Wisconsin reached a $10 million settlement with Tyco Fire Products over contamination from PFAS chemicals, the state’s governor and attorney general announced on Thursday. The lawsuit, filed in 2022, accused Tyco, a Johnson Controls subsidiary, of polluting the water supply near a firefighting training center in northeastern Wisconsin since the 1960s. Governor Tony Evers called the settlement a significant step in addressing the contamination.
The case centered on Tyco’s use of firefighting foam containing PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, which were used outdoors until 2017. The lawsuit alleged that Tyco failed to adequately address the contamination for decades. Governor Evers emphasized the importance of holding polluters accountable and preventing taxpayers from bearing cleanup costs. However, local residents expressed disappointment with the settlement amount, describing it as insufficient to cover the damage caused.
PFAS contamination has become a widespread environmental and public health issue across the United States, with many communities facing long-term water pollution. Wisconsin’s settlement follows similar legal actions targeting manufacturers of PFAS-containing products. The $10 million agreement is among the notable resolutions in the ongoing efforts to manage the impact of these persistent chemicals, which resist natural degradation and accumulate in the environment.
Doug Oitzinger, former Marinette mayor and president of Save Our Water, called the settlement a “drop in the bucket” relative to the contamination’s scale. Tyco ceased outdoor use of PFAS foam in 2017 and began providing alternative products that year. The settlement marks a key development in Wisconsin’s legal approach to PFAS pollution, with the state continuing to pursue measures to ensure clean water for its residents.