AB843: Bill Text

LRB-5532/1

MCP&SWB:ahe&amn

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 843

January 31, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives Nygren and Swearingen, cosponsored by Senator Hansen. Referred to Committee on Environment.

AB843,1,7 An Act to amend 292.31 (1) (d) (intro.); and to create 25.17 (1) (kt), 25.46 (1) (eb), 25.461, 36.50, 160.07 (7), 254.25, 281.15 (7), 281.17 (8) (c), 285.27 (2) (bm), 292.31 (1) (d) 1m., 292.66, 292.74 and 299.15 (2m) of the statutes; relating to: PFAS standards and grant programs, providing blood testing for certain individuals, requiring a cancer cluster study, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to establish and enforce various standards for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The PFAS group of substances includes several thousand chemicals; two of the most well known are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).

Under current law, the Department of Health Services recommends groundwater enforcement standards for substances that have a reasonable probability of entering the groundwater resources of the state and that are shown to involve public health concerns, which DNR then proposes as DNR rules in its rule-making process. This bill requires DNR to create emergency rules establishing groundwater standards for PFOA and PFOS, as well as any other PFAS for which DHS submits a recommended groundwater enforcement standard.

In addition, the bill requires DNR to establish surface water quality standards and maximum contaminant level drinking water standards for any PFAS for which DHS has submitted a recommended groundwater enforcement standard. DNR must also establish air emission standards for any known PFAS to provide adequate protection for public health and welfare, taking into account energy, economic, and environmental impacts and other costs related to the emission source. The bill also requires DNR to consider all PFAS to be air contaminants and to require reporting of any emission of PFAS.

The bill also provides that DNR may, if it determines doing so is necessary to protect human health or the environment, require a person who possesses or controls or who causes the discharge of PFAS to provide proof of financial responsibility for remediation and long-term care to address contamination by a potential discharge of PFAS or environmental pollution that may be caused by a discharge of PFAS. This financial responsibility requirement does not apply to a municipality, fire department, fire district, water utility, wastewater utility, or the state.

In addition, the bill requires the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents to provide a grant to a campus designated by the board to conduct research into technologies for destroying PFAS.

The bill also creates a PFAS municipal grant program, under which DNR must provide grants to municipalities to address PFAS contamination when the party responsible for the contamination is unknown, cannot be found, or is unable to pay for the activities funded under the grant. DNR may also provide grants to municipalities that are responsible parties under certain circumstances. Under the bill, grants provided under this program may be used to investigate potential PFAS environmental pollution or a potential PFAS discharge, treat or dispose of PFAS fire fighting foam containers from a municipal site or facility, sample a private water supply within three miles of a site or facility known to contain PFAS, provide a temporary emergency water supply, a water treatment system, or bulk water to replace water contaminated with PFAS, or remediate a PFAS discharge or PFAS environmental pollution. A municipality that receives a grant must provide matching funds or in-kind services in an amount equal to at least 20 percent of the grant.

The bill also requires DHS to create and administer a pilot program to provide free blood testing, beginning no later than September 1, 2020, for individuals living on or near sites or facilities contaminated with PFAS or other toxic compounds in the city of Marinette, the town of Peshtigo, the city of Peshtigo, or the town of Porterfield. The bill further requires any party responsible for contamination of such a site or facility to reimburse DNR for the cost of the testing; this money is then deposited into the environmental fund. The bill also requires DHS to conduct a cancer cluster study to investigate the incidence of PFAS-related cancers and other illnesses in the city of Marinette, the town of Peshtigo, the city of Peshtigo, and the town of Porterfield.

The bill also creates a new segregated fund, designated as the PFAS action fund, to collect all moneys received from settlement agreements in court actions, or proposed actions, resulting from PFAS contamination.

In addition, the bill requires DNR to set criteria for certifying laboratories to test for PFAS, and to certify laboratories that meet these criteria. These criteria must be based on protocols established by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Department of Defense. Before these criteria are set, the bill allows DNR to require testing for PFAS to be done according to nationally recognized standards.

