LRB-5179/1
MCP:amn
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
February 5, 2020 - Introduced by Senators Cowles and Petrowski, cosponsored by
Representatives Kitchens, Mursau, Novak and Krug. Referred to Committee
on Natural Resources and Energy.
SB774,1,6 1An Act to renumber 281.58 (7) (b) 1.; to amend 281.58 (8e) (a), 281.58 (12) (a)
21. (intro.), 281.61 (6), 281.75 (5) (f), 281.75 (6) (a) and 281.75 (11) (b) 2.; and to
3create
227.01 (13) (yv), 281.18, 281.58 (7) (b) 1g. and 281.75 (1) (b) 1m. of the
4statutes; relating to: PFAS management zones, extending the time limit for
5emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule
6procedures, and granting rule-making authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates a process for establishing management zones for
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and creates special
requirements within those zones. This bill also changes existing grant and loan
programs to prioritize projects in PFAS management zones, and requires the
Department of Natural Resources to establish an advisory committee to assist in all
PFAS-related actions.
Establishing PFAS management zones
Under the bill, if a test of drinking water shows levels of perfluorooctanoic acid
(PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in excess of 70 parts per trillion (a
positive test), the outer boundaries of an initial PFAS management zone is set at a
one-mile radius around the location of the positive test. The area that is one mile
outside of this initial boundary is designated as the testing region, within which DNR

may conduct testing and research relating to PFOA and PFOS, as well as
perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA),
perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA).
If five positive tests for PFOA and PFOS are found in a testing region, the
maximum boundary of an initial PFAS management zone expands to include the
testing region and the area that is one mile outside of this new boundary becomes
a new testing region. DNR may continue to expand the maximum boundary of a
proposed PFAS management zone and testing region in one-mile increments until
it can no longer find five positive tests for PFOA and PFOS in a testing region.
If DNR finds a discernable path of contamination, DNR must continue to
extend the boundary of the proposed PFAS management zone and testing region in
one-mile increments in the direction of the path of contamination until it can no
longer find five positive tests for PFOA and PFOS in the testing region. If DNR finds
a discernable path of contamination, DNR must also consider removing from the
proposed PFAS management zone any areas that are not in the path of
contamination and that either do not contain positive tests or that contain minimal
evidence of contamination. DNR must also consider removing areas from the
proposed PFAS management zone based on several listed factors, including
hydrogeological considerations, likely sources of contamination, and physical
boundaries such as public roadways.
The bill requires DNR, when testing for PFAS, to require testing to be done in
soil and sediment, groundwater, surface water, drinking water, biosolids, and, if
applicable, fish and wildlife tissue. DNR must use any testing data to advise in any
PFAS-related permanent rules. The bill also requires any sampling to be conducted
by DNR or by a third party with whom DNR contracts. Any testing must be
conducted by the State Laboratory of Hygiene or a laboratory accredited for PFAS
testing by DNR.
After it determines the boundaries of a proposed PFAS management zone, DNR
must hold a public meeting to provide information about contaminants and their
possible sources and effects. If, after the public meeting, DNR determines that a
PFAS management zone should be established, DNR must establish the final
management zone within 30 days after the meeting. The bill exempts DNR's creation
of a PFAS management zone from the rule-making process.
Under the bill, a designation of a PFAS management zone expires one year after
any emergency rules relating to testing in a PFAS management zone expire.
Requirements within PFAS management zones
The bill requires DNR to establish, by emergency rule, requirements for public
water systems that draw water from groundwater or surface water within a PFAS
management zone to test their water for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFHpA, PFNA, and
PFBS and to submit the results of testing to DNR. The bill provides that such rules
may not create a standard for PFAS contained in drinking water in a PFAS
management zone, although testing results may be used to inform future actions.
In addition, the bill requires DNR to establish emergency rules requiring the
testing of any biosolids from a publicly owned treatment works if the biosolids are
spread in a PFAS management zone or, for a publicly owned treatment works that

