New, Centralized DNR Project Team in Place for Oversight of Marinette-Peshtigo PFAS Contamination

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will add some new faces to and centralize all oversight and project management of remediation cases associated with the area-wide PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in Marinette, Peshtigo and surrounding communities.

PFAS contamination has been detected in the Marinette and Peshtigo area in soil, sediment, groundwater, surface water, private drinking water wells and biosolids. Under the oversight of the DNR, Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) and its subsidiary Tyco Fire Products (Tyco) have been identified as responsible parties and have been directed by the DNR to conduct site investigations at areas impacted by PFAS contamination. 

As it has become apparent that the PFAS contamination associated with the JCI/Tyco facilities in Marinette, Peshtigo and surrounding communities is the largest, most complex environmental investigation and remediation case in Wisconsin state history, DNR identified that the affected communities would be best served by creating a centralized team to oversee the project, and by adding new members to the team. The team members are:

• The centralized team will be led by Bridget Kelly. Ms. Kelly is the Emerging Contaminants Program Coordinator for the Remediation and Redevelopment Program at DNR and has been the liaison between the technical team members, DNR leadership, public communications, and the state’s contractor for the JCI/Tyco cases. In addition, Ms. Kelly was instrumental in organizing and coordinating various PFAS work groups within the DNR.
• The team will include Alyssa Sellwood, who was hired specifically to serve as the technical lead for this project. Ms. Sellwood is a licensed professional engineer and has spent the majority of her career as an environmental consultant, with a recent focus on PFAS. She also previously worked at the DNR as the Vapor Intrusion Team Leader and provided technical support to the DNR as the issue of PFAS arose.
• The team will be supervised by Jodie Peotter, Brownfields, Outreach and Policy Section Chief within the Remediation and Redevelopment Program. Prior to joining the DNR in 2019, Ms. Peotter, a licensed professional geologist, was an environmental consultant.
• Other scientists within the Remediation and Redevelopment program will complete the team, which will be further supported by the new Office of Emerging Contaminants, Environmental Management Division, Fish, Wildlife and Parks Division, and Bureau of Legal Services.
• DNR is further supported by its contractor, Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions.

The DNR implemented a transition team to ensure seamless customer service to both the responsible parties and affected public and communities. Dave Neste, the current project manager and Roxanne Chronert, the Northeast Regional Supervisor for the Remediation and Redevelopment Program, have been working on the JCI/Tyco cases since they were first reported to the DNR. Mr. Neste and Ms. Chronert have provided excellent leadership on the cases over the last several years. They will play significant roles in the transition team and will continue to support the cases to ensure that oversight of the PFAS investigation will continue to make progress during the transitional period.

More information regarding PFAS contamination in the Marinette and Peshtigo area is available on the department’s Marinette and Peshtigo PFAS web page.