Finally, the bill also requires a person who generates solid or hazardous waste at a site or facility under investigation by DNR to provide DNR with access to information relating to any transportation to or treatment, storage, or disposal at another site, facility, or location.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB843,1 Section 1 . 25.17 (1) (kt) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,3,2 25.17 (1) (kt) PFAS action fund (s. 25.461);

AB843,2 Section 2 . 25.46 (1) (eb) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,3,5 25.46 (1) (eb) The moneys received from reimbursements under s. 254.25 (3) for environmental management.

AB843,3 Section 3 . 25.461 of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,3,12 25.461 PFAS action fund. There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the PFAS action fund, to consist of moneys that are received under settlement agreements or orders in settlement of actions or proposed actions for violations of chs. 280 to 299, or in settlement of actions initiated under 42 USC 9601 to 9675, resulting from environmental contamination from a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance.

AB843,4 Section 4 . 36.50 of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,4,3 36.50 PFAS disposal research grant. The board shall provide a grant to a campus designated by the board to conduct research into technologies for destroying perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

AB843,5 Section 5. 160.07 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,4,18 160.07 (7) The department shall use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules establishing a groundwater enforcement standard for any perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance for which the department receives a recommendation from the department of health services under sub. (3). The department shall promulgate emergency rules under this subsection no later than the first day of the 7th month beginning after the department receives the recommendation from the department of health services. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until 3 years after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB843,6 Section 6 . 254.25 of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,4,22 254.25 Blood testing pilot program for individuals living near contamination sites or facilities. (1) In this section, “PFAS” means a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance.

AB843,5,2 (2) The department shall create and administer a pilot program to provide, at no charge, beginning no later than September 1, 2020, blood testing for PFAS for individuals living on or near sites or facilities contaminated by PFAS or any other toxic compound in the city of Marinette, the town of Peshtigo, the city of Peshtigo, and the town of Porterfield.

AB843,5,7 (3) The department of natural resources is entitled to recover the costs of testing under sub. (2) from any party responsible for contamination of the nearby site or facility with PFAS or any other toxic compound. Reimbursements to the department of natural resources under this subsection shall be credited to the environmental fund for environmental management.

AB843,7 Section 7 . 281.15 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,5,11 281.15 (7) The department shall promulgate water quality standards for any perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance for which the department receives a recommendation from the department of health services under s. 160.07 (3).

AB843,8 Section 8 . 281.17 (8) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,5,16 281.17 (8) (c) The department shall promulgate maximum contaminant level drinking water standards for any perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance for which the department receives a recommendation from the department of health services under s. 160.07 (3).

AB843,9 Section 9. 285.27 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,5,24 285.27 (2) (bm) Standard for PFAS. Emission standards for known perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances are needed to provide adequate protection for public health and welfare under par. (b). The department shall promulgate emission standards for any known perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide adequate protection for public health and welfare, taking into account energy, economic, and environmental impacts and other costs related to the emission source.

AB843,10 Section 10 . 292.31 (1) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,6,9 292.31 (1) (d) Access to information. (intro.) Upon the request of any officer, employee, or authorized representative of the department, any person who generated, transported, treated, stored, or disposed of solid or hazardous waste which that may have been disposed of at a site or facility under investigation by the department and any person who generated solid or hazardous waste at a site or facility under investigation by the department that was transported to, treated at, stored at, or disposed of at another site, facility, or location shall provide the officer, employee, or authorized representative access to any records or documents in that person's custody, possession, or control which relate to:

AB843,11 Section 11 . 292.31 (1) (d) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,6,13 292.31 (1) (d) 1m. The type and quantity of waste generated at the site or facility that was transported to, treated at, stored at, or disposed of at another site, facility, or location, and the dates and locations of these activities.

AB843,12 Section 12 . 292.66 of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,6,15 292.66 PFAS municipal grant program. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB843,6,16 (a) “PFAS” means a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance.

AB843,6,21 (b) “Responsible party” means a generator, an owner or operator, a transporter, or a person who possesses or controls a PFAS that is discharged or disposed of or who possesses or controls environmental pollution caused by PFAS, or a generator, an owner or operator, a transporter, or a person who causes the discharge or disposal of a PFAS or who causes environmental pollution caused by PFAS.

