Defender Spring 2019 by Clean Wisconsin

Defender

Spring 2019 we believe everyone deserves clean water and clean air

Gov. Evers makes big investments in clean water & energy

(Photo by Barry Dale Gilfry/Flick)r

Budget committee aims to slash key provisions

Clean Wisconsin is strongly advocating for the governor’s clean water and energy priorities. There are many encouraging things in the governor’s budget. Below summarizes some of the biggest items.

WATER

Carly Michiels, Government Relations Director

Gov. Tony Evers introduced the 20192021 State Budget in late February this year, proposing big investments in programs for clean water and energy in Wisconsin—the biggest we have seen in many years.

One of the first things Gov. Evers did after inauguration was declare 2019 the “Year of Clean Drinking Water in Wisconsin.” His budget reinforces the year of clean drinking water by providing $70 million for numerous water initiatives. Gov. Evers’ budget makes vital investments to address the continuing health risks associated with nitrate

pollution in drinking water, reduce pollution from rural agriculture runoff, tackle emerging contaminants, and take on lead pollution. $40 million for lead pipe replacement Across the state there is an estimated 170,000 lead service lines providing drinking water to families, daycare facilities, and schools. The budget includes $40 million to replace lead service lines across the state, which will help provide access to safe drinking water and protect kids from lead poisoning. $19.5 million to address water pollution from agriculture This budget helps reduce impacts on our lakes, rivers, streams and drinking water from rural agriculture pollution. This pollution typically comes from water running off farm fields, and it requires collaborative, comprehensive solutions. These investments can be used for programs that help farmers reduce runoff from their fields, control soil erosion, manage waste and manure, and implement best management practices. The budget also adds five staff to the DNR’s program to oversee large farms called concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), increasing the program’s staffing by almost a quarter. These new staff positions will help this program, which oversees over 300 current CAFO permits, operate more efficiently and effectively. The positions will be funded by an increase in CAFO permit fees. The fee increase will make sure these large farming operations are paying their fair continued on Page 5

Water Quality Task Force needs to take bold action

Clean Wisconsin 634 W. Main St., #300 Madison, WI 53703-2500

Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1291 Madison, WI

By Scott Laeser, Water Program Director

(Photo by Jacek Dylag/UnSplash)

Also in this issue

While Governor Tony Evers has declared 2019 the “Year of Clean Drinking Water” and proposed needed budget funding to address our drinking water challenges, the legislature is also taking on the issue. In January, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos launched the Task Force on Water Quality to investigate water quality issues statewide and come up with policy solutions. The bi-partisan Task Force is made up of 16 members of the Assembly and Senate. Speaker Vos created the Task Force shortly after the first round of testing in the Southwest Wisconsin Groundwater and Geology (SWIGG) Study found that 42% of the 300 wells tested across Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette Counties tested continued on Page 7

Carbon Free by 2050 | Clean Wisconsin Leads Lobby Day | Growing PFAS Threat

&Events

News, Notes

CLEAN WISCONSIN’S STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Everyone, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnicity, citizenship, disability status, income, and religion, deserves the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live in a state which embraces a healthy environment as a part of a strong economy. Unfortunately, the burden of environmental degradation often falls on the most disempowered groups in our society. Clean Wisconsin works to address these environmental injustices, from issues such as climate change, access to clean drinking water, and air pollution and its health effects by elevating and empowering marginalized voices.

A panel discussion on

Wisconsin's Energy Future June 20 | Madison

634 W. Main St., #300 • Madison WI 53703 Phone: (608) 251-7020 www.cleanwisconsin.org

Clean Wisconsin protects and preserves Wisconsin’s clean water, air, and natural heritage. On behalf of our more than 30,000 members, supporters, and coalition partners, we have been your leading voice for Wisconsin’s environment since 1970.

STAFF President & CEO Mark Redsten Vice President of Programs & Government Relations Amber Meyer Smith Grants and Foundations Manager Alexandria Baker

cleanwisconsin.org/dlf

Membership and Outreach Manager Sarah Bewitz Director of Energy, Air Scott Blankman Chief Financial Officer Nick Curran, CPA Communications Director Jonathan Drewsen Staff Attorney Evan Feinauer Development Manager Ryan Kelly Water Program Director Scott Laeser Staff Scientist Paul Mathewson Water Resources Specialist Ezra Meyer Government Relations Director Carly Michiels General Counsel Katie Nekola Staff Attorney & Milwaukee Program Director Pam Ritger Green Infrastructure Program Associate Ethan Taxman Of Counsel Susan Hedman

