AWARE
OF
CHEMICALS
LEAVING
THEIR
% PROPERTY.%>>
WE
FEEL
TO
THIS
DAY
WE DO
NOT
% HAVE ANY
INDICATION
OF
ANY
% OFFSITE
IMPACTS.% >>
WELL,
THAT'S
RIDICULOUS
% STATEMENT TO
MAKE
FOR
SOMEBODY
% THAT
KNOWS
HOW
THIS
WORKS.
% GROUNDWATER
FLOWS.
% AND
IF
IT
SPILLED
ON
THEIR
SITE,
% YOU'RE ALMOST
REST
ASSURED
% THAT'S
MIGRATED
OFFSITE.% >>
THE
DNR
TAKES
ISSUE
WITH
THIS% AS
WELL
AND
IT'S
BEEN
REFERRED
% TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
% THE
DNR
HAS
MADE
CLEANING
UP
THE
% AREA A
PRIORITY AND
STEPS
ARE
% BEING
TAKEN.
% IT'S A DIFFERENT
STORY ON
THE
% OTHER
SIDE OF
THE
STATE.% >>
SO
FAR,
NOTHING.% >>
SINCE
2018,
MARIA
POWELL HAS
% BEEN
INVESTIGATING THE
PRESENCE
% OF
PFAS NEXT
TO
MADISON.
% THEY'VE BEEN
TESTING
THESE
FOAMS% ON
THE
GROUND
SINCE
1970.% >>
RIGHT
NOW
WE
KNOW
NOTHING
% ABOUT WHAT'S
COMING OFF
THE
% BASE.%>>
THE
DNR
HAS
IDENTIFIED
THE
% WISCONSIN
INTERNATIONAL
GUARD
AS
% RESPONSIBLE, BUT
THEY'VE
% DELEGATED INVESTIGATION
AND
% CLEAN-UP
TO A
NATIONWIDE
U.S.% AIR
FORCE
PROGRAM
TO CLEAN UP
% PFAS.%>>
SO
THEY'RE
DELAYING,
% DELAYING,
DELAYING.% >>
A
REPORT
SHOWS
UNSAFE
LEVELS
% OF PFAS
IN
THE
GROUNDWATER ON
% THE BASE.
% WITH
ONE
SAMPLE
TESTING
AT MORE
% THAN
500
T
IMES
THE
HEALTH
% ADVISORY LEVEL.
% BUT
THE
WISCONSIN INTERNATIONAL
% GUARD SAYS
THE CON
TEN
!
CONCENTRATIONS
% THAT HAVE BEEN
FOUND
ON
BASE
ARE
% IN
GROUNDWATER
AND DO
NOT
% REFLECT
THE
CONCENTRATION FOUND
% IN WELLS
THAT
THE
MADISON
WATER
% UTILITY IS
TESTING
FOR.
% THEY SHOW
THE
HIGHEST
LEVELS TO
% BE
COMING
FROM WEST
15,
THE
ONE
% CLOSEST
TO
THE
BASE.
% IT WAS
TURNED
OFF
EARLIER THIS
% YEAR.
% THE WATER
UTILITY
RECENTLY
% ANNOUNCED THERE'S
NO
IMMEDIATE
% PLANS TO
TURN
IT
BACK
ON.
% BUT
MARIA
IS
CONCERNED
ABOUT
THE
% GROUNDWATER AS WELL.%>>
OUR
FIRST
PRIORITY
IS
PROTECT
% THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
THE
MOST
% POTENTIALLY
EXPOSED.% >>
STARKWEATHER
CREEK
BISECTS
% THE
BASE.
% 24
YEARS TOUYENG XIONG GREW
UP
% IN THE
APARTMENTS
AND
REMEMBERS
% PLAYING IN
THE
CREEK.% >>
WE
USED
TO
THROW
THE
% FOOTBALL,
PLAY
FRISBEE
AND OF
% COURSE AFTER
YOU'RE
DONE,
YOU'RE
% ALL NICE
AND
SWEATY,
SO
YOU
COME% DOWN
TO
THIS
CREEK
AND
TAKE A
% DIP.%>> THERE
ARE
MULTIPLE
EXPOSURES
% HERE.
