Wisconsin Sues Jhonson Controls, Tyco Fire Products over Chemical Release into Environment
Wisconsin has recently filed a lawsuit against Johnson Controls and Tyco Fire Products for releasing harmful chemicals into the environment and breaching the state's hazard substance spills law. The companies have failed to notify the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) discharges at the Fire Technology Center in Marinette.
The state has imposed penalties on the companies and asked them to investigate and clean up the Fire Technology centre. The chemicals were discharged to land, water, and air during a training and testing program at the Fire Technology Centre.
The lawsuit says that the companies were aware of the contamination and began testing for it in 2013 but did not report the findings to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources till November 2017. In 2021, Johnson Controls agreed to compensate the residents of Peshtigo $17.5 million for PFAS contamination.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said: " When companies contaminate our water, they must fully remediate the harm they’ve caused. Every Wisconsinite should be able to rely on the safety of the water they drink. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is committed to protecting the public and holding accountable those who endanger the health of Wisconsinites.”
PFAS usage comes in several materials and products, including fast food wraps, firefighting foam and non-stick cookware. These chemicals prevent the degradation process of the environment and can cause serious health issues.
The EPA released a Strategic Roadmap for curbing pollution from the chemicals in the fall of 2021. The roadmap entails plans to keep PFAS out of water and air, enhance research and development regarding the impacts of pollutants, update facilities, and hold polluters accountable.
Tyco said in a recent statement that it has plans to construct a system to treat 95 per cent of the PFAS in the groundwater by the end of this summer. It has also been managing the remediation of the Marinette site. The company vows to get rid of contamination from the soil soon.
