Legislation dealing with high capacity wells has recently been at the center of attention in the capitol. Several bills dealing with the regulation and permitting of high capacity wells have been introduced and have had extensive public hearings. Senate Bill 239, authored by Senator Rick Gudex (R-Fond du Lac), clarifies DNR permit regulations for existing […]
Federal Court Stays Waters of U.S. Rule Nationwide – Decision May Soon Be Overturned
Date Wed, Oct. 14, 2015 - 4:16pm By Hamilton
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, stayed the implementation of the “Clean Water Rule” (Waters of U.S. Rule) nationwide finding the petitioners have a substantial likelihood of success to win the case. However, the court may also overturn itself in just a few weeks as it has yet […]
Waters of the U.S. Rule
Date Thu, Oct. 1, 2015 - 2:29pm By Hamilton
On May 27, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its finalized Waters of the United States rule just over a year after it released its proposed rule. This rule was proposed to clarify the EPA’s jurisdiction over the nation’s waterways under the Clean Water Act after the Supreme Court’s decisions in Solid Waste Agency […]
EPA Releases Final Draft of Clean Power Plan Rule
Date Thu, Aug. 13, 2015 - 4:24pm By Hamilton
Last week the White House and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final version of the Clean Power Plan rule, which regulates carbon dioxide emissions, and various pollutants, by power plants in the United States. As widely expected, the final draft of the rule is stricter than the proposed regulation released last year. The compliance […]
Michigan v. EPA – SCOTUS Rules EPA Must Consider Costs in Initial Decision to Regulate
Date Thu, Jul. 23, 2015 - 2:16pm By Hamilton
Scalia, writing for the Court, stated that “[EPA] gave cost no thought at all, because it considered cost irrelevant to its initial decision to regulate,” he continued, writing, “It is unreasonable to read an instruction to an administrative agency to determine whether ‘regulation is appropriate and necessary’ as an invitation to ignore cost.” With that […]
Public Service Commission
Date Thu, Jul. 9, 2015 - 10:30am By Hamilton
Relating to the Public Services Commission (PSC), the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) repealed authorization for grants to certain nonprofit corporations and reduced the compensation rate for consumer groups and consumer representatives from 100% of the costs of the participating in a PSC hearing to 50% of that cost. The governor’s budget included a proposal to […]
State Budget: Department of Natural Resources
Date Thu, Jul. 9, 2015 - 10:27am By Hamilton
With a few exceptions, the debate over the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) budget was mostly pedestrian. The one exception was the proposal by the governor to remove rulemaking and policymaking authority of the Natural Resources Board, which in effect would have made them merely an advisory council. A firestorm of opposition by conservation and […]
Bills of Note: 30 Bills Signed Into Law
Date Wed, Jul. 8, 2015 - 7:12pm By Hamilton
Governor Scott Walker signed 30 bills into law at the Capitol on July 1. This included bills relating to motorcycle lighting, air pollution, controlled substances for optometrists, microbeads, GPS tracking, camping units and election law changes. Motorcycle Lighting Introduced in March by Representative Jagler (R–Watertown) as Assembly Bill 100, this bill permits a motorcycle to […]
Bills of Note: Air Pollution, Legal Notices on the Internet, Ignition Interlock, and Signed Firearms Bills
Date Fri, Jun. 26, 2015 - 9:35am By Hamilton
Air Pollution Rule Repeal Senate Bill 144, introduced in May by Senator Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls), eliminates a rule promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), relating to construction permit requirements for stationary sources that emit greenhouses gases, which is no longer valid under the Supreme Court’s decision in Utility Air Regulatory Group v. […]
Gov. Makes Appointments to DNR Board
Date Sun, May. 31, 2015 - 7:48pm By Hamilton
Governor Scott Walker has announced two appointments to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB), Julie Anderson and Dr. Frederick Prehn. Julie Anderson has served for over 24 years in the Racine County government in several positons including Planning Director, Land Information Officer, Highway Commissioner and Board Member of the Racine County Economic Development Corporation. Anderson […]