It’s Unanimous!  Proposal to Protect Pristine Streams Receiving Support

Midwest Environmental Advocates and its partners secured a unanimous vote from the Natural Resources Board to protect over 1,100 miles of rivers in northern Wisconsin as Exceptional or Outstanding Resource Waters.  These designations will protect these rivers from new and increased sources of pollution, such as sewage treatment plants, industrial facilities, high capacity wells, and grading and dredging projects.  The Board made the vote at its June 28, 2006 meeting in River Falls, Wisconsin.   Then on August 24, 2006, the Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee held a hearing on the issue.  Again, Midwest Environmental Advocates, River Alliance of Wisconsin, and other organizations testified in support of the proposal, which stems from a formal petition submitted by MEA, the River Alliance Wisconsin, and 42 other state and local conservation organizations.  The Senate Committee took no action, which means the rule will go into effect unless the Assembly votes to stop it.  The Assembly Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing on this on September 14 at 10 a.m.  Call the Committee members today to register your support for the Exceptional and Outstanding Resource Water Rule.  Learn more here.

 

Fighting for Clean Drinking Water

Along with dozens of rural residents who traveled from all over Wisconsin on August 3, 2006, Midwest Environmental Advocates appeared before the Joint Committee on Agriculture in the Wisconsin legislature to urge the committee to finalize the DNR’s proposal to regulate winter manure spreading by livestock factories in Wisconsin.  Outrageously, the joint committee put the interests of agribusiness and livestock factories over Wisconsin’s children and families, and the Senate Committee sent the rule back to the DNR for revisions.  We are working with other organizations to press the DNR to hold firm on its commitment to public health and not back down on these important rules. Read More.  

 

Challenging the DNR’s Issuance of Two Wastewater Discharge Permits

On August 11, 2006, MEA filed two petitions for adjudicatory hearings on behalf of Wisconsin Environmental Law Advocates (“WELA”) challenging the water pollution discharge permits the DNR issued to Grande Cheese Company and Protient, Inc.   These permits fail to ensure that permitted pollutant discharges will protect the already impaired North Fork Juda Branch Creek and pristine downstream waters in Sylvester Creek, one of Wisconsin’s Exceptional Resource Waters.   Rather than improving the quality of the impaired North Fork Juda Branch Creek as required by state and federal law, the DNR’s issuance of these permits increase the potential for additional problems in this waterway, including increased algae blooms.  WELA is currently awaiting the DNR’s response to this challenge.  Read More.    

Protecting the Great Lakes from Out of Basin Diversions

In June, Midwest Environmental Advocates and others found out that Wisconsin’s DNR determined that an application by New Berlin, Wisconsin to take water out of the Great Lakes Basin for use in the Mississippi River Basin was “complete and comprehensive.”  A strong alliance of conservation and environmental groups oppose the DNR accepting any applications for diversions of water out of the Great Lakes Basin until the state passes into state law the Great Lakes Compact with environmental improvements.  Midwest Environmental Advocates will be working with the Legislative Council’s Special Committee on the Great Lakes Water Resource Compact to produce draft legislation by the end of 2006.

Announcing New Land Use Tool-kits

This month, Midwest Environmental Advocates posted two land use tool-kits to guide communities through the components of a Big-Box Ordinance and a Conditional Use Permit Hearing.  Our tool-kits are created to give residents the tools they need to become involved in local land use decisions such as rezonings, annexations, and conditional use permits.  Through the on-going series of Know Your Rights Tool-kits, we are promoting responsible growth through informed land use decisions.  If residents and local governments know their rights and obligations early in the process, they are more likely to close the door to irresponsible proposals before they gain momentum.  The tool-kits provide a single location where you may learn your rights before a problem arises, allowing time to use that information to shape on-going and future land use decisions.  Click here to see the Know Your Rights Land-Use Toolkit series at our website.

Saying Goodbye to Andrew Hanson

Midwest Environmental Advocates is saying goodbye and wishing the best to attorney Andrew Hanson (pictured center right).  After five years with MEA, he will continue his work for the environment at the U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency, serving as an attorney advisor in the agency’s Office of Civil Enforcement.  Click here to read a recent editorial about Mr. Hanson.  We’ll miss you Andrew!

Welcoming New MEA Staff

Midwest Environmental Advocates is pleased to welcome our new managing director, Pacyinz Lyfoung (pictured above and first on the left), and new staff attorney, Betsy Lawton. 

After immigrating to the United States as a teenager, Ms. Lyfoung became one of the first two Hmong women to earn a law degree from the University of Minnesota School of Law.  She has a background in nonprofit management, engaging disenfranchised communities, alleviating poverty, and working with charitable foundations.

Ms. Lawton (pictured right) holds a law degree with a Certificate of Environmental Law from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.   Prior to joining MEA, Ms. Lawton was a litigator and lobbyist with the Progressive Law Group, and also served two Dane County judges as a staff attorney with the Dane County Circuit Court.  Ms. Lawton will carry on Mr. Hanson’s work protecting Wisconsin’s families from surface water pollution and groundwater contamination. 

Attorney Alicia Roessler, Of Counsel, is assisting Ms. Lawton on a part-time basis by writing permit comments and enforcing permit limits.  She recently moved to Madison from California where she worked at the Environmental Defense Center in Santa Barbara. 

Encouraging CSW Donations

Midwest Environmental Advocates is a proud member agency of Community Shares of Wisconsin.  Community Shares of Wisconsin raises funds for its member agencies – including MEA – through workplace giving campaigns at over 100 private sector employers in the Greater Madison area.  Public sector employees also can contribute to Community Shares and its member agencies through their Combined Campaign.

This fall, please consider giving to Midwest Environmental Advocates through your employer’s workplace giving campaign.  There are two ways that you can support us through Community Shares.  First, designate your gift to MEA, and we will receive 100% of your contribution.  (No part of your gift is retained for administrative purposes!)  Or, direct your gift to Community Shares and support MEA along with many other worthy nonprofits.  Both types of gifts are needed and appreciated.  For more information or to start a campaign in your workplace, go to www.communityshares.com.