has any part of its service area in a PFAS management zone, if the biosolids are to
be moved off-site. The bill provides that such rules may not create a standard for
PFAS contained in biosolids that are spread in a PFAS management zone, although
testing results may be used to inform future actions.
Notification and reporting
The bill requires DNR to establish an Internet site for each PFAS management
zone, and to include specific information on those sites. The bill also requires DNR
to notify any local, county, or tribal governments within an initial or established
PFAS management zone when DNR finds the first initial positive test, when DNR
establishes a PFAS management zone, and when DNR establishes an Internet site
for the zone.
In addition, under the bill, DNR must report to the legislature on the
boundaries and method for establishing the PFAS management zones, the results of
PFAS testing in PFAS management zones, plans for addressing PFAS
contamination, and the technical and economic feasibility of complying with PFAS
standards.
Grant and loan priorities
The bill changes the existing well compensation grant program, the safe
drinking water loan program, and the clean water fund program to give priority to
projects addressing PFAS contamination in PFAS management zones.
PFAS advisory committee
Finally, the bill requires DNR to establish an advisory committee to advise DNR
on the promulgation of permanent rules relating to PFAS. The committee must
include members of groups likely to be affected by such rules.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB774,1 1Section 1. 227.01 (13) (yv) of the statutes is created to read:
SB774,3,32 227.01 (13) (yv) Determines the boundaries of a PFAS management zone under
3s. 281.18 (3).
SB774,2 4Section 2. 281.18 of the statutes is created to read:
SB774,3,5 5281.18 PFAS management zones. (1) Definitions. In this section:
SB774,4,3
1(a) “Discernable path of contamination” means the path that PFAS
2contamination takes from its source, such as down a river or with the flow of the
3groundwater table.
SB774,4,54 (b) “Drinking water” means surface water or groundwater used as a source of
5public or private drinking water, as determined by the department.
SB774,4,66 (c) “PFAS” means a perfluoroalkyl substance or polyfluoroalkyl substance.
SB774,4,77 (d) “PFBS” means perfluorobutane sulfonic acid.
SB774,4,88 (e) “PFHpA” means perfluoroheptanoic acid.
SB774,4,99 (f) “PFHxS” means perfluorohexane sulfonic acid.
SB774,4,1010 (g) “PFNA” means perfluorononanoic acid.
SB774,4,1111 (h) “PFOA” means perfluorooctanoic acid.
SB774,4,1212 (i) “PFOS” means perfluorooctanesulfonic acid.
SB774,4,1413 (j) “Positive test” means a test of a drinking water sample that shows levels of
14PFOA and PFOS in excess of 70 parts per trillion.
SB774,5,2 15(2) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to define geographical areas in this
16state that are characterized by elevated levels of PFOA and PFOS in surface water
17or groundwater that is used as a source for public or private drinking water. The
18purpose of PFAS management zones is to provide guidelines that target areas of the
19state most affected by PFAS contamination to, in the short-term, protect public
20health and welfare and, in the long-term, research the best methods and most
21economically and technically feasible outcomes for implementing statewide
22standards, for performing cleanup measures, including soil and sediment
23remediation, and for properly disposing of contaminants. The department shall use
24the information gathered from these zones to inform future actions, including rule

1making and other administrative actions. The PFAS management zones shall also
2be used to identify the path of contamination to inform future actions.
SB774,5,4 3(3) Establishing PFAS management zones. A PFAS management zone shall
4be established using the following method:
SB774,5,65 (a) The area within a one-mile radius of a positive test is the maximum
6boundary of the initial PFAS management zone.
SB774,5,97 (b) The area within one mile of the boundary of an initial PFAS management
8zone is the testing region. The department may conduct testing and research
9relating to PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, and PFHpA within a testing region.
SB774,5,1310 (c) If 5 positive tests are found in a testing region, the maximum boundary of
11an initial PFAS management zone expands to include the testing region. The area
12within one mile of the boundary of this expanded PFAS management zone becomes
13a new testing region.
SB774,5,1614 (d) The department may continue to expand the maximum boundary of a
15proposed PFAS management zone and testing region in one-mile increments until
16it can no longer find 5 positive tests in a testing region.
SB774,5,2017 (e) If the department finds a discernable path of contamination, the
18department shall continue to extend the boundary of the proposed PFAS
19management zone and testing region in one-mile increments in the direction of the
20path of contamination until it can no longer find 5 positive tests in the testing region.
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