Wisconsin Republicans block PFAS cleanup until polluters are granted immunity

essentialsaltes said:

GOP-controlled committee thwarting distribution of $125m budgeted by legislature until polluter immunity approved

Wisconsin Republicans are withholding $125m designated for cleanup of widespread PFAS contamination in drinking water and have said they will only release the funds in exchange for immunity for polluters.

“People really feel like they’re being held hostage,” said Lee Donahue, mayor of Campbell, which is part of the La Crosse metropolitan area and has drinking water contaminated with astronomical levels of PFAS. “It’s ridiculous, and some would argue that it’s criminal, that they are withholding money from communities in dire need of clean drinking water.”

[Sorry, citizens, the WI GOP has to look out for its core constituency.]

PFAS are a class of chemicals used across dozens of industries to make products water-, stain- and heat-resistant. They are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t naturally break down, and they persist in the environment and accumulate in humans’ and animals’ bodies. The compounds are linked to cancer, decreased immunity, thyroid problems, birth defects, kidney disease, liver problems and a range of other serious illnesses.

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essentialsaltes said:

GOP-controlled committee thwarting distribution of $125m budgeted by legislature until polluter immunity approved

Wisconsin Republicans are withholding $125m designated for cleanup of widespread PFAS contamination in drinking water and have said they will only release the funds in exchange for immunity for polluters.

“People really feel like they’re being held hostage,” said Lee Donahue, mayor of Campbell, which is part of the La Crosse metropolitan area and has drinking water contaminated with astronomical levels of PFAS. “It’s ridiculous, and some would argue that it’s criminal, that they are withholding money from communities in dire need of clean drinking water.”

[Sorry, citizens, the WI GOP has to look out for its core constituency.]

PFAS are a class of chemicals used across dozens of industries to make products water-, stain- and heat-resistant. They are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t naturally break down, and they persist in the environment and accumulate in humans’ and animals’ bodies. The compounds are linked to cancer, decreased immunity, thyroid problems, birth defects, kidney disease, liver problems and a range of other serious illnesses.

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Richard T said:

Typically the public pays for cleanup that are large because the companies go bankrupt. Perhaps the GOP state officials are preserving some jobs?

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Pommer said:

More socialism for the rich companies, (saving jobs in companies that pollute to this extent seems optimistic, at best).

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Richard T said:

Typically the public pays for cleanup that are large because the companies go bankrupt. Perhaps the GOP state officials are preserving some jobs? I tried to find their motive. Here Timeline: PFAS in Wisconsin is part of this battle overall. One thing I noticed is that the standards for allowable PFAS really has changed. This makes me think the motive is to stop hypersenstive enviro laws. Sadly my city had to spend 50 million on a wastewater plant to reduce phosphorous. Before they reduced 96% and now it is 99 plus. Was it worth it? Not to me. what about PFAS? The Biden admin just put in new standards.

Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes First-Ever National Drinking Water Standard to Protect 100M People from PFAS Pollution | US EPA

EPA News Release: Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes First-Ever National Drinking Water Standard to Protect 100M People from PFAS Pollution

www.epa.gov

Another possible motive is that the wisconsin officials are stalling for Federal dollars. This would be a great motive. City and state officials sadly should always present themselves as needy or unable to do it alone etc to maximize Federal tax dollars. In my cities case, if they had just waited for Trump's term before the plan they could have postponed or found alternative ways to reduce the phosphorous that were far cheaper.

For myself, DuPont and some others should be bankrupted. Many knew these chemicals were likely harmful for years before the Federal government took action. In the end though Dupont and the government worked on this together and those officials are likely dead now. The big issue is finding balance. What are good economic ways to improve air and water quality? An example of a bad way was charging GE for PCB cleanup in waterways. Not only did they spend a ton of money, but some suggest that the USA would be far better off to take the money and choose projects where the dollars can go much further in helping the environment. Just like giving 7500 rebates for electric cars. Enviromental policy and incentives are too often hijacked by the enivro groups and corporations who jockey with Congress for interest group monies, and regulation and subsidies.

I am uncertain about the GOP officials motives. But there is far more to the story than meets the eye. I will only say this. If you always take one side of the coin on the environment or any type of regulatory action/inaction, you will be sorely wrong. Every case and every industry is different. Deregulating aviation for instance can be disasterous, while regulating small retailers is likely a total waste. One size (GOP or DEM) does not work.

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How 3M Executives Convinced a Scientist the Forever Chemicals She Found in Human Blood Were Safe

Decades ago, Kris Hansen showed 3M that its PFAS chemicals were in people’s bodies. Her bosses halted her work. As the EPA now forces the removal of the chemicals from drinking water, she wrestles with the secrets that 3M kept from her and the world.

www.propublica.org

Richard T said:

Well if it is true and it is likely, at least the companies are still around for later assessments. What I hate is companies that get subsidies and then do nothing much in return. I don't see Dupont on that list. Subsidy Tracker When subsidies for creating jobs can be 1 million plus, it makes me wonder how we got here. Here is one example.
"...the math for five recently announced battery factories. Here’s what we learned: • Total subsidies will range from $2 million to $7 million per job."

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Fantine said:

I remember when there was a big oil spill near New Orleans news accounts said that if it had happened in Europe the companies would be responsible.
And in situations like that, companies in Europe don't cut corners and take risks like they do here. They are prudent.
They don't go out of business, either...they protect themselves by doing things right.

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AlexB23 said:

The Wisconsin GOP makes me kinda fed up, and holds our state backward half a century. I live in this state, and if there is something that bothers me more than the gender movement, it is the Wisconsin GOP.

The motto for Wisconsin is "Forward", but it seems like Wisconsin has been going "Backward" since the MAGA GOP took over. No wonder why the Europeans have it so much better than Americans.

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AlexB23 said:

The Europeans have common sense when it comes to the environment, something not all Americans have when it comes to protecting the Earth. America needs to read the Bible, as the Bible clearly talks about protecting (and not defiling) the Earth.

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Hans Blaster said:

The state of the WisGOP goes back before "MAGA". The transformation came to a head with the GOP capture of the state in the 2010 election. The billionaires decided to buy a state to see if it would work (it did). We'll see if the undoing of the 2011 gerrymandering affects the legislative election.

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driewerf said:

You mean the secular, de-christanized, atheist Europeans?
It seems that reading the bible has counter productive effects.

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Pommer said:

Maybe I’m dense, why is a job that is subsidized a few million dollars…? bad? (Odd, I cannot find DuPont” at your link), but obviously the company will have to be built form the ground-up, the subsidy goes toward the building of physical areas…if one needs to look at these costs on a “per job” basis, by all means go right ahead.
Government making capitalism easier is a “good thing”, right?

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