Overview
- The Republican‑led Joint Committee on Finance voted unanimously to release the $10 million into the state PFAS trust fund, approving the transfer on Wednesday.
- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said most of the money will fund deep replacement wells, private well testing and in‑home treatment systems and that up to $50,000 may be used for blood serum testing.
- The DNR expects to contract a local liaison to assist homeowners with testing and applications and estimates $500,000 to $750,000 for that role with a goal of having a contractor in place within six months.
- State lawmakers and the governor publicly disputed when the DNR requested the release, with Sen. Eric Wimberger saying the committee received a request on Aug. 20 and the governor’s office saying he had pressed for the money for more than a month.
- The funding follows a four‑year state suit against Johnson Controls/Tyco over PFAS from a Marinette fire‑training site and comes as residents warn the settlement may not cover expanded contamination areas or long‑term maintenance of new wells and treatment systems.