COUNTY BOARD TO CONSIDER PFAS-RELATED RESOLUTIONS AT BOARD MEETING

November 04, 2021
County Board Chair Analiese Eicher, (608) 571-6823
County Board

The Dane County Board will meet tonight at 7:00pm where two resolutions related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) will be considered.

 

The first resolution before the Board is 2021 RES-116, In Support of the State Clear Act Addressing PFAS contamination. PFAS contamination has been detected in soil, municipal wells, surface water and groundwater throughout the world including the City of Madison, Dane County, and the State of Wisconsin. The State Clear Act would begin to address statewide PFAS contamination through many provisions including, but not limited to, funding a new position, creating a municipal grant program for testing and remediation, and monitoring.

 

"The Clear Act identifies statewide actions that need to be taken to help us to be able to address PFAS contamination in Dane County,"　said County Board Supervisor Melissa Ratcliff (District 36).　

 

The Board will also consider 2021 RES-125, Providing Public Information about PFAS and Airport Construction Projects. The resolution requests a legal opinion from Dane County Corporation Counsel as to any and all ways the County can regulate airport activities, construction, and the work to clean up PFAS discharges through its storm water ordinances and other county authority. The resolution also indicates that Dane County will work with Public Health Madison and Dane County to create a central website to contain information related to PFAS, including tests and results and any agendas and minutes of public meetings where PFAS are being discussed.

 

"There are several parties involved in addressing PFAS contamination and what needs to be done to address this issue.　 Given the complexity of the situation, we need to make it is as easy as possible for members of the community to stay informed about what is being discussed and decided as remediation takes place. We also need to know what power the County Board has to keep our drinking water safe for our community." said County Board Supervisor Yogesh Chawla (District 6).

 

The agenda for the meeting is available here: https://dane.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=814101&GUID=647FC8A0-4290-45C0-B8C0-63B4A7A89C28 . Information for the public to register to attend and/or speak at the virtual meeting can be found on the top of the agenda.

 

"PFAS are an issue we need to deal with as it affects every person in our community. Any step we are able to take is a step in the right direction," said County Board Chair Analiese Eicher.