BOARD

our Action Network at cleanwisconsin.org/act Stay informed • • Join legislative floor sessions, committee hearings and on what’s Watch interviews at wiseye.org happening in • Sign up to receive notifications about action on bills you our state care about at http://notify.legis.state.wi.us government • Learn more about your legislators using the interactive map at http://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/

The Defender is owned and published quarterly by Clean Wisconsin 634 W. Main St., #300, Madison, WI 53703 608-251-7020, info@cleanwisconsin.org A one-year subscription membership is $40. Please direct correspondence to the address above. Volume 49, No. 2 Issue date: May 2019 ©2019 Clean Wisconsin. All rights reserved. ISSN # 1549-8107

Printed with soy ink on unbleached, recycled paper.

Chair Liz Feder, Madison Vice Chair Karen Knetter, Madison Secretary Arun Soni, Chicago Treasurer Gof Thomson, New Glarus Past Chair Carl Sinderbrand, Middleton Belle Bergner, Milwaukee Shari Eggleson, Washburn Gary Goyke, Madison Andrew Hoyos, McFarland Katie Jones, Wisconsin Dells Erik Lincoln, Lodi Mark McGuire, Minneapolis Josh Neudorfer, Shorewood Glenn Reinl, Madison Michael Weiss, Milwaukee Board Emeritus Kate Gordon, San Francisco Board Emeritus Chuck McGinnis, Middleton

Spring 2019

High Court accepts two Clean Wisconsin lawsuits By Evan Feinauer, Staff Attorney

(Wikimedia Commons Photo)

On April 9, the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed to hear a pair of cases brought by Clean Wisconsin and its co-petitioners to protect Wisconsin’s water. The Court’s rulings will have a profound effect on how our water is—or is not—responsibly managed to ensure Wisconsin residents can safely use and enjoy our shared water resources. Clean Wisconsin filed a lawsuit in October 2016 challenging DNR’s decision to issue permits for proposed high capacity wells despite knowing that those wells would harm surface waters. Clean Wisconsin and its co-petitioner, Pleasant Lake Management District, argued that the constitutional public trust doctrine requires DNR to protect Wisconsin’s waters for all residents and that protection extends to groundwater withdrawals. High capacity wells like those approved by DNR deprive public trust waters of the groundwater that would naturally replenish them, particularly in the vulnerable Central Sands region. In 2017, the Circuit Court agreed and invalidated multiple well permits. This victory is critical for ensuring the sustainable management of Wisconsin’s precious groundwater resources, as well as the recreation and trout-fishing industries that suffer when streams and lakes dry up from excessive groundwater withdrawals. The second case concerns Kinnard Farms, a large dairy farm in Kewaunee County. This farm, like all concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, must receive a water permit from DNR to operate. In a permit challenge dating back to 2014, Clean Wisconsin and a group of Kewaunee County citizens argue that the permit DNR issued to Kinnard Farms is inadequate, because it fails to include important conditions limiting the size of the farm itself and requiring the farm to monitor groundwater quality near manure spreading sites. These conditions would help address drinking water contamination caused, in part, by CAFOs like Kinnard Farms. Both an administrative law judge and a circuit court judge agreed that DNR has the authority and duty to include those conditions in the Kinnard Farms permit. It is imperative that DNR use its full range of legal authority to address growing water quality problems, so all residents can safely drink the water coming from their taps. Clean Wisconsin’s Circuit Court victories in both cases were appealed. In January 2019, the Court of Appeals declined to rule on these appeals and instead asked the Supreme Court to rule directly on the important issues they raise. The Supreme Court accepted the cases and will hear arguments sometime in the fall. We expect a ruling in 2020. Additionally, in May, Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a motion asking the State Supreme Court to agree with our positions in these cases. While we are pleased with this development, we still have work to do to win these cases to protect our water and public health, and we remained focused on the task at hand. In addition to the direct environmental impacts of the Court’s ruling, this case may also influence other DNR programs. Our opponents in these cases argue that a Walker-era law, known as Act 21, prevents DNR from protecting public trust waters from excessive groundwater withdrawals or requiring CAFOs to meet the disputed permit conditions. How exactly Act 21 affects DNR’s ability to protect the environment and safeguard public health is a big question. If the Court gives a bad answer, then many of our existing protections may be at risk.

