Comment Period For Proposed PFAS NR 140 Groundwater Standards – Town of Grant, Portage Co

WISCONSIN FIRE DEPARTMENTS SEEK NEW VOLUNTEERS AND RECRUITS STATEWIDE: ANSWER THE CALL: WISCONSIN FIRE DEPARTMENTS SEEK NEW VOLUNTEERS AND RECRUITS STATEWIDE WISCONSIN — Your local fire departments across Wisconsin are inviting community members to step up, make a difference, and join the ranks of the emergency fire service. Whether structured as pure volunteer, paid-on-call, combination, or full-time career departments, agencies across the state are actively recruiting motivated individuals ready to answer the call. After all, a majority of the firefighters in the state of Wisconsin participate after their normal working hours. Contrary to common misconceptions, no previous firefighting experience is required to join. Most Wisconsin departments provide all necessary training, safety equipment, and onboarding support to help new members succeed. What It Takes to Join To apply, candidates must meet basic, common-sense requirements: Be an adult (typically 18 years or older) Hold a valid driver’s license Pass a criminal background check Possess the physical capability to perform essential job duties Before applying, chiefs recommend candidates ensure their driver's license is in good standing, confirm their background check eligibility, and have an honest conversation at home regarding the time commitment. Fire chiefs emphasize that they screen candidates primarily for reliability, coachability, and follow-through rather than ego or swagger. Training & Qualification Standards in Wisconsin Wisconsin fire departments maintain professional safety and operating standards: Basic Training: Under Wisconsin Administrative Code (SPS 330), new volunteer firefighters typically complete an entry-level firefighter course approved by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS). Delivered in two 30-hour modules (60 hours total), this core program builds practical skills without requiring initial state certification. Specialized Roles: Members looking to drive engines or operate aerial trucks must complete minimum training requirements—such as a 30-hour entry-level driver/operator course—before operating during emergency calls. Statewide Delivery: WTCS technical colleges deliver accessible, high-quality training tailored specifically to volunteer and paid-on-call members across Wisconsin. Candidates with prior training from another state can bring their documentation to the department’s training officer for evaluation. What New Recruits Can Expect Never a dull moment. You will learn real world skills and abilities that will equip you to respond to emergencies, both at work and at home. Learn medical skills, teamwork, leadership, increase your mechanical abilities, work with various power tools, and how to handle stressful environments. You will respond on emergency vehicles and learn their operations, hydraulics, the science behind why we do what we do all while serving your community. For candidates with busy schedules or families, departments emphasize open communication. Alternate support roles—such as traffic control, rehabilitation support, logistics, administration, or fundraising—are often available. Depending on the department's staffing model, members may serve on a purely volunteer basis or receive compensation via per-call pay, hourly wages for training and response, or annual stipends. Five Reasons to Become a Firefighter in Wisconsin Serve Your Community: Firefighters act as the community's Swiss Army knife, responding to medical calls, vehicle crashes, fires, rescues, hazardous materials, and severe weather. This also places members in a unique position of learning and being more impactful for their community. Every Day Brings a New Challenge: No two shifts or calls are alike, keeping responders engaged and continuously problem-solving. Become Part of a Family: Shared experiences, teamwork, and trust forge lifelong friendships inside and outside the station. Never Stop Learning: Firefighters receive continuous, high-level training in medical care, rescue tactics, leadership, and safety that benefits every area of life. Earn Respect While Making a Difference: Serving neighbors during critical moments brings deeply rewarding purpose and community trust. You make the difference and get to add being a member of an elite team to your resume. How to Get Started Today The fastest and safest path to joining a local fire department involves four simple steps: Contact your local department to request their membership requirements sheet, training calendar, response expectations, and onboarding timeline. Attend an upcoming department meeting or training night to introduce yourself. Review expectations and complete the application package. Follow through on your training and participation commitments. Apply and become and become a change maker! "The staffing model may look different from one community to another, but the mission never changes—it is about serving others. The training will change your skills. The experience will change your life." — Jerry Streich, ODP, Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs’ Association To learn more about opportunities across Wisconsin and find a local fire department near you, visit www.wifirefighters.org.

Posted on June 29, 2026 by clerk

Comment Period For Proposed PFAS NR 140 Groundwater Standards

Comment Period For Proposed PFAS NR 140 Groundwater Standards

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) developed a draft rule package to revise ch. NR 140, Wis. Adm. Code and is accepting public comments through July 29, 2026. The proposed rule will add health-based groundwater quality standards for six PFAS, using the Department of Health Services (DHS)’s January 2025 recommendations.

The six PFAS include the following compounds: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX Chemicals). Setting groundwater quality standards will allow for consistent use in state regulatory programs to minimize the concentration of these polluting substances in the groundwater resources of the state.

The objective of the proposed rule is to protect public health, given that groundwater is the primary source of drinking water throughout the state. PFAS break down very slowly and can accumulate in people. PFAS may cause reproductive health effects such as decreased fertility and pregnancy-induced hypertension; developmental effects or delays in children including birth defects and low birth weight; increased risk of some cancers including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers; decreased antibody response to vaccines and increased cholesterol.

A draft of the proposed rule language is available for download under DG-02-25 on the DNR’s Proposed Permanent Administrative Rules webpage.

The DNR is accepting comments on the draft revisions to ch. NR 140 from June 29, 2026, to July 29, 2026. Comments may be submitted electronically to DNR140GroundwaterQualityStandards@wisconsin.gov or mailed to:

Department of Natural Resources
Attn: Carla Romano
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921

A virtual public hearing will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2026. To join via Zoom, please register or pre-register using the Zoom link below. If you plan to attend via phone instead of Zoom, please download and complete the fillable Hearing Appearance form and send it to Carla.Romano1@wisconsin.gov.

Join online via Zoom
Meeting ID: 845 8832 2038
Call-in number: 301-715-8592