Appeals Court Rules for WMC in PFAS Dispute with DNR

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MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) — A legal win for Wisconsin’s biggest business group.

In a 2-1 decision, a three judge state appeals court panel on Wednesday sided with Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, in ruling that Department of Natural Resources policies regarding cleanup of PFAS chemicals cannot be enforced.

That upheld a Waukesha County judge’s ruling from 2022. That judge said agency regulators must first list PFAS as hazardous substances through the state’s rulemaking process.

Environmental groups said the ruling weakened the state’s “spills law” and hampered efforts to clean up the “forever chemicals.”