A stream in Marinette that runs into Green Bay. PC: Fox 11 Online
MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Tyco Fire Products will pay an extra $10 million to the state above and beyond its costs for cleaning up PFAS pollution in Marinette County, under terms of a legal settlement being considered by a judge.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ office announced details of the settlement Thursday morning.
Under terms of the agreement, Tyco will also provide clean drinking water for Marinette-area residents, address PFAS discharges in the area, continue providing for replacement wells, conducting monitoring and reporting for PFAS contamination, and implementing additional measures toward long-term remediation of the area.
The $10 million payment will be deposited into the state’s PFAS Trust Fund to help clean up future contamination.
The state Department of Justice filed the civil lawsuit in 2022, alleging Johnson Controls and Tyco Fire Products violated the state’s hazardous substance spills law. According to the complaint, the companies failed to notify the Department of Natural Resources about a PFAS discharge. It also states they failed to clean up contamination at and around the Fire Technology Center in Marinette. Tyco has denied these allegations.
A Tyco spokesperson released this statement Thursday:
We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the State of Wisconsin that reflects the extensive work Tyco has undertaken to address PFAS associated with historic activities at the Marinette Fire Technology Center. The settlement directs $10 million to the statewide PFAS Fund created by the Wisconsin Legislature and we’re hopeful the state will return that money to the local community.
Since 2017, we have invested significantly in long-term solutions including providing deep wells for clean, sustainable drinking water for our neighbors. In addition, our state-of-the-art groundwater extraction and treatment system has already treated hundreds of millions of gallons of water and will continue to return clean, safe water to the environment.
We’ve been part of the Marinette community for over 100 years and the spirit of doing what is best for our neighbors and the environment will continue to be our priority.
According to a March 2025 post, Tyco has spent more than $100 million on groundwater extraction and treatment systems, removing contaminated soils and providing clean water to neighbors impacted by groundwater issues.
Sometimes called “forever chemicals,” PFAS, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are man-made substances found in a number of products, including firefighting foam. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PFAS can increase cancer risk and affect growth, learning and women’s fertility.
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