Bill
Bill > SB127
WI SB127
Exempting certain persons from PFAS enforcement actions under the spills law. (FE)
summary
Introduced
03/14/2025
03/14/2025
In Committee
03/14/2025
03/14/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Under current law provisions known as the Xspills law,Y a person that possesses or controls a hazardous substance or that causes the discharge of a hazardous substance must notify the Department of Natural Resources immediately, restore the environment to the extent practicable, and minimize the harmful effects from the discharge. If action is not being adequately taken, or the identity of the person responsible for the discharge is unknown, DNR may take emergency action to contain or remove the hazardous substance; the person that possessed or controlled the hazardous substance that was discharged or that caused the discharge of the hazardous substance must then reimburse DNR for expenses DNR incurred in taking such emergency actions. The spills law allows DNR to enter property to take emergency action if entry is necessary to prevent increased environmental damages, and to inspect any record relating to a hazardous substance for the purpose of determining compliance with the spills law. DNR may also require that preventive measures be taken by any person possessing or having control over a hazardous substance if existing control measures are inadequate to prevent discharges. The bill exempts the following persons from all of these provisions under the spills law, if the person grants DNR permission to remediate the land at DNR[s expense: LRB-2170/1 MCP:skw/wlj/emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 127 1. A person that spread biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS in compliance with any applicable license or permit. 2. A person that owns land upon which biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS were spread in compliance with any applicable license or permit. 3. A fire department, public-use airport, or municipality that responded to emergencies that required the use of PFAS or that conducted training for such emergencies in compliance with applicable federal regulations. 4. A solid waste disposal facility that accepted PFAS. 5. A person that owns, leases, manages, or contracts for property on which the PFAS contamination did not originate, unless the person also owns, leases, manages, or contracts for the property on which the PFAS discharge originated. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AI Summary
This bill modifies Wisconsin's spills law to create specific exemptions from environmental contamination enforcement actions for certain entities dealing with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of human-made chemicals widely used in industrial and consumer products. The bill provides exemptions from notification, restoration, and reimbursement requirements for: 1) persons who spread PFAS-contaminated biosolids or wastewater residuals in compliance with existing permits, 2) landowners where such materials were spread, 3) fire departments, airports, and municipalities that used or trained with PFAS during emergency responses in accordance with federal regulations, 4) solid waste facilities that accepted PFAS, and 5) property owners/managers whose property was contaminated by PFAS but did not originate the contamination. To qualify for these exemptions, the entity must grant the Department of Natural Resources permission to remediate the contaminated land at the department's expense. This legislation aims to provide clarity and protection for entities that have inadvertently been involved with PFAS contamination, while ensuring that environmental cleanup can still occur through state intervention.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (22)
Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R)*,
Mary Felzkowski (R)*,
Steve Nass (R)*,
Cory Tomczyk (R)*,
Eric Wimberger (R)*,
David Armstrong (R),
Elijah Behnke (R),
Benjamin Franklin (R),
Chanz Green (R),
Rick Gundrum (R),
Brent Jacobson (R),
Dan Knodl (R),
Dave Maxey (R),
Dave Murphy (R),
Jeff Mursau (R),
Todd Novak (R),
Jerry O'Connor (R),
John Spiros (R),
David Steffen (R),
Rob Swearingen (R),
Duke Tucker (R),
Ron Tusler (R),
Last Action
Representative Kitchens added as a cosponsor (on 03/17/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Document Type | Source Location |
---|---|
State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb127 |
BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB127.pdf |
Loading...