July 2005

Enforcing Clean Air and Water Laws

Victory!  On June 9, 2005, the Manitowoc County Circuit Court ruled that the DNR failed to prepare an analysis of the water and air quality impacts that could be caused by Maple Leaf Dairy, a 3,800 head livestock factory proposing to expand its cattle numbers near Lake Michigan.  Midwest Environmental Advocates represented the grassroots group Centerville CARES, which has been working to protect Lake Michigan and its tributaries.  Significantly, the Court ordered the DNR to prepare an air quality impacts analysis of Maple Leaf Dairy’s ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions. 

To read a Manitowoc Herald Times article on the ruling, click here.

Fighting for Clean Air

Despite vocal public opposition, this month the Senate Natural Resources Committee voted 4-1, and the full Senate voted 21-12, to approve the Dirty Air Bill (AB 277).  The bill may harm Wisconsin's already damaged air quality by exempting sources of air pollution from obtaining construction permits, a key permit designed to control pollution.  In addition, the bill is designed to prevent residents from commenting on new air pollution sources in their neighborhoods.  

Midwest Environmental Advocates joined other conservation groups in organizing over 600 personalized letters of opposition to Senate Committee members and testified against the bill at the Senate Committee hearing. The Dirty Air Bill will now go to Governor Doyle's desk for approval or veto.  Now is the time to contact the Governor and ask him to veto the Dirty Air Bill and support public health and safety, instead of corporate polluters.  Call the Governor's office at 608-266-1212 or click here to email him.

To read our opinion editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, click here.

Honoring Wisconsin’s Farm Women

Save the date!  Join Midwest Environmental Advocates,Wisconsin artist Kelly Parks Snider and local video producer Jane Bartell on Saturday, August 13th from 4-8 p.m. for Rural Women: Voice and Spirit, a festive multimedia art exhibition at Folklore Village in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. This free, family-friendly arts gala will highlight the contributions of women in agriculture. There will be a silent auction of featured artwork to benefit Midwest Environmental Advocates, as well as artist and advocate talks, music, and seasonal fare donated by Madison’s much-loved Marigold Kitchen.

For details, directions and further background on the Farm Women project, click here.

Protecting Northern Rivers

On June 18, Staff Attorney Andrew Hanson gave a short presentation to river protection advocates in Rusk County on the 100 Healthiest Rivers Campaign at “Paddle the Flambeau,” an event sponsored by the Rusk County Waters Alliance and Rusk County and Price County Tourism Departments.  The event highlighted the Flambeau River’s beauty, and our opportunity to protect segments of the Flambeau River as Exceptional Resource Waters or Outstanding Resource Waters. 

If you would like Andrew Hanson to speak on how the 100 Healthiest Rivers Campaign can help protect your river, click here. 

To read a Ladysmith News article about the Paddle the Flambeau event, click here.  

Coming Together for Clean Water

Early Registration is now open for "Joining the Waters: A Forum on Tribal Sovereignty and Water Quality in Wisconsin."  The Forum, which will take place on October 21-22, 2005, will be a unique opportunity for native and non-native conservationists to explore issues and threats to our collective right to clean water and to discuss Native American sovereignty and its implications for water quality protection in Wisconsin's lakes and rivers.

To learn more about the Forum, sponsorship opportunities and to register online, click here.

Preventing Local Manure Spills

Midwest Environmental Advocates completed its participation on the Dane County Manure Task Force, convened by County Executive Kathleen Falk this spring in the wake of manure spills and fishkills in Dane County’s streams and lakes.  Although the recommendations of the Task Force may help prevent some manure spills next year, we are still concerned that the measures do not go far enough to protect Dane County’s most pristine streams and restore its most polluted rivers. 

To read the Task Force’s final report, click here .

We are also working to address this issue on a statewide level, and have recently been appointed to the joint Department of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Manure Task Force. 

To read a Wisconsin State Farmer article on the statewide task force, click here.

Keeping Watch on Water Quality

MEA is working to promote monitoring of stormwater runoff and compliance with Wisconsin water quality standards.  We submitted comments to the Department of Natural Resources for eight proposed permits that would allow pollution to be discharged into Wisconsin’s waterways. 

To read an example of just one of MEA’s comments, click here .

Building Bridges

MEA staff attended the Nationhood Gathering, June 10-12th, 2005, at the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa Community near Crandon, Wisconsin.  The gathering, which celebrated the sovereignty of all First Nations in the western Great Lakes region, aimed to educate and empower youth and to build grassroots alliances across racial lines. A special thank you to all of the Mole Lake community for their gracious hospitality.

Promoting Green Energy

Hundreds of people from around the country visited our booth at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association's 16th annual Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Fair, June 17-19, 2005. Held at the ReNew the Earth Institute in Custer, Wisconsin, the Fair is the world’s largest and longest running renewable energy educational event.

To find out more about the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, click here.

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