Wisconsin AG Sues Johnson Controls, Tyco Fire Products Over Alleged PFAS Pollution

Wisconsin Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit March 14 against Johnson Controls and Tyco Fire Products over PFAS pollution in northeastern Wisconsin.

The lawsuit, filed in Marinette County Circuit Court, alleges Tyco began releasing fire-fighting foam from a testing facility in Marinette into the environment in 1962. The foam has contaminated the area’s soil, groundwater, surface water and air.

The lawsuit alleges Johnson Controls has been providing environmental consulting services to Tyco since 2016 but has failed to properly investigate the contamination.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified forfeitures and penalty surcharges.

A message left at Tyco’s U.S. headquarters in Pennsylvania wasn’t immediately returned. Johnson Controls media officials didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

PFAS chemicals are man-made chemicals found in a range of products, including cookware and firefighting foam. Multiple cities in Wisconsin are grappling with PFAS contamination, including Madison, the town of Campbell, Wausau and Peshtigo as well as Marinette.