from the President & CEO Earth Day started because people like Gaylord Nelson knew we needed to fix the environmental crises we faced in the 1970s. In the years that followed, our federal leaders enacted historic legislation like the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. On that first Earth Day in 1970, a group of Wisconsinites recognized action was needed here in the Badger State, too, and founded our organization to be a voice for action. Shortly after, state legislators passed policies that formed the cornerstone of environmental protections in our state. I’m proud that Clean Wisconsin, Mark Redsten then known as Wisconsin’s EnviPresident & CEO ronmental Decade, helped to make those foundational environmental protections a reality. Earth Days have come and gone, but systemic environmental challenges have been ignored by our leaders in past years. These challenges continue to threaten drinking water, air quality and public health. Despite all we know about lead poisoning, lead pipes still deliver drinking water to people. Scores of residents with private wells can’t drink their water due to cancer-causing nitrates. Folks in places like Marinette rely on weekly deliveries of bottled water because of PFAS pollution affecting the public water supply. Plus, every corner of our state has been devastated by flooding at such historic levels that we must recognize them as the impacts of climate change. This Earth Day felt different because, for the first time in years, we have a governor willing to take action to solve these challenges. Gov. Tony Evers declared 2019 the Year of Clean Drinking Water. He committed the state to a 100 percent carbon-free electricity goal by 2050. His budget would invest millions of dollars to address drinking water issues and bring more economy-boosting clean energy to the state. Legislators have taken notice, too. They have convened a Water Quality Task Force, which will be holding public hearings listening to citizens dealing with water contamination issues and put forth policy recommendations. The environmental tide seems to have shifted in Wisconsin. For years, people and organizations like Clean Wisconsin have been pointing out that our drinking water is tainted, our air is polluted, and we need to cut back on our carbon emissions. Now, these issues are a priority. Our lawmakers have committed to coming up with solutions. This new effort to address environmental challenges embodies the spirit of that first Earth Day. It gives us reason to hope that we can solve our problems like drinking water contamination and climate change. But as residents, we also need to take action by holding our decision-makers accountable. We need to make sure legislators support the governor’s clean water and energy budget initiatives and pass policies that will actually solve the problems, not put bandages on them. We need to make sure that at the end of the day, people have clean water, carbon emissions are significantly reduced, and our environment sustains the health and wellbeing of everyone. We all have a role in making sure the challenges we face are solved. Let’s demand bold action from our lawmakers, from our neighbors, and from ourselves.

www.cleanwisconsin.org 3

Carbon-free by 2050: Here's how we transition to a clean energy future By Scott Blankman, Director of Energy, Air

It goes without saying that climate change is here in Wisconsin. The major f looding that devastated communities in every corner of the state last summer showed us how we are already feeling the effects of a warming planet. We need to significantly cut our carbon emissions to avoid irreversible damage to our planet. In order to do that, we need a goal and a path forward. As part of his budget proposal, Governor Evers pledged our state to a 100% carbon-free electricity goal by 2050, and he announced Wisconsin was joining the U.S. Climate Alliance. The Climate Alliance is a group of governors committed to implementing goals of the Paris Climate Accord targeting reductions in carbon emissions by 26 percent to 28 percent by 2025. These commitments to curbing climate change are the first we have seen by a Wisconsin governor in nearly a decade. We see this as the necessary beginning to an open conversation and real action to transition away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy. But how do we get there? To achieve the 100% carbon-free electricity goal Read more in Wisconsin, about our work to w e n e e d t o push back against make significant an effort to build i n v e s t m e n t s a new gas plant in across the board Superior on page 6. to transition electricity generation towards solar and wind. Already, we’re seeing major commitments by utilities to replace outdated coal and gas power plants with wind farms and solar projects. That’s because electricity from wind and solar is significantly cheaper than

(Photo by Karsten Wurth/UnSplash)

coal and gas. Most recently, the Public Service Commission approved the Badger Hollow Solar Farm, a 300-megawatt solar farm in Southwest Wisconsin. Additionally, over 4,500 megawatts of additional largescale solar projects are under consideration in Wisconsin. The rise of cheap renewable energy like solar and the growth of storage technologies

is quickly making fossil fuel electricity generation — even gas — obsolete and unnecessary. At this pace of renewable development, investing in new gas plants is not only risky business, it also unnecessarily pumps more carbon into the atmosphere. continued page 8

PSC approves 300-megawatt solar farm By Jonathan Drewsen, Communications Director

In April, the Public Service Commission approved the Badger Hollow Solar Farm in Iowa County. Clean Wisconsin supported this project before the PSC as an intervenor in this case. Once built, the 300-megawatt installation will be the largest utility scale solar project in the Midwest, powering thousands of homes in Wisconsin with clean energy. This project is an important step towards achieving Gov. Evers’ carbon-free electricity goal by 2050 to address climate change. With more clean, home-grown energy on the grid, we can boost our state and local economies while protecting our health and natural resources.

