Protecting Wisconsin's Northern Rivers

Midwest Environmental Advocates and the River Alliance of Wisconsin helped organize 44 other conservation groups to call for more protection of Wisconsin's northern rivers with the Northwoods Hundred Healthiest Rivers Campaign.  The groups signed on to a petition drafted by Midwest Environmental Advocates to the  Natural Resources Board asking for increased protection of the top one hundred river segments in Wisconsin's northwoods.  Despite the high water quality in these rivers, they do not have the necessary protections as Outstanding or Exceptional Resource Waters needed to limit pollution.

Increased legal protection for these rivers will not only protect the area's fish and wildlife, it will also safeguard our waters for Wisconsin's residents and valuable tourism industry.  Further, the petition will help the DNR honor treaty rights held by the Chippewa Tribes.  Several tribal governments have passed formal resolutions supporting the petition. 

To read a copy of the petition, click here.

To listen to a Wisconsin Public Radio story on the issue, click here.

Ensuring Clean Water

Midwest Environmental Advocates continues its work to keep Milwaukee's rivers and Lake Michigan clean.  On August 16, 2004, on behalf of the Sierra Club, we filed a notice of intent to sue Emmpak Foods, a slaughterhouse and meat processing plant that discharges fats, oil and grease into the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) system.  Emmpak has violated MMSD's local pretreatment limit for fat, oil and grease at least 68 times since 2000.

Fats, oils and grease may clog MMSD sewerage pipes and exacerbate sewage overflow problems, causing sewage and other pollution to reach Milwaukee waterways and Lake Michigan without being treated.  In October of 2003, MMSD had to remove a 20 foot long mass of material consisting of livestock bones, nose rings, stomach magnets and wire from its pipeline immediately downstream of the Emmpak facility at a cost of nearly $31,000.

To read the Notice Letter, click here.

To read a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article on the issue, click here.

Awarding Social Justice Advocates

Felicia Lin, Midwest Environmental Advocates' Legal Assistant and Community Organizer, was recently awarded Community Shares of Wisconsin's Sally Sunde and Liesl Blockstein Award for Social Justice.  The award is given annually to two people who most exemplify Community Shares of Wisconsin's mission of advocating for social justice.  Felicia was honored for her work promoting grassroots activism and environmental justice in the Midwest, as well as her commitment to social and economic justice around the world.

To learn more about Community Shares of Wisconsin, visit their website at www.communityshares.com.

To read Felicia's acceptance speech, click here.   

Protecting the Great Lakes

The DNR recently announced five public hearings on the Great Lakes Basin Water Resources Compact.  This binding agreement will set standards for future diversions and withdrawals of water from the Great Lakes to areas outside the Great Lakes drainage basin - areas as close as Waukesha and as far away as Arizona.  More pipelines into the Great Lakes without protective standards threaten the future health and supply of fresh water in the Great Lakes drainage basin.

Attend a hearing and support the strongest standards to protect the waters of the Great Lakes.

For hearing dates and more information on this important subject go to our partner’s website.

Speaking Out for Environmental Justice

Midwest Environmental Advocates joined thousands of others at this year's Fighting Bob Fest, an annual forum for progressive ideas on issues facing Wisconsin and the nation.  Executive Director, Melissa Scanlan, spoke on our environment at risk, developing local leaders who work for environmental justice, and what homeland security really means.

If you'd like to hear Melissa talk about water issues in Wisconsin, she will be speaking on October 5, 2004 at the Earth Charter Community Summit and on October 6, 2004 at an Arrowhead Lecture Series symposium on the state of Wisconsin's Public Trust Doctrine.  Both events are free and open to the public. 

Enforcing the Clean Air Act

On May 20, 2004, Midwest Environmental Advocates filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue Barron County Incinerator.  The incinerator is permitted to burn municipal solid waste, yet it repeatedly burns tires, demolition wastes, and "process wastes" from industry.  In 1999, the incinerator ranked as the state's second-largest source of air emissions of dioxin, and in 2002, the incinerator ranked as the state's sixth largest source of air emissions of mercury and the twelfth largest source of air emissions of lead.

Midwest Environmental Advocates filed the notice on behalf of the Sierra Club.  Barron County Incinerator had 60 days from the date the notice of intent to sue was filed to come into compliance with the Clean Air Act.  They have not yet complied with the federal law, and we are now preparing to file a lawsuit. 

To read the notice letter, click here.

Celebrating Environmental Leadership

The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) will be honoring Midwest Environmental Advocates' Staff Attorney, Andrew Hanson, at a reception on October 21, 2004 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at the new Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee.  The ELP seeks to transform public understanding of environmental issues by training and supporting a diverse network of emerging leaders.  The reception will be a unique opportunity to hear from environmental leaders working to build a more sustainable future for our region and the country. 

For more information or to RSVP, email Jan Montgomery or call 262.376.0022..

Join our advocacy community by donating today.  Your donation will be a powerful statement of your commitment to public interest environmental law.  Your act of giving will help make environmental justice a reality.  You can donate by mail here or you can donate online with e.Power. 

702 E. Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53703
Telephone: 608.251.5047  Fax: 608.268.0205
Email: advocate@midwestadvocates.org   Web: www.midwestadvocates.org