Conservation voters release statement on PFAS legislation

MADISON – Today the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy rejected feedback from communities and community members impacted by PFAS contamination by advancing Senate Bill 312 with a poison pill included in its language.

As amended, SB 312 would let corporate polluters off the hook by degrading the state’s spills law, a tool that has protected Wisconsinites from pollution for decades.

Government Affairs Manager Peter Burress had this to say on today’s vote:

“Despite months of feedback from impacted community members, Sen. Eric Wimberger, Sen. Rob Cowles, and Sen Cory Tomcyzk sided with corporate polluters by voting SB 312 out of committee with a dangerous poison pill. The bill authors had three months to find a better solution by working with impacted communities who have been dealing with this issue for years. Instead, with barely 24 hours notice, they released and advanced a new version that was worse.

As amended, SB 312 would limit the Department of Natural Resource’s ability to test for PFAS, and limit enforcement action against those responsible for contamination. This would degrade Wisconsin’s spills law, a tool that has protected Wisconsinites from pollution for decades.

We oppose the current version of SB 312 and ask legislators to do the same. We must work toward a PFAS solution that puts impacted people before corporate polluters and their allies.”

Contact Ryan Billingham, Communications Director, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, 608-208-1129 (office), 608-213-6972 (mobile/text), or ryan@conservationvoters.org