TAKE ACTION: Protect WDNR’s Authority to Do Their Job!

| Advocacy, News




Take Action on PFAS in Wisconsin!

Governor Evers recently signed the State budget, and it included $125 million to address PFAS contamination of our waters. While this is good news, this funding cannot be distributed to communities that need it until legislation on the process to distribute it is passed. The current draft Senate Bill (SB 312) contains harmful changes that affect DNR’s authority to use the state Spills Law to require anyone responsible for releasing a hazardous substance into the environment to restore the affected air, land, and water.


While some improvements have been made, the bill still includes limits on Wisconsin DNR’s ability to test for and address PFAS contamination, and hold polluters accountable. There are still opportunities to improve the final version of the bill, but time is short and we need your help over the next few weeks. If improvements to the final bill are not made, we will oppose it and ask Governor Evers and State Legislators to do the same.


Please call and email your state legislators now urging them to support changes to SB312 that would protect DNR’s authority to test for PFAS, remediate pollution efficiently and effectively, and hold polluters accountable.







Attend the Great Lakes Action Plan Meeting on July 25th!

Tuesday, July 25 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Discovery World (500 N. Harbor View Dr., MKE)


Since 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has allocated billions in funding to target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes. Every five years, the U.S. EPA and other federal partners develop an updated action plan guiding how federal funding will be used to address the goals of the program. The current Action Plan is set to expire in 2024, and the U.S. EPA is gathering input on priorities for Great Lakes restoration and protection, as well as how Action Plan IV, which will cover 2025-2029, can be improved over previous plans.


There will be several different ways to provide input over the coming months. An in-person public engagement session is coming up on Tuesday, July 25 from 6-8:00 PM at Discovery World, where Milwaukee Riverkeeper will be briefly presenting on local work to clean up the Milwaukee River Estuary Area of Concern. We encourage you to attend the meeting and voice your opinion, as well as get a chance to engage with U.S. EPA staff.


If you cannot attend the meeting, we recommend you register to participate in the virtual meeting being held on August 23rd from 5-7:00 PM or submit comments via email.





For more information on the GLRI, visit their website: Development of GLRI Action Plan | Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.