Summer is coming Here’s how to keep you and your family safe from ozone pollution. By Susan Hedman, Of Counsel

Looking forward to spending time outside this summer? When you head out the door, you probably check the weather to see if you need a jacket or an umbrella—but on hot sunny days, you should also check to see if air quality poses a risk to your health. Doing so is easy, and it could save your life. Ground-level ozone is often called smog because of the haze that is visible on high ozone days. Ozone levels rise when two pollutants—nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds—react with heat and sunlight. The largest sources of these ozone precursor pollutants are motor vehicles, industrial facilities and fossil fuel-fired electric power plants. Children, the elderly and people with asthma, emphysema

(Adobe Stock)

and other lung diseases are the most sensitive to ozone exposure. On days when ozone levels exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s health-based ozone standard, children and adults who have lung disease should limit the time that they spend outside. When ozone levels reach 86 parts per billion or above—the red and purple zones on the Air Quality Index chart—even healthy people should limit vigorous exercise and physical labor outdoors. Clean Wisconsin is working to reduce the number of days when ozone levels

continued page 7

Clean Wisconsin leads Wisconsin group to Great Lakes Lobby Day in D.C. By Ezra Meyer Water Resources Specialist

In March, Clean Wisconsin staff, along with our partners at Milwaukee Water Commons, led 10 Great Lakes advocates from around Wisconsin to attend Great Lakes Day, an annual citizen lobby event in Washington, D.C. We visited each Wisconsin Congressional and Senate office to advocate on behalf of the Great Lakes and to underscore the importance of federal Great Lakes funding and policy support. Specifically, we highlighted the need for continuing to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, increasing investments in drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure, maintaining clean water protections, and advancing sound strategies for invasive species prevention. Earlier this year, Clean Wisconsin and Milwaukee Water Commons began a leadership role in Wisconsin for the Healing Our Waters (HOW) Great Lakes Coalition. Made up of over 150 organizations across the 8 U.S. Great Lakes states, the continued page 6

Wisconsin Great Lakes Day advocates pose for a photo after meeting with U.S. Representative Gwen Moore. From left to right: Ezra Meyer, Brian Sales, Rep. Gwen Moore, Yvonne McCaskill, Shalina Ali, Joe Fitzgerald. (Photo by Ezra Meyer.)

Budget

continued from cover

share of the costs of the state’s permitting and enforcement system. Additionally, the budget increases funding for county conservation staff, the boots on the ground to help farmers address agricultural pollution as well as resources to help farmers comply with new manure management protections in Northeast Wisconsin. $1.6 million to address contaminated wells Currently, if your drinking water well is contaminated, there are resources from the state to help some people replace that well. This state fund is small, and not enough people are eligible to receive the funding. The governor’s budget increases the amount of money in that “well compensation fund” and changes who can apply for the funds, so that more people with polluted well water gain access to clean, safe drinking water more quickly. $3.5 million for county-based agriculture science, education & support The budget provides local communities access to research and expertise through the University of Wisconsin-Extension. This new program will create 20 new county-based positions to help support local communities address their unique agriculture and natural resource needs. Nearly $1 million to investigate PFAS pollution and create a Natural Resources Science Bureau Emerging contaminants such as PFAS are harmful to our health. PFAS are a hazardous group of chemicals, often found Read more in firefighting foam, which can contaminate about PFAS on drinking water, often near military bases, airports and firefighting training facilities. page 8. Marinette, Madison and Manitowoc have all experienced high rates of water pollution from PFAS. The budget provides funding to identify and prioritize sites with likely contamination and requires a study to determine a safe level of use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams. The budget creates a Natural Resources Science Bureau with five water quality staff positions, two specifically focusing on PFAS pollution. This shows the renewed commitment by our governor to use science and research to protect our environment and public health.

