Environmental groups seek to overturn DNR, DBA settlement Environmental groups have challenged a settlement the Department of Natural Resources and Dairy Business Association reached last month, arguing it was an “illegal” agreement that would hurt DNR’s authority to protect the
The Department of Natural Resource has only denied 1 percent of state wetland permit requests out of more than 12,800 filed over the last 16 years, providing fodder for backers of a new GOP bill seeking to nix the process.
GOP lawmakers are looking to roll back state oversight of wetlands with a new bill that leaves environmental activists fearful of its implications. But bill authors Senate President Roger Roth, Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke and Rep. Rob Stafsholt say
Rep. Joel Kleefisch says Walker hit a “home run” in appointing former GOP state Rep. Dan Meyer to lead the Department of Natural Resources. But at least one environmental group was lukewarm about the appointment. In his announcement today, Walker
The “effects of extreme weather” are among the emerging challenges highlighted in a recent report on the state’s groundwater that was submitted to the Legislature last month. The annual report, from the Department of Natural Resources’ Groundwater Coordinating Council, also
Citizens and environmental activists in southwestern and western Wisconsin are calling on the DNR to extend rules aimed at further protecting groundwater to their area, saying they don’t want to become “another Kewaunee County.” The DNR has been in the
Nearly three months after the Department of Natural Resources unveiled a bottled water program to help Kewaunee County families cope with contaminated wells, no one has signed up. But that’s no surprise to critics, who cite the program’s constraints and
A Dane County judge has ruled the Natural Resources Board violated the state’s open meetings law by not giving proper public notice of a board dinner last year that included discussions on official work. Dane County Circuit Judge John Markson
High-achieving Wisconsin students would get $5,000 scholarships each year to attend UW System schools under a new bill two GOP lawmakers laid out today. The bill, which has UW System President Ray Cross’ support, would pay for those scholarships by
Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp today defended a budget provision that nixes the agency’s magazine, saying that there’s a “tremendous opportunity for someone in the private sector to take this over.” The provision, which would cut the Wisconsin
A Senate committee voted 3-2 along party lines on a bill today that would roll back Department of Natural Resources oversight of high-capacity wells. The vote was done by paper ballot, rather than by holding an in-person executive session, meaning
Backers and opponents of a bill that would remove DNR oversight of the replacement, reconstruction and transfer of high-capacity wells lined up at a packed public hearing today. Meanwhile, bill authors Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and GOP Rep. Gary
Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp today said the state agency has been making “substantial progress” since a June 2016 audit raised questions about its management of a wastewater oversight program. That progress, she told the Joint Legislative Audit
Gov. Scott Walker’s budget item calling for the relocation of the DNR’s chief forester tosses out a previously ordered study that sought cost estimates for moving the office’s HQ to a new facility. The 2015-17 budget required the DNR conduct
State Rep. Scott Krug, R-Nekoosa, says he’s working on two amendments to legislation that’s been introduced to govern the replacement, reconstruction or transfer of high-capacity wells. AB 105 was introduced this week and referred to the Ag Committee. The Senate
Environmental groups seek to overturn DNR, DBA settlement Environmental groups have challenged a settlement the Department of Natural Resources and Dairy Business Association reached last month, arguing it was an “illegal” agreement that would hurt DNR’s authority to protect the public and the environment. The lawsuit’s from Clean Water Action
The Department of Natural Resource has only denied 1 percent of state wetland permit requests out of more than 12,800 filed over the last 16 years, providing fodder for backers of a new GOP bill seeking to nix the process. Still, environmental advocates counter removing that step would encourage developers
GOP lawmakers are looking to roll back state oversight of wetlands with a new bill that leaves environmental activists fearful of its implications. But bill authors Senate President Roger Roth, Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke and Rep. Rob Stafsholt say their legislation looks to strike a “proper balance” between the
Rep. Joel Kleefisch says Walker hit a “home run” in appointing former GOP state Rep. Dan Meyer to lead the Department of Natural Resources. But at least one environmental group was lukewarm about the appointment. In his announcement today, Walker said Meyer will “be an outstanding DNR secretary,” saying the
The “effects of extreme weather” are among the emerging challenges highlighted in a recent report on the state’s groundwater that was submitted to the Legislature last month. The annual report, from the Department of Natural Resources’ Groundwater Coordinating Council, also highlighted a number of other areas to keep an eye
Citizens and environmental activists in southwestern and western Wisconsin are calling on the DNR to extend rules aimed at further protecting groundwater to their area, saying they don’t want to become “another Kewaunee County.” The DNR has been in the process of drafting an administrative rule change to NR 151
Nearly three months after the Department of Natural Resources unveiled a bottled water program to help Kewaunee County families cope with contaminated wells, no one has signed up. But that’s no surprise to critics, who cite the program’s constraints and DNR’s limited outreach. Still, DNR spokesman Jim Dick says the
A Dane County judge has ruled the Natural Resources Board violated the state’s open meetings law by not giving proper public notice of a board dinner last year that included discussions on official work. Dane County Circuit Judge John Markson ruled yesterday the board overseeing the DNR failed to provide
High-achieving Wisconsin students would get $5,000 scholarships each year to attend UW System schools under a new bill two GOP lawmakers laid out today. The bill, which has UW System President Ray Cross’ support, would pay for those scholarships by selling off the remaining lands held by the state’s oldest
Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp today defended a budget provision that nixes the agency’s magazine, saying that there’s a “tremendous opportunity for someone in the private sector to take this over.” The provision, which would cut the Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine in February 2018, has received a loud
A Senate committee voted 3-2 along party lines on a bill today that would roll back Department of Natural Resources oversight of high-capacity wells. The vote was done by paper ballot, rather than by holding an in-person executive session, meaning no discussion was held prior to the vote. The bill
Backers and opponents of a bill that would remove DNR oversight of the replacement, reconstruction and transfer of high-capacity wells lined up at a packed public hearing today. Meanwhile, bill authors Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and GOP Rep. Gary Tauchen maintained the legislation would bring certainty to farmers, municipalities
Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp today said the state agency has been making “substantial progress” since a June 2016 audit raised questions about its management of a wastewater oversight program. That progress, she told the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, includes a plan to regularly assess permitted wastewater facilities,
Gov. Scott Walker’s budget item calling for the relocation of the DNR’s chief forester tosses out a previously ordered study that sought cost estimates for moving the office’s HQ to a new facility. The 2015-17 budget required the DNR conduct a study on moving the chief forestry headquarters out of
State Rep. Scott Krug, R-Nekoosa, says he’s working on two amendments to legislation that’s been introduced to govern the replacement, reconstruction or transfer of high-capacity wells. AB 105 was introduced this week and referred to the Ag Committee. The Senate companion, SB 76, was introduced Feb. 21 and sent to