% AND
I
THINK
WHILE
ALL THESE
% DEBATES GO
ON
ABOUT
STANDARDS,
% POLICIES, ALL
THAT
SHOULD
% HAPPEN,
BUT
THERE
REALLY
IN
MY
% OPINION IS
NO
EXCUSE
NOT TO
GET
% MORE INFORMATION SO
WE
KNOW WHAT
% IS
GOING
ON, HOW
MUCH
PFAS
IS
IN
% THE
CREEK,
IN
THE FISH
AND
% ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
IN
THIS
% APARTMENT COMPLEX A
LOT
O
F
% FAMILIES, A LOT
OF
PEOPLE
WITH
% SMALL
CHILDREN, A
LOT
OF
PEOPLE
% WITH
BABIES AND
BABIES ARE
VERY,
% VERY
VULNERABLE.% >> THE
DNR
ASSURES
THAT AN
% INVESTIGATION AND
SAMPLING
% MEASURES
ARE
UNDERWAY.% >>
THE
DNR
STEPPED
IN
TO
TRY
TO% HELP AND
I
THINK THERE
WAS A
% SUSPICION
THAT IT WAS
COMING
% FROM
TRUAX,
BUT WE
HAVE
NOT,
YOU
% KNOW,
PUT
ALL
THOSE
DOTS
AND
PUT% A LINE THROUGH
ALL
THOSE
AND WE
% ARE WORKING WITH
THE CITY
AND
% THE
INTERNATIONAL GUARD
ON A
% SURFACE
WATER
STUDY
THIS
SUMMER
% AND I'D
HATE
TO
PUT
UP
SIGNS
AND
% WORRY
PEOPLE
WHEN
IN
FACT
THERE
% ISN'T THAT
THREAT.% >>
REGULATION
OF
THESE
COMPOUNDS
% IS
COMPLICATED.
% RECENTLY,
THE
DNR
ANNOUNCED A
% FIRST
STEP
TOWARD A
STATE
% STANDARD THAT WOULD
BEGIN A% RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT
WOULD
% ESTABLISH A
MAXIMUM
GROUNDWATER% LEVEL FOR
THE
TWO
MOST
HAZARDOUS
% COMPOUNDS.
% SOME
ARE
ENCOURAGED BY
THIS
% ANNOUNCEMENT.
% BUT SOME INDUSTRIES ARE
PUSHING
% BACK.%>>
I
F
ADOPTED,
THIS
VERY
% RESTRICTIVE STANDARD WILL
BE
% COSTLY
FOR
BOTH
INDUSTRY
AND
% TAXPAYERS.%>>
THE RULE-MAKING PROCESS
CAN
% TAKE YEARS
AND WOULD
HAVE TO
G
O
% THROUGH
LEGISLATIVE
APPROVAL.
% WITH THE
LACK
OF A
FEDERAL
% STANDARD, MANY
ARE
LOOKING
AT
% HOW
OTHER
STATES
ARE
DEALING
% WITH PFAS.
% IN
THE
MEANTIME, THE
DNR
IS
% DOING WHAT IT
CAN.
% THEY'RE
TRYING
TO
RESOURCE
UP,
% ADDING
TWO
ADDITIONAL
POSITIONS
% TO
WORK
ON
PFAS.
% >> I
HAVE
TO
SAY
THAT I DON'T
% KNOW IF
ANY
OF
US
ANTICIPATED
% THAT PFAS WOULD
BE
THE
NEXT
BIG
% ISSUE.%>>
AND
YET,
OF
PUBLIC
DRINKING% WATER
SUPPLIES IN
WISCONSIN,% ONLY
90 OUT
OF
11,000 HAVE BEEN
% TESTED.