ENERGY

Climate change is a major threat to our planet. Gov. Evers has outlined major commitments to clean energy to cut carbon emissions and to tackle climate change. His clean energy proposals will also help create

jobs, boost our economy, and protect public health. The time has never been better, since wind and solar power is cheaper than electricity from fossil fuels, making renewables the most cost-effective option. Commits to a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050 This goal emphasizes the importance of reducing emissions to curb climate change and jump-start our clean energy economy. Clean Wisconsin has encouraged the state and utilities to look toward renewable energy sources to help make the transition to carbon-free. Creates an Office of Clean Energy and Sustainability The budget creates an Office of Clean Energy and Sustainability, which would award $4 million in renewable and clean energy research grants to support clean energy production. This office would be an important part of the equation, serving as a clearinghouse for all of our state’s energy needs, emissions reductions, and long-term energy planning. $10 million for electric vehicle charging stations A big part of reducing emissions is targeting the transportation sector. The budget allocates $10 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This will provide better access to fast, public charging stations, kickstart the transition to cleaner transportation, and increase the electric vehicle tourism network in Wisconsin. Clean Wisconsin is eager to be a part of the budget process, advocating for the governor’s clean water and energy proposals. Gov. Evers’ investments in clean water and energy programs—the biggest in nearly a decade—are critical to providing access to clean drinking water, protecting public health, building our clean energy economy, and curbing climate change. As I write this, Republicans on the budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance have announced they are stripping key clean water and energy proposals from the governor’s budget, including the $40 million for lead pipe replacement, the 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050 goal, and the creation of the Office of Clean Energy and Sustainability. We could see the budget process drag out into the fall as the legislature and governor negotiate over what’s included in the budget’s final version. Although the deadline for the budget is July 1, there will not be a shutdown: state government funding continues at current levels until a new budget is passed by both houses of the legislature and signed into law by the governor. Clean Wisconsin is working to make sure these items remain a priority among lawmakers and are included in the final version of the state budget. As the State Legislature debates the budget in May and June, your voice will be critical. Contact your legislators asking them to support the governor’s clean water and clean energy commitments in his budget proposal at www.cleanwisconsin.org/act.

www.cleanwisconsin.org 5

Fossil Fuels in the Northland Why we don’t need the proposed Nemadji Trail Energy Center By Katie Nekola, General Counsel

Last October, the global scientific authority on climate change issued a stark warning: we need "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society" to avoid disastrous changes to our climate. The report issued by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says the planet will reach a crucial temperature threshold by as early as 2030, precipitating the risk of extreme drought, wildfires, floods and food shortages for hundreds of millions of people. That date, only eleven years from now, is based on current levels of greenhouse gas emissions, without adding more. Despite these clear warnings, Minnesota Power and LaCrosse-based Dairyland Power Cooperative have filed an application with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to construct a 625-megawatt gas-fired power plant that would emit, according to their own calculations, almost three million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. Called the “Nemadji Trail Energy Center,” this fossil fuel plant would be located near the banks of the Nemadji River in Superior, Wisconsin. The Nemadji flows into nearby

Lake Superior, and new gas pipeline would need to be drilled under the river to serve the facility. The gas plant would use diesel oil as backup fuel, which also produces significant amounts of greenhouse gases. Dairyland Power claims that building a gas-fired power plant will “enable the addition of more renewable energy resources such as wind and solar” even though the utility has already added renewable resources to its portfolio without the gas plant. This idea perpetuates the myth that wind and solar power need to be “backed up” by fossil generators, which ignores the fact that the nation’s power grid does not depend on whether it’s windy or sunny in any one location on any one day. In other words, the wind’s always blowing somewhere. Clean Wisconsin supports Dairyland’s investments in renewable energy; according to their website, they have installed or purchased 25 megawatts of solar and around 233 megawatts of wind power. But even if these renewable resources did need to be backed up, it would not require the 625 megawatts of gas-fired generation that is being proposed, especially since Dairyland

Power also continues to own and/or operate hundreds of megawatts of carbon-emitting coal-fired generating facilities in Wisconsin. We have run out of time for fossil fuels. Adding new sources of greenhouse gases to our atmosphere when clear scientific consensus tells us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is the height of irresponsibility. According to the project application, the Nemadji plant would operate for at least thirty years, well beyond the date that the scientific community warns us we must cut carbon emissions. Governor Evers has pledged to part of the climate change solution by setting a state goal of using 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. Reaching that goal as quickly as possible starts with opposing this gas plant. We cannot afford to add to the problem by building another unnecessary fossil fuel power plant. You can help by submitting a public comment to the Public Ser vice Commission, telling them to oppose the Nemadji Trails Energy Center, at www.cleanwisconsin.org/act.

