Wisconsin DNR's PFAS Sampling Plan May Raise Concerns With Wisconsin Businesses

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently released a list of businesses targeted for PFAS testing. The DNR will sample water effluent at several facilities beginning in April. The list includes 39 industrial facilities, encompassing many of Wisconsin's largest manufacturers and food producers. PFAS compounds are ubiquitous and likely to exist at low levels on nearly any property with a history of industrial or commercial use.

Unlike previous DNR PFAS initiatives, the testing is not voluntary. The DNR is requiring companies to permit sampling and testing for more than 30 PFAS compounds despite the fact that no enforcement standards currently exist. The DNR will pay for the testing, but only if a company does not request to perform its own test on a share of the sample collected by the DNR.