% FOR
JEFF
LAMONT, A
STANDARD IS
% NEEDED.%>> WE
WANT
TO
PROTECT OUR
% CHILDREN, OUR ENVIRONMENT.
% WE NEED
IT.
% IT'S
THAT
SIMPLE.% >>
THE
AGENCY IN
CHARGE
OF
% REGULATING PFAS
IS
THE% DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
!
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
% I
SAT
DOWN
WITH
SECRETARY
COLE
% TO
TALK
ABOUT
PFAS.
% FIVE SCIENCE
POSITIONS
WERE TO
% BE
RESTORED.
% THE
LEGISLATURE GAVE TWO
BACK.
% WHAT
WILL
THOSE
SCIENTISTS WILL% BE
DOING?
% >>
WELL,
THOSE
TWO
SCIENTISTS
% ARE A DOWN PAYMENT ON
WHAT
WE
% ACTUALLY
NEED.
% SO
THESE
SCIENTISTS WILL B
E
% WORKING
ON
RESEARCH
ASSOCIATED% WITH
FINDING
PFAS,
THIS
% INSIDIOUS CHEMICAL THAT IS
IN
% OUR
ECOSYSTEM,
AND
COORDINATING
% BEST
PRACTICES
WITH
OTHER
% SCIENTISTS
WORKING
ON
THIS
% CHEMICAL, WHERE IT
IS,
WHERE
IT
% ISN'T,
FROM
AROUND
THE
REGION.
% THEY'LL BE ERK
WITHING
ON
!
W
ORKING
ON
EMPIRICAL
% DATA
RESEARCH TO
TELL
US
WHERE
% THIS CHEMICAL
IS.
% >>
IS
THAT
MORE
TESTING
IN
THE
% FIELD FOR
HOW
IT
MAY
BE
% AFFECTING
HUMANS,
FISH,
% WILDLIFE?%>> YES
AND
YES.
% WE
ISSUED
125
STORMWATER
% UTILITIES TO
ASSIST
US IN
% FINDING OUT
WHERE IT
IS
AND
% ISN'T.
% I'M
PROUD
TO
SAY
THE MILWAUKEE% METROPOLITAN
SEWERAGE DISTRICT
% IS THE
FIRST
TO
SAY
YES.
% THEY'LL BE
TESTING
AS
TO
WHERE
% THIS
CHEMICAL IS
COMING
FROM.
% WE'LL
BE
ABLE
TO
NOTE
WHERE
IT'S
% COMING FROM.
% AND
THEN WE
CAN
WORK
WITH
FOLKS% ON
THE
GROUND TO SEE
IF WE
CAN
% ABATE
THAT
CHEMICAL.% >>
THERE'S A
HANDFUL OF
PLACES% AROUND THE
STATE
WHERE
WE
DO% KNOW IT
ALREADY
EXISTS.
% SOME
ARE
RELATED
TO
% INTERNATIONAL GUARD
BASES.
% IT'S MOST
COMMONLY
USED
IN FIRE
% RETARDANT ON
JET
FUEL.% >>
WE
KNOW
THAT
AIRPORTS
THAT
% TRAIN
WITH
THIS
FOAM MAY HAVE
% THESE
CHEMICALS IN
AND
AROUND
% THEIR
SITES.
% AND
WE'LL
HAVE
TO
TEST
AROUND
% THOSE.
% WELLS THAT
ARE
PULLING
WATER
% FROM
MUNICIPAL
WATER
SYSTEMS
AND
% WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.
% DRINKING WATER
SYSTEMS,
SO
% WHETHER IT'S IN
YOUR
% GROUNDWATER,
CLOSE
PROXIMITY
TO
% AIRPORTS.
% WE'RE
SPENDING
APPROXIMATELY
% $50,000
WITH
STATE
DOLLARS
TO
% SURVEY
AIRPORTS TO SEE
IF
% THEY'VE
BEEN
USING
THIS
% FIREFIGHTING FOAM.
