WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Feb. 14, 2023, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced that Wisconsin will receive over $25.2 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address emerging contaminants and forever chemicals, like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Senator Baldwin voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021.
“Every Wisconsin community needs access to safe drinking water and an environment free of toxic chemicals. I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help make that a reality,” said Senator Baldwin. “This investment will put Wisconsin to work helping our small and rural communities address PFAS contamination so we can provide safe and clean drinking water to people across the Badger State.”
“Too many American communities, especially those that are small, rural, or underserved, are suffering from exposure to PFAS and other harmful contaminants in their drinking water,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we are investing in America and providing billions of dollars to strengthen our nation’s water infrastructure while safeguarding people’s health and boosting local economies. These grants build on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and will help protect our smallest and most vulnerable communities from these persistent and dangerous chemicals.”
This investment will be made available to communities as grants through EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program and will promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing $5 billion over five years to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS contamination reduce PFAS in drinking water. The EPA announced the funds for Wisconsin as part of an allotment of $2 billion to states and territories that can be used to prioritize infrastructure and source water treatment for pollutants, like PFAS and other emerging contaminants, and to conduct water quality testing.
In addition to supporting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has also secured direct federal funding for Wisconsin communities to remediate PFAS through the Senate Appropriations process. In 2022, she secured $1.6 million for Rhinelander and over $3.7 million for the City of La Crosse to address PFAS. In 2023, she brought home over $1.6 million each for the Rib Mountain Sanitary District, the City of Wausau, the City of Eau Claire, the Town of Peshtigo and the Town of Campbell, totaling over $8.3 million for Wisconsin communities to remediate PFAS in their drinking water.