AB843,7,2 (2) Grants. (a) The department shall administer a program to provide grants to municipalities that are not responsible parties or that meet the requirements under par. (b) for the purpose of conducting any of the eligible activities under sub. (3). Except as provided under par. (b), the department may award a grant under this subsection only if the responsible party is unknown, cannot be located, or is financially unable to pay the cost of the eligible activity.

AB843,7,4 (b) The department may provide a grant to a municipality that is a responsible party only if one of the following applies:

AB843,7,10 1. The discharge of PFAS or environmental pollution caused by PFAS resulted from the municipality testing or training with a Class B fire fighting foam or using a Class B fire fighting foam as part of an emergency fire fighting or fire prevention operation, if the testing, training, or use occurred prior to August 1, 2020. In this subdivision, “Class B fire fighting foam” means a foam designed for use on a flammable liquid fire, and may include a dual action Class A and B foam.

AB843,7,15 2. The discharge of PFAS or environmental pollution cause by PFAS resulted from the municipality applying biosolids to land or making any other discharge, if the land application or discharge was done in accordance with a pollution discharge elimination system permit issued under ch. 283 and was done prior to the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date].

AB843,7,17 (3) Eligible activities. The following activities are eligible for an award of a grant under sub. (2):

AB843,7,20 (a) Investigating potential PFAS environmental pollution or a potential PFAS discharge at a site or facility for the purpose of reducing or eliminating environmental contamination.

AB843,7,22 (b) Treating or disposing of PFAS-containing fire fighting foam containers from a municipal site or facility.

AB843,7,24 (c) Sampling a private water supply within 3 miles of a site or facility known to contain PFAS.

AB843,8,2 (d) Providing a temporary emergency water supply, a water treatment system, or bulk water to replace water contaminated with PFAS.

AB843,8,3 (e) Remediating a PFAS discharge or PFAS environmental pollution.

AB843,8,6 (4) Matching funds. The department may not provide a grant under sub. (2) unless the municipality contributes matching funds of or in-kind services equal in value to at least 20 percent of the amount of the grant.

AB843,8,8 (5) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to administer the program under this section, including criteria that limit the amount of awards provided.

AB843,13 Section 13 . 292.74 of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,9,2 292.74 Financial responsibility for PFAS. The department may, if it determines doing so is necessary to protect human health or the environment, require a person who possesses or controls or who causes the discharge of a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance to provide proof of financial responsibility for conducting emergency response actions, remedial actions, environmental repair, and long-term care to address contamination by a potential discharge of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances or environmental pollution that may be caused by a discharge of such substances. The department shall establish, by rule, the procedure for determining whether requiring a proof of financial responsibility is necessary to protect human health or the environment, and may establish requirements for types of financial responsibility, methods for calculating amounts of financial responsibility, access and default, bankruptcy notifications, and any other requirements the department determines is necessary under this section. The proof of financial responsibility required under this section shall be in addition to any other proof of financial responsibility or financial assurance required under this chapter. This section does not apply to a municipality, fire department, fire district, water utility, wastewater utility, or the state.

AB843,14 Section 14 . 299.15 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,9,6 299.15 (2m) The department shall consider all known perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances to be air contaminants for purposes of sub. (2) (a) 2. The reporting level for these substances is any amount greater than zero pounds per year.

AB843,15 Section 15 . Nonstatutory provisions.

AB843,9,8 (1) Testing laboratories; emergency rules.

AB843,9,21 (a) The department of natural resources shall use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate, no later than the first day of the 7th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph, emergency rules establishing criteria for certifying laboratories to test for any perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, including the standards and methods for such testing, and shall certify laboratories that meet these criteria. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this paragraph remain in effect until 3 years after the effective date of this paragraph or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of natural resources is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this paragraph as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this paragraph.

AB843,9,24 (b) Before emergency rules are promulgated under par. (a), the department of natural resources may require testing for a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance to be done according to any nationally recognized procedures.