% SO
IT'S A
ROBUST DISCUSSION THAT
% WE'RE
HAVING
WITH
MUNICIPAL
% WELLS, THAT
WE'RE
HAVING
WITH
% PRIVATE
WELL
OWNERS
AND OF
% COURSE
WITH
AIRPORTS
THAT
USE
% THIS PARTICULAR
FOAM.
% >>
YOU
MENTIONED
THE
TWO
% SCIENTIST
POSITIONS
AS A DOWN
% PAYMENT.
% WHAT'S
THE
DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN
% HAVING
TWO
VERSUS
THE
FIVE
YOU
% REQUESTED IN
TERMS
OF
HOWCH
YOU
HOW
MUCH
% YOU CAN
LEARN?
% >>
THIS
RESEARCH IS
GOING TO
B
E
% IMPORTANT BECAUSE
WE'VE
ALREADY
% BEEN ISSUED
THE
GROUNDWATER
% STANDARD BY
OUR DEPARTMENT OF% HEALTH SERVICES.
% WE STILL
NEED
THE
DRINKING WATER
% STANDARD
AND
THE
EPA
DOES
NOT
% HAVE A FEDERAL
DRINKING
% STANDARD.
% AS
WELL
AS
SURFACE
WATER.
% SO
WHETHER
IT'S FISH
AND
% AQUATICS,
WHETHER
IT'S
DRINKING
% WATER, THOSE ON
ARE
THE
% STANDARDS
THAT
THESE
OTHER
% RESEARCHERS ARE GOING TO
NEED
TO
% WORK
ON
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME
% WE'VE ASKED
THE
DEPARTMENT OF
% HEALTH
SERVICES TO
WEIGH
IN
ON
% ANOTHER
34
PFAS-RELATED
% CHEMICALS THAT ARE
PROBABLY
MOST
% LIKELY
IN
OUR
ENVIRONMENT.
% BUT WE
NEED
THE
RESEARCH.% >>
NOW,
THE
ONE
THING
WE
HAVEN'T
% TALKED
ABOUT
IS
PRIVATE WELLS.
% CAN
INDIVIDUAL
HOMEOWNERS
TEST
% THEIR WATER
FOR
THIS?
% IS
THAT
FEASIBLE
ECONOMICALLY?% >>
THEY
CAN
TEST
FOR
IT,
BUT
% IT'S COSTLY.
% WE
KNOW
THAT
SOME OF THE
TESTS
% THAT
MOST
MUNICIPALITIES
RUN
FOR
% CAN
RUN
$2,000
FOR A
PROPERTY
% OWNER.
% 1.7 MILLION
PEOPLE
IN
WISCONSIN
% GET THEIR
WATER
FROM
800,000
% PRIVATE
DRINKING
WELLS.
% OUR DATA
SHOWS
THAT
ONLY
10%
OF
% THOSE WELLS
ARE
BEING
TESTED.
% WE
HAVE
TO
MAKE
SURE
THAT WE
CAN
% INCENTIVIZE
PROPERTY
OWNERS
TO
% TEST THEIR WELLS
ON AN
ANNUAL
% BASIS.
% SO
WE'RE
WORKING
DILIGENTLY
T
O
% DO THAT.
% >>
SO
THE
DNR
IS
WORKING ON
THE
% RULE
PROCESS TO
SET A
STANDARD
% FOR
THE
TWO
KIND
OF
PFAS
AT
20
% PARTS
PER
TRILLION.
% YOU'RE ALREADY
GETTING
PUSH
BOOK
% FROM
WISCONSIN
MANUFACTURERS AND
% COMMERCE.
% HOW
MUCH
SCIENCE
DO
YOU
NEED TO
% HAVE ON
HAND
IN
ORDER
TO
TELL
% PEOPLE
THAT THIS
IS
NECESSARY
% DESPITE WHATEVER
COST
THERE
MAY
% BE?%>>
WELL,
YOU
SHOULD
KNOW
THIS
% FALL WILL
BEGIN
THAT RULE-MAKING
% PROCESS.%IT
WILL
BE
WIDE
OPEN
TO
THE
% MICK.
