WAUKESHA, WI (WSAU-WRN) — A Waukesha County Judge has ruled that the Department of Natural Resources doesn’t have the power to make companies clean up PFAS contamination because no rules regarding the emerging contaminants have been set in stone by lawmakers.
Judge Michael Boren said rules regarding PFAS need to be written down before they can be enforced. While the DNR has suggested ways to regulate the chemicals lawmakers have yet to consider them.
The ruling is seen as a win for Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce; who complained the D-N-R was breaking the law by trying to force companies to pay for clean-ups without spelling out what they were cleaning.
PFAS have become a hot topic in Wisconsin, with many communities statewide finding the chemicals in their drinking water supply. The chemicals have been linked to health issues including high cholesterol, cancers, and reproductive issues in women.
Neither the DNR nor Governor Tony Evers commented on the ruling. Some environmental groups are likely to appeal the decision.
