October 10, 2003

Preventing the Spread of Toxins in Minnesota

MEA is representing a grassroots environmental group, Southeastern Minnesotans for Environmental Protection (SEMEP) in their efforts to stop a corporation from establishing a Tire Burner in their neighborhood.  The group filed a lawsuit in the Minnesota Court of Appeals on September 4, 2003, challenging the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's decision to allow 375 tons of tires (25 truck loads per day) to be burned in Preston, Minnesota.  The Tire Burner would emit over 800 tons of hazardous air pollutants each year.

Pushing for Controls on Excessive Odors and Air Pollution from Livestock Factories

MEA is representing a local group in Manitowoc County in their fight to control the air pollution from the massive waste pits and free stall barns of Maple Leaf Dairy, a nearby livestock factory that, as of 2002, had close to 4,000 head of dairy cattle.  The livestock factory emits close to 7 or 8 times the allowable limit of ammonia, a toxic gas correlated with livestock odors and known to cause eye, nose, and throat irritation.  MEA initiated a federal Clean Air Act lawsuit against the livestock factory on behalf of the local group, Centerville Citizens for Air, River, and Environmental Solutions (Centerville CARES).  Shortly after we initiated this legal action, State Senator Kedzie and Representative Johnsrud sent a letter to the DNR requesting that livestock factories receive an exemption from Wisconsin's comprehensive air toxins regulations that other industries must meet.

The factory farm shown in the picture above is an example of a typical operation in Wisconsin, with its enormous waste pits and freestall barns that can extend for more than 1/4 of a mile.

Developing New Advocates

In September three new advocates joined MEA's staff and are working tirelessly to protect out air and water: Law Clerks, Brent Olsen Denzin and Samantha Webb Kading; and Legal Assistant and Community Organizer, Felicia Lin.

Stopping Rollbacks of Wisconsin's Environmental Protections

The Republican-led state Legislature has declared open season on Wisconsin's envrionment.  Legislators are describing the anti-environment bills as necessary for "economic development" and "regulatory reform," but in reality their efforts undermine the very basis of our economic prosperity: our clean and abundant resources and high quality of life.  MEA advocates for sustainable economic development and a government that is accountable to the public.  We are working to halt the passage of three pieces of anti-environmental legislation.  The first, SB 246 and AB 486, call for automatic approvals for permit applications of polluting facilities.  These facilities may emit toxins that threaten human health, build in potentially sensitive areas that cannot be regained once destoryed, or otherwise negatively impact our public health, air and water. 

Second, MEA opposes AB 506, which was recently introduced into the Assembly and serves to take away public trust property and give it to private land owners.  AB 506 would overturn over 100 years of Wisconsin Supreme Court decisions by changing the definition of what is a navigable water, resulting in the removal of state water protection for thousands of miles of some of the most valuable waterways in Wisconsin.

Third, lawmakers are attempting to roll back vital protections for Wisconsin's communitites with AB 435, which calls for the complete repeal of the Smart Growth Law.  Smart Growth planning gives local communitites the power to be proactive about growth and promotes development in both an environmentally and economically sound way.  Solid comprehensive planning prevents escalating long term costs associated with haphazard growth and sprawl, while encouraging communities to work together for a shared vision.

Check out the Media file at www.midwestadvocates.org for the latest media on these issues and more.