% THOSE
WHO
AGREE
WITH
IT
WILL
% SHOW UP
AND
THOSE
WHO
HAVE
% CONCERNS WILL SHOW
UP.
% WITH
THE
REQUISITE RESEARCH
AND
% DATA,
WE
BELIEVE IT
WILL
LAND
% SOMEWHERE AROUND
20
PARTS
PER
% TRILLION BECAUSE
THAT'S
THE
% HEALTH STANDARD THAT
THE
HEALTH
% PROFESSIONALS SAY.
% NOW, IT'S
GOING TO BE
DIFFERENT
% IN
OTHER
STATES.
% BUT
THEY'RE
RECONCILING ALL
OF
% THIS IN
THEIR
OWN
STATE
% JURISDICTIONS.
% BUT
WE'RE
GOING
TO
BEGIN
THAT
% CONVERSATION
IN
EARNEST
WITH
THE
% PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN
% AND CORPORATE
AND
FOLKS
WHO
HAVE% A
VESTED
INTEREST
IN CLEAN
% WATER.%>> BUT
THE RULE-MAKING
PROCESS
% HAS TO GO THROUGH
THE
% LEGISLATURE,
CORRECT?% >>
CORRECT.% >>
AND
TYPICALLY
IF
WMC
DOESN'T
% WANT
SOMETHING TO
HAPPEN,
I
T
% DOESN'T
HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY
HAVE% A
VERY
CLOSE
ASSOCIATION WITH
% REPUBLICANS IN
THE
LEGISLATURE.
% DO YOU
HAVE
T
O
CONVINCE
WMC
THAT% THIS
IS
I
N
EVERYONE'S
BEST
% INTEREST?
% >>
HERE'S WHAT
I
WILL
SAY.
% GOVERNOR
EVERS
LEAD
WITH
THE
% YEAR
OF
CLEAN
DRINKING WATER.
% ON THE
HEELS
OF
THAT
YOU
HEAR
% REPRESENTATIVE VOSS WITH
HIS
OWN
% COMMITTEE.%I BELIEVE
THERE'S
NOT
GOING TO
% BE A
LOT
OF
CONVINCING AROUND
% THIS.
% THERE'S
ALREADY
BEEN
BILLS
% INTRODUCED AROUND
PFAS
NOT
ONLY
% FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION,
BUT
% CERTAINLY FROM
OTHERS
WHO
--
% REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATORS AS WELL.
% I
THINK
WMC
HAS A
VESTED
% INTEREST IN
ENSURING
THAT WE
ARE
% ACCOUNTABLE AND
WE'RE
% ACCOUNTABLE TO
THEM AS
WELL
AS
% THE
PUBLIC,
BUT
WE'RE
ALSO
% ACCOUNTABLE TO
FOLKS WHO
ARE
IN
% HARM'S
WAY
RELATIVE
TO
THIS
% CONUNDRUM AROUND
PFAS.
% >> IN
SOME OF
THE
OTHER
ISSUES
% WITH
CONTAMINANTS IN
WATER,
% WHETHER IT'S
LEAD
OR
NITRATES
OR
% BACTERIA,
THERE'S A
BRIGHT
LINE
% BETWEEN DRINKING THAT WATER AND
% DEVELOPING AN ILLNESS OF SOME%
SORT.
% WITH PFAS
IT
SEEMS
LIKE
IT'S
% STILL
NOT
CLEAR
HOW
BRIGHT
THAT
% LINE WILL BE.
