Kewaunee family wants leader of manure investigation replaced

By Peter Rebhahn
prebhahn@greenbaypressgazette.com

LUXEMBURG — The lawyer for a family that alleges that their well was poisoned by manure runoff has asked the state Department of Natural Resources to remove its lead investigator of the incident.

DNR agricultural wastewater specialist Dave Bougie is leading the agency’s investigation of alleged violations of federal and state laws by Stahl Farms that may have contaminated the well of Scott and Judy Treml.

“We’ve got some concerns with the fact that he’s the person in charge of the investigation,” said Andrew Hanson, the Treml’s attorney.

In a three-page letter to DNR Secretary Scott Hassett dated May 5, Hanson expressed “serious concerns” with Bougie’s participation in the investigation and asked for his replacement.

The Tremls allege that liquid manure spread by Stahl Farms on frozen fields near their home on Church Road on Feb. 24, 25 and 26 polluted their well days later.

In the letter to Hassett, Hanson claimed that Bougie cannot be counted on to conduct an objective investigation because he drafted the permit under which Stahl Farms operates.

Hanson claimed among other things that Bougie gave Stahl Farms a verbal go-ahead to apply manure Feb. 24 — a decision Bougie would have to admit was wrong to find Stahl Farms at fault.

Bougie did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Hanson said he does not intend to impugn Bougie but seeks an arm’s length investigation by a non-DNR investigator or a DNR official from outside the agency’s Northeast Region.

Stahl Farms attorney David Crass was unaware of the letter on Monday and declined to comment on its specifics pending review of the contents.

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