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Farmers have concerns as state considers new permitting rules for livestock operations

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Public hearings have begun on changing state regulations on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOS. Proposed changes to Wisconsin’s livestock facility siting regulations, known as ATCP51 include eliminating odor scoring, changing building setbacks standards and more opportunities for local governments to restrict farm expansion.

Peter Koles with the Wisconsin Towns Association supports the proposed changes. “The equipment has gotten bigger. So you have bigger equipment, more repetitive trips. And we need to take into account that impact on the roadways.”

Raymond Hansen of Wautoma chairs the Central Sands Water Coalition, and testified that where CAFO’s exist, water quality problems soon follow. John Holevoet with the Dairy Business Association said the proposed regulations won’t improve water quality. “If you think you’re going to get better water quality by pushing animal agriculture out, you’re wrong. What you’re going to be left with is probably as bad of an environmental situation, if not worse.”

Several dairy farmers told the hearing, which was held in Oshkosh on Friday, that the existing rule is better, and that changes allowing more local government oversight would defeat the purpose of having the statewide guidelines.

Larry Lee, Brownfield 

 

Evers wants to eliminate carbon-based fuel in Wisconsin by 2050

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Governor Tony Evers has signed an executive order which aims to eliminate use of carbon-based fuel in Wisconsin by 2050. It’s an idea the Republican controlled legislature has already rejected

“We reallocating resources, as we always have to do,” Evers said Friday. “Unfortunately this should have been a priority for the entire legislature, but it wasn’t. And so we’re making it a priority.”

Evers and other members of his administration were joined by young people at a Capitol press conference. Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, who will be overseeing the effort, said it’s about them. “Because in their eyes, and in reality, their future may be bleak. And it’s unfortunate, because there may be no future at all for their generation if we don’t act now.”

The order also creates an Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy, responsible for carrying out the goal and putting the state on a track to achieve the 2015 Paris accord on climate. It does not place any state mandates on Wisconsin businesses or utilities. “But I am extremely confident that the utilities in the state of Wisconsin are moving forward on this issue already,” Evers said.

Criticism as application of Endangered Species Act is weakened

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George Meyer WRN photo

The Trump administration’s weakening of the Endangered Species Act is being criticized. “This is the wrong time to be weakening the federal Endangered Species Act,” said George Meyer, a former Wisconsin DNR Secretary and President of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.

Under the enforcement changes, federal officials for the first time will be able to publicly attach a cost to saving an animal or plant. “And in most situations, a particular species, while it may be valuable for biological reasons and diversity reasons, isn’t a big moneymaker in terms of economics,” Meyer said.

Meyer said the changes will make it more difficult to protect critical habitat. “As we’re being impacted by climate change, habitat for species changes.” The action could allow the government to disregard the possible impact of climate change. “So land or water areas that need to be protected for the future for species, will not be able to be protected under the act,” Meyer said.

The Endangered Species Act is credited with helping save scores of animals and plants from extinction since President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1973. The act currently protects more than 1,600 species. In Wisconsin, animals listed as endangered include the American Marten and Piping Plover.

Attorney General Kaul joins lawsuit against ‘dirty power rule’

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AG Josh Kaul

Attorney General Josh Kaul has announced that Wisconsin is suing the federal Environmental Protection Agency over efforts to roll back Obama-era climate protections. In all, officials in 22 states argue the Trump administration’s Affordable Clean Energy Rule violates the federal Clean Air Act.

“Climate change is not only real; it’s a crisis,” said Kaul. “We’re only beginning to see its effects, including severe flooding and extreme temperatures. We can’t afford to wait for 20 years or a decade to take meaningful action. We need to step up now and to start responding to the climate crisis like our kids’ future depends on it—because it does.”

The Affordable Clean Energy plan eased carbon emission limits on fossil-fuel power plants proposed — but never implemented — during the Obama administration.

Microplastics are latest threat to health of Great Lakes

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There’s a new threat to the health of the Great Lakes. Microplastics – tiny snarls, tangles and shreds of plastic – are appearing by the hundreds of thousands in western Lake Superior.

The Star Tribune reports that researchers with the Large Lakes Observatory at the University of Minnesota-Duluth said that amounts don’t approach what’s found near Hawaii in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but are more than what’s been found in the North Atlantic. Researchers still are not sure where the tiny particles are coming from, but believe one source is household laundry.

