Contact: Rep. Tyler Vorpagel
(608) 266-8530
Madison- State Representative Tyler Vorpagel (R-Plymouth) issued the following regarding his testimony at field briefing “Examining Impacts of Proposed NAAQS on the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Area”:
“Today I testified in front of the Subcommittees on Interior, Energy and Environment and Intergovernmental Affairs of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding Sheboygan County’s nonattainment status. It was an honor to testify in front of Congress regarding the importance of using the Haven Air Quality monitor to report Sheboygan County’s ozone levels.
“Since 2012 Sheboygan County has been classified as failing to meet the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). This classification has required Sheboygan County to reach certain standards by July 2018. However, much of the ozone pollution that has been picked up by the Kohler-Andrae monitor has been shown to have been generated in Illinois and Indiana.
“This session area legislators worked to pass Assembly Bill 588/Senate Bill 466 that prohibited the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from sending data from the Kohler-Andrae monitor and instead directed them to use data from the Haven monitor which was placed downwind of Sheboygan ozone emitting factories to show a more accurate representation of Sheboygan County’s emissions.
“Studies have shown that even shutting down Sheboygan County all together would not help it come back into Attainment. This is why it was so important for me to testify today before Congress to help them see the larger picture that we should continue to use the Kohler-Andrae monitor to view regional air quality but use the Haven monitor to regulate Sheboygan County air quality.”
Representative Tyler Vorpagel (R-Plymouth) serves the 27th Assembly District which includes Kiel, Cleveland, Elkhart Lake, Howards Grove, Plymouth, Kohler, and Sheboygan.
