Wisconsin Watch
The state Supreme Court on Monday hears arguments in a case that could determine whether the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources failed to adequately protect water from manure pollution when awarding a permit to a giant dairy farm in northeastern Wisconsin or whether the agency lacks the authority to issue such restrictions.
The case involving Kinnard Farms, a Kewaunee County mega-dairy farm with about 8,200 cows, has become a regulatory battleground, drawing a litany of environmental and industrial groups in support or opposition to the lawsuit. The GOP-controlled state Legislature even petitioned the court to intervene on behalf of the owners of Kinnard Farms, which the justices allowed.
Wisconsin Supreme Court weighs state power to protect water from farm pollutants channel3000.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from channel3000.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
PFAS identification and cleanup and public land purchases are budget priorities for the agency. //end headline wrapper ?>Get a daily rundown of the top stories on Urban Milwaukee
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole, right, says new investments in water quality programs are needed in the next state budget during a visit to La Crosse on March 1, 2019. File photo by Hope Kirwan/WPR.
The head of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is warning state lawmakers that a lack of funding is a threat to identifying and addressing contamination from so-called forever chemicals known as PFAS.
DNR Secretary
Business group, DNR agree not to release PFAS tests for now
April 7, 2021 GMT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin environmental regulators have reached an agreement with the state’s largest business group and won’t release results of water sampling for unregulated PFAS chemicals until the courts decide whether state law allows for testing of the manmade compounds.
The agreement between the Department of Natural Resources and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce means water sampling from industrial and municipal treatment plants for the so-called “forever chemicals” can continue, but the results will not be released to the public.
The agreement filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court Tuesday, replaces a judge’s temporary restraining order issued last week in a lawsuit brought by WMC which wanted to block the DNR from testing for PFAS, a class of chemicals that have been shown to cause cancer and other illnesses.
Virus-related case involving businesses heads to Wisconsin Supreme Court msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.