% ARE YOU
HOPING
THAT
THE
RESEARCH
% WILL MAKE
THAT
MORE
CLEAR
AS
TO
% WHETHER
SOMEONE
HAS A
HEALTH% PROBLEM
DUE
TO
CONTAMINATION?% >>
MY
UNDERSTANDING
FROM
OUR
% HEALTH OFFICIALS
THAT
ADVISE
US
% THAT THERE ARE
PFAS
CHEMICALS% THAT ARE
DIRECTLY LINKED
TO
% THYROID
CANCER AS
WELL
AS
CANCER% ITSELF.
% SO WE
HAVE
SKIN
IN
THE
GAME
AS
% RELATES
TO
THAT
CONNECTIVITY.
% IT'S
NOT
THE
DNR
SECRETARY THAT
% COMES UP
WITH
THAT.
% IT
IS
PROFESSIONAL
HEALTH
% SERVICES INDIVIDUALS
WHO
GET
% DATA
FROM,
YOU
KNOW,
THEIR
OWN
% RESEARCH,
THEIR
OWN
METHODOLOGY,% BUT
ALSO
PEOPLE
FROM AROUND
THE
% COUNTRY
WHO
HAVE
DEALT
WITH
THIS% ON
THE
LANDSCAPE.
% WHETHER
IT'S
LEAD,
WHETHER
IT'S
% NITRATES, OR
WHETHER IT
IS
PFAS,
% THESE
EMERGENT
CONTAMINANTS, OUR
% DRINKING
WATER
SYSTEMS
IN
% WISCONSIN
ARE
UNDER
THREAT.
% WE HAVE
TO
ACT
AND WE HAVE
TO
% ACT
NOW.% >>
BEFORE THIS
POSITION, YOU
% WERE ON
THE
NATURAL
RESOURCES
% BOARD.
% HOW LONG
HAS
THIS
ISSUE
OF
PFAS
% BEEN ON
THE
RADAR OF
THE
DNR?
% >>
IT'S
RELATIVELY NEW.
% I
WOULD
SAY THERE
ARE
CERTAINLY
% FOLKS
IN
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN
% THAT HAVE
SEEN
THIS ON
THE
% LANDSCAPE
AND HAVE BEEN
DEALING
% WITH
THAT
AND
IN
MARINETTE
% COUNTY,
PESHTIGO
AND
THOSE
% LOCATIONS.
% BUT
PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS HAVE% BEEN
WELL
AWARE OF
IT.
% NOW
THAT
IT'S
MAKING ITS
WAY
% INTO
OUR
WATER
SYSTEMS
AND
% GROUNDWATER, THERE'S
COMMUNITIES% IN
HARM'S WAY
THAT
ARE
ON
% BOTTLED
WATER
TO
MITIGATE
THEM
% FROM
DRINKING THAT WATER.
% SO I
THINK
THIS
CONVERSATION HAS% BEEN GOING
ON
FOR
SOME
TIME.
% >>
NOW
IN
SEVEN
MONTHS
THE
% REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED SENATE
HAS
% NOT
CONFIRMED A
SINGLE
MEMBER
OF% GOVERNOR
EVERS'
CABINET,
YOU
% INCLUDED.
% HOW DOES
THAT
AFFECT YOUR
% ABILITY TO
DO
YOUR
JOB?
% >>
I
CAN
ONLY
CONTROL
WHAT'S
% UNDER MY
CONTROL.
% THAT PROCESS
IS
NOT
READY
UNDER
% MY CONTROL AND
I
STAND
READY
TO
% APPEAR IF THEY
HAVE
MORE
% QUESTIONS OF ME.
% BUT THAT P
ROCESS
IS CONTROLLED
% BY THE
LEGISLATURE, AS YOU
KNOW.
% >>
DO YOU
THINK
THAT
LACK
OF
% CONFIRMATION GIVES THEM
SOME
% SORT
OF
LEVERAGE
OVER
YOU,
OVER
% DECISIONS YOU
MAY MAKE
REGARDING
% THE DNR
OR
THE
ENVIRONMENT?
% >> I
DON'T
PERCEIVE THAT AT
ALL.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% THANK YOU
FOR