Yesterday the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued a notice to JCI/TYCO stating they are non-compliance by delaying the start of the field investigation and will remain in non-compliance until the requirements of statute and code are fulfilled. The goal of the investigation is to understand how much contamination is present, how far the contamination has spread, who is at risk, and if cleanup or other response actions are needed. Delaying an investigation leaves these questions unanswered, which limits an understanding of who is at risk, and delays any response actions to limit the spread, and exposure to the contamination. In a letter dated February 16, 2023 to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources from Tyco Fire Protection Products it states that Tyco obtained several datasets via public records requests. These documents detail permitted land applications of biosolids in Marinette and Oconto Counties. The documents bring to light facts about the WDNR’s biosolids program that, together with other concerns necessitate a pause in the research being undertaking by Tyco in the biosolids area, that the WDNR has allowed biosolids application to continue from industrial and municipal sources commonly known to be sources or of impacted by PFAS. It also states that the WDNR has not required testing for PFAS nor has it enforced a limit on PFAS concentrations in the waste materials from some or all of these sources. In crop year 2022, some two million gallons were applied pursuant to WDNR permits in Marinette County. Fully 87 percent of these waste materials came from industrial sources, with 31 percent paper manufacturing, and 13 percent from municipal sources. Another reason causing a pause in Tyco’s research is the landowners’ response, or lack thereof, to Tyco’s inquiries to them related to the research.
5