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Oneida County committee seeks coordinated PFAS response, urges tighter limits on biosolid spreading
Summary
County staff and public health representatives urged Oneida County to adopt clearer leadership and protections on PFAS, including a coalition recommendation to prohibit biosolid spreading on lands known to be contaminated; the committee agreed to clarify roles and follow up with the County Board.
Eric Rempala, representing local PFAS response interests, told the Conservation/UW‑EX Education Committee that the Wisconsin DNR is reevaluating PFAS biosolid‑spreading standards and has proposed an interim strategy that lowers allowable PFAS levels. Rempala said Oneida County Clean Water Action is participating in a statewide PFAS coalition and that the coalition submitted formal comments to the DNR with multiple recommendations.
Rempala urged the county to identify leadership, decision‑making authority and coordination across committees and departments, including involvement from the Health Department and the Solid Waste Committee. He said the coalition’s key recommendation for Oneida County was that biosolid spreading be prohibited on lands already known to be PFAS‑contaminated and that “once contamination is confirmed, stricter protections should apply.”
Linda Conlon, who noted PFAS has been a standing Board of Health item since the Stella contamination emerged, agreed that multiple committees addressing PFAS independently is inefficient and supported a more unified approach. She proposed producing a collaborative article documenting past and current county PFAS efforts to clarify responsibilities and historical context.
Chair Robb Jensen said he would follow up with County Board Supervisor Fried to clarify whether individual committees should continue separate PFAS work or whether an ad hoc committee should be formed to coordinate efforts; he also said he would check whether the Wisconsin Counties Association will provide guidance at its September convention. Rempala encouraged participation in upcoming DNR listening sessions (municipal session June 15 and a public virtual session June 19) and noted potential support from UW–Extension and the WCA.
The committee did not adopt a formal new policy at this meeting; members and staff agreed to next steps focused on clarifying leadership and coordinating county response if funding or programmatic opportunities become available.
