August 7, 2003 Protecting the Public Interest On August 1, 2003, MEA filed comments with the U.S. Department of Justice presenting the views of seven environmental groups who are concerned that the Bush Administration has sold out the La Crosse community in its settlement with Xcel Energy’s French Island Incinerator.  Not only has the U.S. settled the case for far less than necessary to compensate the public, but they are attempting to reward Xcel by allowing them to emit more Carbon Monoxide than is allowed by Federal law. To read the story, click http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2003/08/07/news/00lead.txt French Island Incinerator (above) Building our Capacity In July, MEA staff and Board of Directors spent a weekend together in the North Woods reflecting on our past accomplishments and charting our future course. (above from left to right: Melissa Scanlan, Larry Wawranowicz, Arlen Christenson, Carol Brown, Tom Dawson (outgoing board member), Andrew Hanson and Glenn Stoddard) Reducing Pollution into our Waters Wisconsin is rich in water resources. We share these resources and need to be vigilant to ensure that those who use our waters as places to dump their waste products are always working to meet the goal of the Clean Water Act, which is to eliminate pollution into our waters.  MEA comments on proposed pollution discharge permits for major sources of pollution.  We have found that these comments are necessary to get the appropriate limits on pollution placed in permits.  Recently we have commented on permits for the following facilities:  ThyssenKrupp Waupaca Foundry Plants 2 and 3, United Wisconsin Grain Producers (ethanol plant), Little Rapids Corporation Shawano Mill, International Paper Kaukauna, and Lake Breeze Dairy. As a result, the DNR will likely include limits on the temperature and monitoring of the waste water discharged by ThyssenKrupp Waupaca Foundry and United Wisconsin Grain Producers. You don’t need to be a lawyer to provide comments that result in reductions in pollution.  Contact MEA to set up a workshop to learn how to provide effective comments.