Wisconsin Ag Connection - Citizens Group Files Appeal to Rosendale Dairy Permit

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Citizens Group Files Appeal to Rosendale Dairy Permit
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 04/30/2009

A group of neighboring citizens who are opposed to the planned expansion of Rosendale Dairy in Fond du Lac County have filed a petition with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources seeking review of the agency's Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit. Calling themselves PEPL, or the People Empowered Protect the Land, the residents claim that the DNR 'failed to comply with legal requirements' to prevent the degradation of surface waters and to ensure that waters to which Rosendale Dairy is likely to discharge pollution 'will meet applicable standards for acceptable levels of pollution.'

According to a joint statement by the Midwest Environmental Advocates and Garvey McNeil, S.C., who are representing PEPL as their attorneys, the petition requests that the DNR review the permit and make changes necessary to ensure full compliance with the Clean Water Act and state law for the protection of the region's surface and groundwater. The complaint also asserts that DNR 'improperly approved Rosendale Dairy's nutrient management plan because that plan does not go far enough to identify underground tile lines that can transport pollution to surface and groundwater' or to prevent the contamination of the area's shallow groundwater reserves.

"We urge the DNR to respond to the petition swiftly and take immediate action to strengthen Rosendale Dairy's permit before the area's waters become even more polluted," said Jamie Saul, Staff Attorney with Midwest Environmental Advocates.

As Wisconsin Ag Connection reported last month, the proposed farm was granted final approval to a PDES permit on February 27. The move was one of the last legal steps the farm owners needed to have in place before resuming construction of its expansion project--which will boost its current 700 dairy cow facility up to 4,000. A second phase of the project would then double the size up to 8,000 cows several years down the road.