GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) — Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul are suing multiple manufacturers and companies over PFAS contamination.
The two Democrats made the announcement at the CityDeck in Green Bay on Wednesday morning.
Several communities across Wisconsin — including Marinette — have been affected by PFAS contamination.
"My family and residents within the Town of Peshtigo have been living this nightmare for over four and a half years," Peshtigo chairperson Cindy Boyle said.
"Relying on the Culligan man for clean drinking water isn't a solution," Evers said. "It's a band-aid. And we must do more to protect the people of our state, period."
The state is suing companies including Tyco Fire Products, 3M, DuPont, and 15 other defendants.
Kaul is alleging that for decades, these companies were aware of the health hazards in PFAS despite them manufacturing, selling, and marketing products containing the chemicals.
"We are asking that the companies who are responsible for contaminating our waterways in Wisconsin with PFAS pay the costs of cleaning it up."
PFAS are dangerous man-made chemicals found in items such as non-stick cookware, carpeting, and firefighting foams.
They are known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily.
PFAS are linked to diseases including cancer.
"Nobody should have to worry about whether the water that they're drinking, and that their kids are drinking, are safe to consume," Kaul said.
Residents in Boyle's community have been relying on bottled water.
Boyle says at the source of contamination in the Marinette area, PFAS levels have reached more than 400,000 parts per trillion.
"Remember that the EPA just established a new health advisory level of .004, which effectively means zero PFAS is safe in drinking water," Boyle said.
The lawsuit announced Wednesday is separate from the one Kaul filed against Tyco and Johnson Controls in Marinette County.
NBC 26 reached out to Tyco, DuPont, and 3M for comment regarding the lawsuit. Below are their statements.
- Tyco — "Tyco took responsibility for its part in PFAS contamination in Wisconsin many years ago and has spent millions of dollars on a comprehensive clean-up program that is well ahead of any other effort in the state and likely the country. The state is well aware that PFAS contamination is widespread in Wisconsin from multiple sources but has done little to deal with those other sources, include them in today’s lawsuit, or ensure clean water for its people. Unfortunately today’s lawsuit appears to be about politics and a fast approaching election more than it is about public health or the environment. Today’s lawsuit will not stop Tyco from doing the right thing and leading on the PFAS clean up, and we will continue remediation efforts underway even while we defend this lawsuit in due course.”
- DuPont — "In 2019, DuPont de Nemours was established as a new multi-industrial specialty products company. DuPont de Nemours has never manufactured PFOA, PFOS or firefighting foam. While we don't comment on pending litigation, we believe this complaint is without merit, and is the latest example of DuPont de Nemours being improperly named in litigation. We look forward to vigorously defending our record of safety, health and environmental stewardship."
- 3M — "3M acted responsibly in connection with its manufacture and sale of PFAS and will vigorously defend its record of environmental stewardship."