Synthetic fabrics break down in the wash but washing machines, unlike clothes dryers, don’t have lint filters. And unlike natural fabrics, these fibers don’t break down in the water.

Bad River Chippewa sue to remove Enbridge pipeline

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Bad River’s Wiggins PHOTO: WRN

A northern Wisconsin tribe wants a pipeline removed from its land. The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa filed suit in federal court in Madison on Tuesday against Enbridge Energy.

A statement posted to social media by Tribal Chairman Mike Wiggins Jr. says the tribe wants to force the decommissioning and removal of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline, which runs across 12 miles of sensitive habitat.

The Canadian company has continued to operate Line 5 through Bad River since its easements expired 6 years ago, and the tribe says the legal actions seeks to “bring Enbridge’s unauthorized presence to an end.”

 

State Ag department seeks comments on changes to rules for large farms

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The state ag department is considering changes to how the state regulates large scale livestock farms.

The rule is designed to provide uniform local regulation of livestock facilities with 500 or more animal units.

Kara O’Connor with Farmers Union is glad the board approved the draft rule for public hearings.

“They made clear that they weren’t endorsing every line and sentence of the rules, what they voted for is getting the public’s input, and I think that’s absolutely the right decision.” 

She says it’s worth it to take another look. “There are technologies on the market for livestock operations that simply didn’t exist in 2016 when these rules were first promulgated, and operations that want to use those new technologies don’t have that option.”

 John Holevoet with the Dairy Business Association opposed the changes. “The question is, really, is this keeping what was originally envisioned by those who created livestock siting?” 

He says there is no reason to send this proposal to public hearing.

“The intent of the legislature when they were talking about this four year review was really to look back to see if there were new technological advances, things that change in the industry substantially from a technology perspective that required updating. It wasn’t to necessarily do a wholesale revision of the rule.”

The board voted to advance the proposed rule to public hearing to gather public input, but several members made it clear they don’t endorse everything in the draft.

Keep an eye out for algae blooms on the lake this summer, says the DNR

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Summer heat and calm conditions on many lakes across the state is causing lake scum and algae blooms.

Gina LaLiberte with the DNR says those ‘blue-green’ algae that cause the blooms can sicken people and cause skin irritation. 

“Any time you see discolored water that can be green or other colors, or you see foamy scums or mats, be suspicious that’s blue-green algae. And look for better water conditions elsewhere for swimming.”

The algae forms any time there’s high temperatures, plenty of sunlight, and little wind.

LaLiberte says it’s very important to keep pets out of the water if there’s blooms

“Dogs really don’t care what the water looks like. If they’re thirsty they’ll drink even scummy green water that we would not even want to put our feet into.”

Many strains of those algae can cause stomach discomfort and skin irritation, and the symptoms can be even more severe if you ingest the algae. If there’s lake warnings posted about algae, find another lake or stream to swim in.

Foxconn wins court ruling over Lake Michigan water diversions

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Foxconn has won court ruling over its water supply. The City of Racine wants to divert millions of gallons of water from Lake Michigan to serve Foxconn’s future factory complex in Mount Pleasant. State administrative law judge Brian Hayes ruled Monday that Racine’s plans to sell water to the village is within the requirements of the Great Lakes Compact.

Environmental groups argued the diversion wasn’t for “public water supply purposes,” but the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Hayes ruled that the compact also allows for diversions for industrial and commercial users.

“While this ruling is disappointing, we stand by our interpretation of the “public water supply purposes” requirement which prohibits the diversion of Great Lakes water for the benefit of a singular industrial user,” said Tressie Kamp, Staff Attorney for Midwest Environmental Advocates, “We will be working with our clients to explore further legal options in this matter.”

 

DNR offers summer water safety tips

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Summer is here and more people will be heading out on the water, but the Department of Natural Resources is reminding you be safe out there.

Chief Warden Todd Schaller says the best way to prevent accidents is to wear your personal flotation devices and be sure your surrounding are safe.

“Wisconsin’s a great place to enjoy the outdoors, and certainly our waterways. And we want you to do it for years to come and not have that tragic event.”

People need to be especially careful in the Great Lakes this time of year, because even a short time overboard can be deadly. “It might be 80, 90 out, but those water bodies, their temperatures lag behind ,and hypothermia can set in even in July.”

Schaller says people also need to be very careful on rivers this time of year, because even seemingly calm rivers and streams are moving large amounts of water and it only takes one mistake to get pulled downstream.