From ‘dream’ property to nightmare: Some Wisconsinites pay the price for pollution they didn’t cause

Wisconsin Watch’s Erin Gretzinger explores the saga of Zach Skrede, who bought a house on 20 acres that he later discovered was laden with discarded roofing material containing asbestos. Under the state’s “spills law,” anyone who “causes, possesses or controls” a hazardous substance discharge is liable for cleaning it up — meaning Skrede faced the prospect of a million-dollar cleanup for contamination he did not cause. Originally published on January 9th, 2023.