County committee hears PFAS funding update and biosolids concerns

Eric Rempala provided the Oneida County Conservation/UW‑EX Education Committee with an update on per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), describing recent state actions and local concerns.

Rempala said the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is developing groundwater standards for several PFAS compounds and that the state approved funding that includes $35 million for private well grants and $80 million intended for communities, towns, and counties. He told the committee the DNR is still developing distribution procedures and expects implementation and availability later in the summer. The DNR is also hiring additional staff to support the response effort.

Rempala raised specific concerns about the DNR’s interim strategy for allowable PFAS levels in biosolids applied to land, saying those limits could pose risks to groundwater—particularly in sandy soils—and to livestock in affected areas. He identified the Town of Stella as an area with existing contamination and recommended halting biosolid applications there until full remediation is complete.

Committee members discussed which county body should lead PFAS work—whether the Conservation/ UW‑EX Committee, the Health Department, or another office—and agreed to add “PFAS: County‑wide Strategies (funding)” to the next CUW meeting agenda so members can consider a county response plan.

The committee did not take formal action on PFAS during the session; members requested continued updates and staff follow‑up on DNR guidance and funding distribution timelines.