Tyco agrees to $10M settlement over PFAS contamination in Wisconsin
What are PFAS, the concerning 'forever chemicals?'
PFAS are increasingly being found unnaturally in water sources, food, and animals.
The manufacturer of a firefighting foam that contaminated the water supply in northeastern Wisconsin with PFAS chemicals for decades has agreed to a $10 million settlement with the state, the governor and attorney general announced.
Under the terms of the settlement announced Thursday, Wisconsin will put the $10 million from Tyco into a trust fund earmarked for PFAS cleanup. Tyco also agreed to continue to provide for replacement wells to provide clean drinking water to affected residents, conduct required monitoring and reporting, and implement further measures for the long-term remediation of the area.
Wisconsin governor calls settlement ‘historic and important milestone’
What they're saying:
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers called the settlement a "historic and important milestone" in the fight for clean water.
"Today’s a key step toward making sure polluters are held accountable, take responsibility for their actions, and ensure Wisconsinites don’t have to foot the bill for cleaning up the messes that others made," Evers said in a statement.
But many residents of the affected city of Marinette feel underwhelmed by the settlement terms.
Government estimates suggest that up to half of all U.S. households have some level of PFAS in their water. (Credit: Getty Images)
"The word of the day is underwhelming from our perspective," said Doug Oitzinger, a former mayor of Marinette and current president of the advocacy group Save Our Water. "The dollar amount disappointed us. Ten million is kind of a drop in the bucket."
Tyco said in a statement Thursday that it was pleased to have reached the deal, saying it "reflects the extensive work Tyco has undertaken" to address PFAS pollution.
"We’ve been part of the Marinette community for over 100 years and the spirit of doing what is best for our neighbors and the environment will continue to be our priority," the company said.
The settlement will take effect if it’s approved by the judge overseeing the case.
Wisconsin sues Johnson Controls, Tyco over PFAS pollution
The backstory:
In 2022, Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit against Tyco Fire Products, a subsidiary of Johnson Controls, over PFAS pollution in northeastern Wisconsin.
The lawsuit, filed in Marinette County Circuit Court, alleges Tyco began releasing fire-fighting foam from a testing facility in Marinette into the environment in 1962. The foam has contaminated the area’s soil, groundwater, surface water and air.
Attorney General Kaul issued the following statement in a news release, stating,"When companies contaminate our water, they must fully remediate the harm they’ve caused. Every Wisconsinite should be able to rely on the safety of the water they drink. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is committed to protecting the public and holding accountable those who endanger the health of Wisconsinites."
Big picture view:
PFAS chemicals are man-made chemicals found in a range of products, including cookware and firefighting foam.
Government estimates suggest that up to half of all U.S. households have some level of PFAS in their water.
In the human body, they accumulate in the liver, kidneys and blood. Research has linked them to an increased risk of certain cancers and developmental delays in children.
A second lawsuit filed by the state against Tyco and more than a dozen other companies over PFAS contamination in Wisconsin remains active.
The Source: This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press, previous FOX Local reporting contributed.