Natural Resources Board approves setting standards for 'forever chemicals' in Wisconsin water
Patrick Marley
MADISON – The Natural Resources Board signed off Wednesday on setting environmental standards for two "forever chemicals" under a process that will likely take years.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in August asked to set standards for PFOA and PFOS, which are among the perfluorinated compounds dubbed “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment.
The board on Wednesday agreed to do that on a 5-1 vote, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
The rules will set enforceable standards for the levels of PFAS in cover groundwater, surface water and public drinking water.
PFAS are used in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabric and firefighting foam. They have drawn increasing attention as they have been found in waterways around the state, including in Milwaukee, Madison and Marinette.
Wisconsin and some other states are looking at setting standards because they believe federal regulators are being too slow to act.
The DNR held hearings on the proposed rules in the fall at the behest of lawmakers. Legislators will have the power to block the DNR rules once they are completed.
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Contact Patrick Marley at patrick.marley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @patrickdmarley.