Lobby Day continued from page 5

HOW Coalition advocates for federal policies and funding that support the long-term restoration, protection, and cleanup of the Great Lakes. The HOW Coalition has had tremendous success in advocating for the annual appropriation at least $300 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The GLRI is the signature federal Great Lakes restoration program, providing funding to implement education, research, land protection, habitat restoration, water quality, and cleanup projects around the Great Lakes. Great Lakes Day is an annual event organized by the HOW Coalition where participants from across the Great Lakes region meet with their federal representatives to share their personal experiences and stories about the importance of clean water and healthy Great Lakes. This year’s Wisconsin participants represented a diverse array of organizations and communities—from Milwaukee to Superior to the Reservation of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin—involved in a wide range of local projects. They shared their stories about how federal funding of Great Lakes Programs has helped the both environment and economy in their local communities. Clean Wisconsin is proud to have been a part of this gathering this year and we appreciate all of those who joined us for Great Lakes Day 2019. 6

Wisconsin Great Lakes Day advocates pose for a photo after meeting with U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher. From left to right: Joe Fitzgerald, Andrew Struck, Brian Sales, Dave Giordano, Ezra Meyer, Gabrielle VanBergen, Kendra Kelling, Rep. Mike Gallagher, Bruce Deadman, Yvonne McCaskill, John Dickert, Mike Vandersteen, Erik Lincoln, Shalina Ali, Terry White. (Photo by Ezra Meyer)

While we were in D.C. for Great Lakes Day, the HOW Coalition’s Equity Advisory and Action Committee—which includes Brenda Coley of Milwaukee Water Commons—also hosted a Great Lakes briefing with the Congressional Black Caucus to highlight the benefits of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to communities of color and indigenous populations around the region. In keeping with the Healing Our Waters Coalition’s strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of its work—a focus shared by Clean Wisconsin and Milwaukee Water Commons—this year’s Wisconsin group advocated for the Great Lakes and the water infrastructure investments needed to benefit all people and communities, particularly those who have historically borne the brunt of racial, environmental, and economic injustices. Spring 2019

Water Quality continued from cover

positive for bacteria and/or nitrate contamination. Clean Wisconsin was instrumental in helping to line up funding and support for the SWIGG study. In April, I testified on behalf of Clean Wisconsin before the Task Force. I stressed that right now, we need lawmakers to take bold action and make robust investments in a future where all Wisconsin families have access to clean drinking water. Too often, lawmakers convene groups to study and consider issues at length, but don’t make enough progress toward real solutions. When I testified, I made clear that the people of Wisconsin are looking for answers to their drinking water problems, and they expect decisive action from this Task Force to set a clear path towards clean drinking water for every Wisconsin family. I also made it clear that the first step towards clean water is to support Gov. Evers’ budget funding commitments that would provide people with access to clean drinking water, prevent pollution from happening, and fund science, research, and state and local agencies to protect our water. Clean Wisconsin will be looking to the Task Force to put forward policy recommendations that seriously address the water quality challenges we face. Our water quality challenges

are daunting, and they will take time, effort, and money to overcome. Certainly, it’s expensive and difficult to clean up groundwater pollution. It can be expensive for farms to implement conser vation measures to reduce polluted runoff. It’s expensive to replace lead pipes or tainted wells. But we cannot forget that there is a cost of not acting. Many times, Wisconsin families who had nothing to do with the water pollution are the ones who bear those costs. These costs appear in the form of bottled water, filtration systems, medical expenses, missed work or school days from illness, and the stress of dealing with contaminated water. The costs may not show up on a balance sheet, but they are still real. The Task Force will be making its way across the state this year to hold public hearings on the drinking water issues we face. They will be hearing many real people dealing with these overwhelming problems, people who struggle daily to get access to clean drinking water. Maybe you’re one of those people. Whether you have been personally affected by drinking water pollution or are concerned about drinking water issues across the state, we encourage you to attend one of the hearings and testify before the Task

What should I say to the Water Quality Task Force? If you plan to testify at one of the upcoming hearings, sharing your story about how polluted water affects you and your family is a great place to start. Here are a few action items you can ask the Task Force to consider: • We expect decisive action from this Task Force to set a clear path toward clean drinking water for every Wisconsin family. • When evaluating possible policies or actions, the Task Force should consider whether that policy or action: • Provides access to the clean water people deserve; • Prevents, reduces, or eliminates pollution from occurring; • Gives necessary funding and resources to the scientists, state agencies, and others who protect our drinking water. • The Task Force should support the Governor’s clean water budget investments, which will help provide people with access to clean drinking water, prevent pollution from happening, and fund science, research and agencies to protect this precious resource. You’ll only have a few minutes to speak, but you can give compelling testimony by sharing your story and asking the Task Force to take action to solve our drinking water challenges. Force. If you can’t make it to a hearing, you can submit your comments to the Task Force at www.cleanwisconsin.org/act. As this Task Force meets with people and hears their stories, we hope the gravity of the

situation presented through the science and data and the stories people tell will compel them to take bold action that adequately addresses the many drinking water challenges Wisconsin faces.

