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PFAS funding approved by Legislature; Oneida County told DNR will add positions but allocation unclear
Summary
Committee members heard that the Legislature approved PFAS funding and the Wisconsin DNR will add 10 positions; Eric Rempala said funds have been released but how many staff will be assigned to PFAS work and how funding will be allocated remain unclear, with a formal plan expected by summer.
The Oneida County Conservation/UW‑Extension Committee was told April 13 that state PFAS funding has been approved and the money has been released, though local details are still pending.
Eric Rempala told the committee that "the funds have been released and that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be adding ten new positions," but he said it is not yet known how many of those positions will be dedicated to PFAS work. Chair Collette Sorgel opened the PFAS update by noting the legislative approval of the funding.
County staff and attendees emphasized that allocation details remain unsettled. Rempala said staff expect "additional details and a formal plan" to be available by summer, and that the committee will be informed once the DNR or other state entities provide guidance on how the funding will be distributed or assigned.
Why it matters: PFAS (per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination and response require sustained resources and staffing to support monitoring, remediation and technical assistance. Committee members will likely track how much of the new funding is directed to county‑level projects and whether state hires will provide direct support for local testing or remediation.
Next steps: Committee members did not vote on PFAS actions at this meeting. Staff expect further updates when the DNR or state agencies share allocation plans this summer.
