PFAS Advisory Sign, January 4, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
MARINETTE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — On Monday, Marinette County residents had the chance to offer suggestions on how to spend $10 million from a PFAS lawsuit settlement.
Earlier this month, Tyco Fire Products agreed to pay the fee along with other requirements in the agreement with the state.
“I’m disappointed by the settlement, the value of the settlement, the terms of the settlement,” said Cindy Boyle, an impacted resident in the Town of Peshtigo.
The $10 million goes into the state’s PFAS trust fund. The money can’t be used without legislative action.
“That $10 million should definitely go and be able to be earmarked as a designation for the community who is impacted here,” said Boyle.
However, there’s concern that the $10 million won’t be enough for everyone.
“It won’t meet all of the need. I think really what’s going to happen is legislatively that our elected officials will have to be creative on finding additional financial resources for that,” said Boyle.
“Ten million dollars isn’t going to go as far as it needs to, to take care of all of the people and the impacts to them,” said Christine Sieger, Wisconsin DNR Director of Remediation & Redevelopment.
As part of the settlement, Tyco is required to give access to clean water to people in a designated area.
However, the DNR says private wells in an Expanded Site Investigation Area are also contaminated with the chemicals. But, according to the settlement, Tyco isn’t legally held responsible for them.
While discussing the future of the $10 million, the group did seem to come to a consensus. Many advocating for clean water to the residents in the expanded site.
“The most important thing is that folks be able to, whether they’re in the admitted area of responsibility or not, the DNR, use those $10 million to get the people who have PFAS in their private wells safe drinking water,” said Boyle.
“I think that they’re passionate about taking care of one another. It’s a really impressive group of people,” said Sieger.
Residents also suggested health exams, such as blood tests, to try and determine their best step forward. The money was allocated to the state fund, but Tyco says it hopes the money goes to the local community.
Tyco had the following statement earlier this month:
We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the state of Wisconsin that reflects the extensive work Tyco has undertaken to address PFAS associated with historic activities at the Marinette Fire Technology Center. The settlement directs $10 million to the statewide PFAS Fund created by the Wisconsin Legislature and we’re hopeful the state will return that money to the local community.
Since 2017, we have invested significantly in long-term solutions including providing deep wells for clean, sustainable drinking water for our neighbors. In addition, our state-of-the-art groundwater extraction and treatment system has already treated hundreds of millions of gallons of water and will continue to return clean, safe water to the environment.
We’ve been part of the Marinette community for over 100 years and the spirit of doing what is best for our neighbors and the environment will continue to be our priority.
The DNR will hold another session on July 13 to break down what its request to the state will be. The expectation is that the request will be submitted to the Joint Finance Committee shortly after.
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