DNR announces another expansion of PFAS testing in Stella

The Department of Natural Resources is expanding the boundaries of its free private well testing program in Stella township. During an informational meeting Wednesday evening at James Williams Middle School in Rhinelander, DNR officials announced free PFAS (per-and polyfluoroakyl substances) testing of private wells located within a 2.5 to 3 mile radius of the town hall.

Eligible property owners will receive a mailing with further information, officials said.

PFAS contamination in Stella was discovered in late 2022 through voluntary testing conducted as part of a statewide groundwater investigation overseen by the DNR.

After the initial discovery, free testing was offered to property owners with wells located within one mile of the town hall. 

In August of 2023, after additional wells were found to have high levels of contamination, the department expanded the testing radius to 2.5 miles. 

PFAS are a group of man-made, fluorinated chemicals manufactured and used since the 1940s. Because they are designed to be stable and unreactive to water, grease, heat, and other elements, they are often referred to as “forever” compounds. 

Studies have shown a link between human exposure to PFAS and adverse health effects.

According to Mark Pauli, field supervisor in the DNR’s public drinking water section, a total of 103 wells in Stella have been tested, as of late March, and 56 had PFAS levels exceeding Department of Health Services (DHS) safety recommendations. 

Pauli said 37 wells had lower levels of PFAS (below the current health-based standards) and 41 showed no detects. He also shared some “success stories.” 

He reported that progress has been in in drilling new, safe wells in Stella. Six projects have already been completed and 16 are currently active, he said.

DNR officials also shared information on the testing of surface water and fish in Stella. 

PFAS levels are above health-based standards in Snowden Lake, Starks Creek, Second Lake through Fifth Lake and the north branch of the Pelican River, they reported. There was some more positive news, however, as the  officials said they were  happy to report that PFAS levels in Lake Thompson and Lake George were low. Other lakes with PFAS levels below the health-based standards are Moen Lake, Stella Lake, Spur Lake and Ginty Lake.

Nathan Kloczjo, site evaluation coordinator at DHS, shared recommendations related to recreating in lakes where PFAS levels are above the health-based standards.

He noted that there is a level of risk involved in all sorts of daily activities, including driving, and the department is not advising Stella residents to stop recreating in their local water bodies. 

However, children should be watched carefully, as they tend to swallow more water than adults, and all users should be conscientious about avoiding ingestion by mouth. 

A DHS handout distributed at the meeting included the following: For Snowden, Starks Creek, Second Lake through Fifth Lake and the north branch of the Pelican River, DHS recommends spending more time boating, canoeing, wading, paddleboarding or other activities that have a lower chance of swallowing water and slightly reducing time spent swimming, waterskiing, tubing, or doing other activities that have a higher chance of swallowing water. 

(The fish consumption information mirrored the advisory released by the DNR in February).

Christine Sieger, director of the DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment program, explained the “request for information” letters the department recently sent to the current and former owners of the Rhinelander paper mill   —   Ahlstrom Munksjo and Wausau Paper.

As the River News reported last week, the DNR is requesting information on the “generation, transportation, treatment, storage and/or disposal of PFAS at sites or facilities within a three-mile radius” of the Village of Starks.

“More or less, (the letters say) tell us what you used in your processes, did you use PFAS, when did you use it, how much did you use and tell us where you put your waste,” Sieger said.

She stressed that such requests for information are “routine” and the DNR has not yet named a “responsible party” with respect to the Stella contamination.

When someone in the crowd noted that the companies are not legally obligated to respond to the letters, Sieger conceded that’s true. The department is hopeful the companies will be cooperative, she added. 

Late last week, a spokesperson for Ahlstrom told the River News, the company is “reviewing DNR’s request and will respond accordingly.”

Sieger told the crowd the testing process is “data-driven” and thus slow-moving which can be very frustrating.

“This is going to be a long haul and I don’t want to sugarcoat that for you....,” she said. “It’s going to be a long slog if we end up with a responsible party, it’s gong to be a long site investigation. PFAS is something that the cleanup world didn‘t really know about 10 years ago and it’s incredibly difficult to deal with once it’s in the environment”

“We’re on this,” she stressed. “This is full-court press here, but this is a long process.”

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].