Ozone continued from page 4 exceed the federal air quality standard by challenging EPA’s implementation of the Clean Air Act in nine Wisconsin counties. If Clean Wisconsin is successful, EPA and DNR will be required to take steps to reduce emissions of smog-forming pollutants in these counties. A i r Now, a s e r v i c e o f t h e U. S . Environmental Protection Agency, provides minute-by-minute information about air quality all across the country, including Wisconsin. You can download the free AirNow app to your phone, and you will be able to access current information about air quality wherever you go. You can also find the same information on the AirNow website. Here, you can see a map of Wisconsin that shows air quality levels in real time using the standard color coding from the Air Quality Index. The AirNow website is at https://www.airnow. gov. Some Wisconsin cities issue Air Quality Health Advisories on days when ozone reaches unhealthy levels. These Air Quality Health Advisories help sensitive

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a helpful tool to inform people about how air quality might affect their health. Ozone alert days are issued when ozone levels meet or exceed 71 parts per billion (ppb).

populations avoid exposure to ozone by staying indoors. They also are good reminders to do your part to help reduce air pollution on high-ozone days, like taking mass transit instead of driving your car. If you would like Air Quality Health Advisories e-mailed to you, it’s easy to sign up at http://www.enviroflash.info/signup. cfm

We strongly encourage you to use AirNow and sign up for Air Quality Health Advisories to protect yourself and your family from exposure unhealthy ozone levels. These are small steps you can take that will make a big difference to keep you and your family safe from air pollution.

www.cleanwisconsin.org 7

Under the Lens

By Paul Mathewson Staff Scientist

Marinette Drinking water: 1,900 ppt Groundwater and surface water: 202,000 ppt

Heavy concentrations of hazardous PFAS compounds have been found in shallow groundwater under Truax Air National Guard base. The chemicals were used in firefighting foam. Local officials say concentrations reaching Well 15 are low enough not to require treatment, but they want the military to do more about measuring and slowing the underground flow to the well, and into Starkweather Creek and Lake Monona where they may add to health risks of eating fish. Runoff

Fort McCoy Army installation

Former Mirro plant Manitowoc Groundwater: 4,080 ppt

Sparta Groundwater around three burn pits used for firefighting training: 121,000 ppt

Manitowoc Groundwater: 19.7 ppt

Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard sites

Near Baraboo Groundwater: Test results pending

1/2 mile

Carries contaminants through Starkweather Creek to Lake Monona

Former Newton gravel pit

Badger Army Ammunition Plant

113

Dane County Regional Airport

151

Truax Field

Milwaukee Groundwater: 10,800 ppt

Well 15 *In parts per trillion

e. Av

There are thousands of PFAS compounds. Government agencies have issued health advisories with maximum safe-drinking levels for a few of the most common ones. Many states, including Wisconsin, follow a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advisory.

Milwaukee St. Fir s

Starkweather Creek

tS t.

SOURCES: Madison Water Utility, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger, Midwest Environmental Justice Organization, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

• Fire training and response sites, as mentioned earlier, have been identified due to the use of firefighting foam.

• Landfills, where the myriad PFAScontaining consumer products and other waste streams ultimately end up, contribute PFAS to the environment through their leachate. Older, unlined landfills, in particular, may be important sources of PFAS to the environment. • Wastewater treatment plants, where traditional treatment techniques do not remove PFAS, are important pathways via discharge of treated wastewater and land application of biosolids. Researchers are still working to better understand the health effects of PFAS. So far studies have shown that there can be multiple effects from PFAS exposure: impaired development in infants and children; reduced female fertility; hormone interference; increased cholesterol levels;

Main area served by Well 15 Residents get at least 40% of their drinking water during winter months

Lake Monona

Wisconsin hasn’t placed specific legal limits on PFAS contamination, but the state can order polluters to investigate and clean up contamination.

Carbon Free

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EPA: 70 parts per trillion Vermont: 20 parts per trillion Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: 14-21 parts per trillion New Jersey: 13-14 parts per trillion

• Facilities that manufacture PFAScontaining products can release PFAS through wastewater discharges, waste disposal, and air emissions.

