MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is hosting two listening sessions Wednesday to share updates and seek public input on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in the city of Marinette, the town of Peshtigo and surrounding communities. These listening sessions are the 19th in a series of public input opportunities hosted by the DNR for area residents.

The listening sessions will be conducted in person at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Marinette, Wis. Attendees can also participate virtually via Zoom. Pre-registration is not required.

The sessions Wednesday will be from noon to 2 p.m. and 5 to 6:30 p.m. in room MN101/102 at NWTC, 1601 University Drive, Marinette. Enter at Door No. 21, the door closest to Green Gable Road from Parking Lot A.

The Zoom meeting ID number is 884 9840 9297. To join by phone, call 312-626-6799; Meeting ID 884 9840 9297.

The listening sessions will include routine updates from the DNR and the Department of Health Services regarding the status of the PFAS investigations in the community.

The public is strongly encouraged to submit questions in advance by email to DNRJCIPFAS@wisconsin.gov or by telephone at 1-888-626-3244.

PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals used for decades in numerous products, including non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays and certain types of firefighting foam.

These contaminants have made their way into the environment through spills of PFAS-containing chemicals, discharges of PFAS-containing wastewater to treatment plants and certain types of firefighting foams.

Addressing PFAS contamination in the environment is part of Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide initiative to ensure Wisconsinites have access to clean, safe drinking water. In 2019, the governor signed Executive Order 40 to address the issue of PFAS across the state.

Additional information on PFAS is available on the Wisconsin DHS website and the Wisconsin DNR website.

DNR representatives will be available from 11 to 11:30 a.m. for questions from members of the media. Speakers include Christine Sieger, DNR Remediation and Redevelopment program director; Alyssa Sellwood, DNR Remediation and Redevelopment project manager; Jodie Peotter, DNR Remediation and Redevelopment Brownfields, Outreach and Policy Section chief; Kyle Burton, DNR Drinking and Groundwater field operations director; Patrick Gorski, DNR Water Quality Program research scientist; and Nathan Kloczko, DHS Site Evaluation program coordinator.

Submit questions in advance by email at DNRJCIPFAS@wisconsin.gov or by phone at 1-888-626-3244.

The Zoom meeting link and an agenda for these listening sessions will be posted on the DNR’s Marinette and Peshtigo PFAS webpage.