We moved quickly to provide bottled water, POET filtration systems and, most recently, to develop plans to connect Peshtigo residents to a municipal water system, which has been shown to have no levels of concern of the compounds. We have also installed a water treatment system at a ditch running south of our property and are in the process of installing another system at the ditch near the Lutheran Retirement Community.

It takes time to get the necessary approvals for this work and some require permits from multiple agencies. It is also critical that we have the appropriate data and evidence to guide our work. We have to be thoughtful in our approach so we get this right. That will take some time and we are committed to providing you updates and answers when we are able.

You may have read about new proposals by elected officials regarding how firefighting foam is used. Firefighting foam saves lives and property, and we support legislation that allows firefighters to continue to use these foams to fight live fires. We also support legislation that prevents the use foam during training exercise and we offer training foams that do not contain PFAS compounds for such exercises. Finally, we support efforts to fully fund robust scientific research into PFAS compounds.

PFAS are a group of man-made compounds that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe since the 1940s. PFAS can be found in many common products, such as food packages and wrappers, stain- and water-repellent fabrics and clothing, nonstick products, polishes, waxes, paints, cleaners, and firefighting foams.

We have installed a water treatment system at this location and, to date, more than 8 million gallons of water have been successfully treated. All samples taken at the filtration site have shown that the system is very effective at removing PFAS from this location.

We received the final permit to install the water treatment system at this site and the work has begun. We have designed the structure to match the adjacent building and have taken steps to limit noise levels once the structure and system are in place. We estimate the system will be in operation by late summer 2019.

We have voluntarily continued to suspend discharging wastewater that contains firefighting foam to the Marinette wastewater treatment plant and we are evaluating possible options for addressing that wastewater at the fire training and research center location.

The City of Marinette has recently provided information on its website, indicating where biosolids have been spread on agricultural fields. We have also started the process of inspecting, cleaning and, as necessary, sealing the sanitary lines at our facilities, and are working closely with the City of Marinette to address disposal of the material currently held in the City’s storage tanks.

We are continuing our discussions with leaders and residents in the Town of Peshtigo about the best way to provide a long-term, safe and reliable water supply. We have examined a number of options available and we believe that connecting Peshtigo residents to a municipal water supply is the best viable option. We will continue to share details about the design and engineering efforts.

Read our letter detailing the different options available.

With winter finally over, we have started the spring sampling of drinking water wells in the sampling area. We also are continuing to conduct routine testing of the Point of Entry Treatment Systems (POETs).

We are close to completing the first step: getting the water treatment systems at both ditches in place. Our next step will be to evaluate available options and collect additional data so that we can have an accurate picture of the issue and then can work with the Department of Natural Resources to get an approved plan in place for addressing it. We are moving quickly, but thoughtfully to be sure we can put in place a long-term solution at the site.

We moved quickly to provide bottled water, POET filtration systems and, most recently, to develop plans to connect Peshtigo residents to a municipal water system, which has been shown to have no levels of concern of the compounds. Our highest priority is to ensure that residents of Marinette and Peshtigo have clean and safe drinking water.

We recognize that our past answers on this topic haven’t been clear enough and we think it’s important to understand the actual timeline about testing we did at our facilities from 2013 to 2017.

In late 2013, we detected PFAS chemicals at the center of our 380-acre property in Marinette. Our personnel studied the issue and discussed it with outside consultants. Based on the topography, the nature of the compounds and other factors, they believed the issue to be confined to our property. We did not have any reason to believe that these compounds were affecting drinking water in the community. 

In 2016, further testing revealed the presence of these compounds near our property boundary, and we notified the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) of both of these results and the testing from 2013. In 2017, in conjunction with the DNR and local officials, we conducted testing in certain drinking water wells in Peshtigo, and found that although most of the wells tested did not contain PFAS compounds, some did.

We have addressed the issue by providing bottled water, POET filtration systems and, most recently, by developing plans to connect Peshtigo residents to a municipal water system, which has been shown to have no levels of concern of the compounds.

Other states may have different levels,  most of which are only proposed or advisory, but the state of Wisconsin doesn’t have its own standard yet, and similar to several other states’ approaches, and in accordance with DNR and DHS guidance, we are following the EPA’s health advisory level, which is set at 70 parts per trillion. If advisory levels are promulgated or changed, we will act accordingly in cooperation with the DNR and DHS.

We have also offered POETs to residents even where testing has shown levels below 70 parts per trillion and also have plans to connect all Peshtigo residents in the well sampling program– regardless of the level detected in testing — to a municipal water system, which has been shown to have no levels of concern of the compounds.

AFFFs continue to be a vital tool for the military and civilian firefighters. We support legislation and regulations that follow a process that relies on sound science. We also support legislation that a number of states have enacted and that is supported by environmental groups, which allows firefighters to continue to use these foams only for real-world hazardous fires. We are actively researching alternative, next-generation foam technologies that meet the military’s stringent requirements.

We can’t speculate on property value. Our goal is to provide a long-term solution to safe drinking water to impacted homes. 

For information or questions on this topic, we recommend you contact the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.