39 90

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Drinking water: Advised maximum PFAS level varies

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are an emerging class of chemicals with alarming health impacts. They have been in the news quite a bit recently, so this issue’s column will provide a basic overview of what they are and why we are concerned about them. PFAS are a class of over 3,000 synthetic chemicals that have been produced since the 1940s. The unique physical and chemical characteristics of PFAS make them resistant to oil, water and temperature. These properties make PFAS very useful chemicals for a wide variety of products. One of the best-known uses of these chemicals is in firefighting foam. Military bases, airports, and firefighting training areas where these foams are used are among the first places where PFAS contamination has been identified in groundwater here in Wisconsin. Perhaps the most troubling instance of PFAS pollution is in Marinette, where PFAS from firefighting foam used at the Tyco Fire Products training center has seeped into groundwater, contaminating private wells with PFAS at levels over 27 times higher than what the EPA advises as safe for human health. PFAS are also commonly used in textile manufacturing (think waterproof outerwear or stain-resistant carpet or upholstery), paper products (e.g., fast food wrappers, pizza boxes), household products (Teflon non-stick cookware), metal plating processes, medical products, personal care products (shampoos, dental floss), and many other products. Another defining characteristic of PFAS chemicals is a carbon-fluorine chain. The carbon-fluorine bond is very strong, so PFAS do not break down easily, leading some to refer to PFAS as “forever chemicals.” This strong bond means that once PFAS get into the environment, or our bodies, they stick around and accumulate. There are four primary pathways to the environment that have been identified:

Tyco Fire Products

Camp Douglas Groundwater: 23,000 ppt

Madison Drinking water for Well 15: 37 ppt (for five PFAS compounds combined) and 10 ppt (for two combined) Groundwater: 39,841 ppt

Pollutant used at air base showing up in drinking water

Maximum levels* of PFAS compounds found during testing: Volk Field Air National Guard Base

Truax Air National Guard Base

Packers Ave.

What we know about this emerging threat to our water and health

Evidence has been mounting since the 1990s about serious health hazards from synthetic “nonstick” chemicals used in many consumer products and ﬁreﬁghting foam. Referred to by the acronym PFAS, they spread easily through water above and below ground. They are linked to illnesses including testicular cancer, high cholesterol and disease of the liver, kidneys, glands and immune system.

Sherman Ave.

Unpacking PFAS pollution:

Known contamination sites

State Journal

impaired immune function; increased cancer risk. Based on the current state of knowledge, the primary way people are exposed to PFAS is through contaminated drinking water and eating food containing PFAS (some PFAS bioaccumulate in fish) or contaminated by its packaging. Inhalation and incidental ingestion of household dust is also a potential pathway, particularly for younger children. There are currently no Federal or Wisconsin drinking water or groundwater standard for PFAS. The EPA has committed to starting the process of developing a standard for some PFAS compounds by the end of the year. However, this process will likely take up to a decade before a standard is established. Clean Wisconsin is working at the state level encourage the passage of health standards here in Wisconsin sooner than that. These toxic chemicals are not going anywhere and it is important that we work to ensure that all Wisconsinites can safely drink their water.

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All Wisconsin utilities have made commitments to reduce their carbon emissions, but we are challenging all utilities to commit to a 100% carbon-free future and to accelerate the time frame in which they achieve their stated goal. We continue to see bold local initiatives across the state to adopt clean energy plans and reduce emissions, from Dane County, Madison, Monona, Middleton, Eau Claire and Green Bay to the Fox Cities and Racine. In city and county halls across Wisconsin, there is a strong commitment to transition to clean energy. By replacing fossil fuel electricity with wind and solar generation, we will see drastic reductions in carbon emissions in Wisconsin. But we also need to make sure that cost-effective measures, such as energy efficiency, providing customers more opportunities to be engaged in their energy management, and energy storage, serve as the backbone of the transition. Clean Wisconsin will be a leading voice in encouraging a thoughtful yet rapid transition to clean energy that will drastically cut carbon emissions, protect public health, boost our economy, and create jobs. But we need your help to make it a reality. As concerned citizens, you have the power to put pressure on our elected leaders to make the changes necessary to deal with climate change, the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Your continued engagement is critical to help push our state to boldly address the pressing climate change and energy issues facing us. Sign up for our Action Network today at www.cleanwisconsin.org/act. Spring 2019

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Contact Ryan Kelly at 608-251-7020 x19 or rkelly@cleanwisconsin.org.

10.03.19

CLEANWISCONSIN.ORG/EE S

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