In November 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated most of the country as either attainment/nonattainment under the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone. Nonattainment areas are those that do not meet (or contribute to ambient air quality in a nearby area that does not meet) the national primary or secondary ambient […]
EPA Designates Much of Southeastern Wisconsin as Nonattainment for 2015 Ozone Standards
Date Fri, Jan. 19, 2018 - 10:17am By Hamilton
Stepp Promoted to Head of Midwest EPA
Date Fri, Jan. 5, 2018 - 8:48am By Hamilton
Former Wisconsin state senator and Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp was promoted last month by the Trump administration to head the Midwest regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Chicago. As head of Region 5, Stepp will oversee Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio, including most of the Great Lakes. […]
Walker Appoints New DNR Secretary
Date Thu, Sep. 28, 2017 - 3:42pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker announced Monday that former Republican state Rep. Dan Meyer is taking over as Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Meyer represented the 34th District (Rhinelander) in the Assembly from 2001-2013. Prior to serving in the legislature, Meyer was mayor of Eagle River and executive director of Eagle River Chamber of […]
DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp Moves to EPA
Date Thu, Aug. 31, 2017 - 2:16pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Cathy Stepp is resigning from her position to move to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Stepp will serve as deputy administrator for EPA, covering the region including Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and nine tribal nations. Stepp was appointed as DNR Secretary by Gov. Scott Walker in 2011. Previously, […]
DNR Announces Realignment
Date Thu, Dec. 1, 2016 - 8:13pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced on Wednesday plans to reorganize its staff and resources to provide better oversight of the department. According to the press release, the realignment will not reduce environmental standards or the number of jobs at the DNR, but will change job descriptions, reporting structure and division assignments for […]
DNR Requests Budget Decrease but Adds CAFO Staff
Date Mon, Sep. 26, 2016 - 11:48am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) formally submitted their agency budget request to Governor Walker on September 15, 2016. Overall, DNR’s all funds budget for the 2017-19 biennium is 2.1 percent less than the 2016-17 fiscal year base doubled. This amounts to about $23.4 million less funding over the biennium. DNR’s all funds budget […]
EPA will Inspect Wisconsin DNR records
Date Mon, Sep. 26, 2016 - 9:22am By Hamilton
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will send federal regulators to Madison to inspect Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) records in October. EPA personnel will investigate DNR files in response to an October 2015 petition by Midwest Environmental Advocates and a group of Wisconsin citizens. The petition claims that DNR officials have not adequately implemented […]
AG Opinion Drives DNR to Act on High Capacity Well Permit Applications
Date Fri, Jun. 17, 2016 - 10:09am By Hamilton
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced that when reviewing high capacity well permit applications it will limit its review to the criteria set forth in the statutes. DNR cites Attorney General Brad Schimel’s May 10, 2016, formal opinion finding that DNR lacks authority to require cumulative impact analysis as a condition to granting a well […]
AG Opinion Validates Act 21 Limits on Agency Authority
Date Fri, May. 27, 2016 - 10:21am By Hamilton
On May 10, 2016, Attorney General Brad Schimel issued a formal opinion finding that 2011 WI Act 21 requires explicit delegation of authorities to agencies, making it clear that regulatory mandates may no longer arise from implied authority. Whether enacting rules, imposing permit conditions, or exercising public trust authority, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) […]
AG Schimel Sues EPA over New Ozone Standard
Date Fri, May. 6, 2016 - 9:03am By Hamilton
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. […]