Welcome to my E-Update

I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to read through my newsletter. Each week, I'll include information to keep you up to date with what's happening in Madison and the 30th Senate District.

PFAS

Last week, I testified in favor of SB156, which will help our local fire departments clean up their firefighting foam that contains PFAS. Thanks to Chief Folgert from the Town of Peshtigo and Chief Heckel from Marinette for their testimony as well!

 

 

Bart Starr Memorial Bridge

Last week, I testified on AB 97 relating to renaming the Walnut Street Bridge in Green Bay after Packers legend Bart Starr. Since Bart’s family were unable to join us, John Gillespie, co-founder of Rawhide Boys Ranch alongside Bart, testified to Bart’s generous spirit.

 

 

Green Bay Packaging Tour

A big thank you to Bryan Hollenbach and his team at Green Bay Packaging for allowing us to tour their facilities and getting to see first hand how important they are to the area.

DNR Update

Led by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), efforts to sample drinking water wells for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Expanded Site Investigation Area in the town of Peshtigo will resume this month.

In the fall of 2020, the DNR and its contractor, Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions (Wood), sent 576 well sampling information packets to landowners in the town of Peshtigo. So far, over 300 drinking water wells have been tested for PFAS.

Wood will contact and make arrangements with well owners who opted for well testing in the fall but have not yet had their well sampled. Sampling is scheduled to occur this spring.

Opt-In For Sampling

Well owners who did not respond to the DNR’s request to sample last fall are still eligible to participate in the sampling program. A packet of information will be mailed. It will arrive via the U.S. Postal Service and will contain:

  • A letter of explanation regarding the potable well sampling effort;
  • A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) related to the sampling effort;
  • A map of the Expanded Site Investigation Area;
  • A Potable Well Survey questionnaire;
  • A Property Access Permission Agreement; and
  • A self-addressed, stamped envelope.

It is important that well owners, who receive a new information packet and would like their well sampled, respond as soon as possible. Please return both the Potable Well Survey questionnaire and the Property Access Permission Agreement with a postmark date no later than April 2, 2021.  

Well owners are not required to have their well sampled. However, the DNR recommends that well owners participate in the sampling program and have their well sampled so that the DNR can provide detailed information about potential PFAS in their drinking water. There is no cost to the potable well owner for the sampling.

Well owners who decide not to participate in the sampling effort are asked to return the questionnaire to let DNR know they do not want to have their well sampled. If a well owner chooses to opt-out of the sampling program, the DNR requests that they return the Potable Well Survey, indicating their decision to opt-out with a postmark date no later than April 2, 2021.

Confirmation Samples

The DNR may collect a second sample for confirmation testing from certain wells. If results of the previous sampling were 10% or more of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Cycle 10 and Cycle 11 recommended groundwater enforcement standards, but did not exceed the recommended groundwater quality standards, the well may be selected for confirmation sampling. Wood will contact affected well owners to make arrangements for confirmation sampling.

Well Sampling Results

All well owners can expect to receive results via U.S. Postal Service within 30 days of the sampling event. If the sample results from a well exceed DHS Cycle 10 and Cycle 11 recommended groundwater standards, the well owner will be contacted via telephone by the DNR within 24 hours of receipt of data from the laboratory. The DHS will contact well owners if additional action is warranted.

The well sampling effort will be a topic during the DNR’s next online listening sessions, to be held March 17, 2021, at noon and 6 p.m. Please see the DNR’s Marinette and Peshtigo PFAS webpage for details on participating in either of those listening sessions.

For the latest results of DNR’s sampling efforts, visit the DNR’s PFAS Contamination in the Marinette and Peshtigo Area web page and click on the “Results” tab.

If you have questions about the potable well sampling initiative, or if you think you should have received a well sampling packet but did not, please contact the DNR at either DNRJCIPFAS@wisconsin.gov or by telephone at 1-888-626-3244.

 

 

DOT Update

WIS 54 project design website now available

Public comments open for proposed WisDOT Project in Brown County

(Brown County) The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Northeast Region announces a design project website is now available to view proposed improvements on WIS 54 in Brown County. The public is invited to review the proposed project’s scope, schedule and traffic impacts on the new website and provide comment.

The project design website is available at https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/ne/54brown23/default.aspx.

WisDOT is proposing a resurface-level improvement project on 4.4 miles of WIS 54 between University Way and WIS 57. Improvements include resurfacing and concrete repair/overlay on mainline WIS 54 and ramps at Wisconsin Avenue / Nicolet Drive and Bay Settlement Road. Other improvements include replacing culvert endwalls, replacing beam guard, replacing curb ramps, adding shoulder rumble strips and pavement markings. 

Design is currently underway with final plans expected summer 2022. Construction is scheduled for spring/summer 2023. No real estate will be required for this project. Proposed traffic impacts include flagging operations with short-term ramp closures.

The website includes design displays and construction maps, a public handout and options to provide comment, including a downloadable public comment form with a pre-paid mailer. Project comments can also be submitted via email or calling project contacts on the website. No in-person public meeting will be held for this project at this time due to the current health emergency and to help stop the spread of COVID.

Committees

This session I'll be serving on the following committees.

I'm looking forward to working on each of these with many of my colleagues. 

Contacting My Office

My capitol office is here to help you with general inquiries as well as questions and concerns regarding legislative matters. Feel free to contact me or my staff. We are always ready to assist you in your needs. Please visit my website for press releases and other Capitol updates. If you would like to meet with me click here to contact my office.