Wisconsin joined a coalition of states and industry groups challenging EPA’s new ozone standard. The new standard was released on October 26, 2015, and lowers the ozone standard to 70 parts per billion (ppb). The states filed their brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on April 22, 2016. […]
High Capacity Well Legislation Dies
Date Wed, Mar. 16, 2016 - 9:49am By Hamilton
On the last night of session, the Senate took up and passed Senate Bill 239, guaranteeing the death of high capacity well legislation this session. Last month, the Assembly passed its companion, Assembly Bill 874, as adopted by amendments. This week, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism, passed SB 239 and adopted […]
Legislation to Allow Out-of-State Companies to Purchase Water & Sewer Utilities Dies in Senate
Date Wed, Mar. 16, 2016 - 9:26am By Hamilton
Introduced by Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) in December, Assembly Bill 554/Senate Bill 432 would have created a new process for out-of-state utility companies to purchase or lease water or sewer utilities in Wisconsin. The Assembly passed AB 554 on a voice vote in January. The Senate Committee on […]
New Review of Water Quality Standards Legislation Signed by Governor
Date Thu, Mar. 3, 2016 - 6:36pm By Hamilton
2015 Wisconsin Act 205 modifies the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) multi-discharger variance program to meet the new federal requirements. Act 205 creates a new procedure for when variances must be reviewed. This includes a three-year review standard and a highest attainable review. Under the new law, every three years, DNR must review the water […]
DNR Continues to Move Toward Reorganization of Agency
Date Thu, Mar. 3, 2016 - 6:12pm By Hamilton
The Department of Natural Resources is finalizing a plan to reorganize portions the agency, in order manage dwindling staff levels and improve the quality of the DNR’s work with citizens. The DNR originally announced its plan to reorganize in July 2015. During a recent announcement to DNR employees, Deputy Secretary Kurt Thiede announced the final […]
PSC Reform Bill Passes Assembly
Date Fri, Feb. 19, 2016 - 10:40am By Hamilton
Legislation to reform many of the regulatory processes at the Public Service Commission (PSC) passed the Assembly, and is available for scheduling in the Senate. The legislation, Assembly Bill 804 and Senate Bill 654, was introduced by Rep. Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin) and Sen. Roger Roth (R-Appleton), but was developed by the Public Service Commission […]
Gov. Walker Reinforces SCOTUS Stay of Clean Power Plan through Executive Order
Date Thu, Feb. 18, 2016 - 6:20pm By Hamilton
On February 9, 2016 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP) until the litigation surrounding it is resolved. Justices Kennedy, Alito, Thomas, Scalia and Chief Justice Roberts voted in favor of the stay. Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan voted to deny the application. This […]
Legislation to Allow Out-of-State Companies to Purchase Water & Sewer Utilities Advances
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:24am By Hamilton
A bill (AB 554/SB 432) that creates a process for out-of-state utility companies to purchase or lease sewer utilities in Wisconsin is advancing through the legislature. Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) introduced the legislation in December. The Assembly passed AB 554 on a voice vote in January. Last week, […]
Legislation Introduced to Allow Purchase of Water & Sewer Utilities
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:38am By Hamilton
Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) have introduced Assembly Bill 554/Senate Bill 432, which creates a process for out-of-state utility companies to purchase or lease water or sewer utilities in Wisconsin. Under current law, if a municipality seeks to sell or lease any utility, the municipality must first pass a […]
Federal Government Publishes Controversial Clean Power Plan Rule
Date Thu, Oct. 29, 2015 - 3:08pm By Hamilton
A coalition of 24 states filed a lawsuit on Friday challenging the Obama Administration’s signature environmental regulation, the Clean Power Plan, in response to the regulation being published in the Federal Register last Friday, October 23. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading the litigation against the plan which he has called, “the single […]