After opposition arose over the potential construction of a new pig concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to step and review the permitting process. Wisconsin currently is home to approximately 240 cow CAFOs, but Badgerwood LLC, a Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Iowa-based Reicks Farms, is looking to construct the […]
EPA Plans to Review Permit for Pig Farm in Bayfield County
Date Sun, May. 31, 2015 - 7:41pm By Hamilton
DNR’s Coolest Fish Contest
Date Fri, May. 1, 2015 - 8:58am By Hamilton
“Does a lake sturgeon beat a bowfin, a burbot beat a sauger?” The Department of Natural Resources is holding an online contest to determine which fish really is the coolest. Head to the Wisconsin DNR’s Facebook page and you can vote for your favorite fish.
JFC Takes Further Action on State Budget
Date Fri, May. 1, 2015 - 8:38am By Hamilton
The Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) met on April 17 and April 22 to continue voting on Governor Walker’s proposed 2015-2017 state budget. JFC passed a number of motions, which modified the governor’s proposed budget. This includes action on portions of agency budgets in the Department of Military Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of […]
Bills of Note: Signed, Sealed and Soon to be Delivered in an Uber
Date Fri, Apr. 17, 2015 - 9:11am By Hamilton
Over the last two weeks, there has been extensive bill movement as Governor Walker signed eleven bills into law on April 8th and this week, the State Assembly took up a long list of bills. This included legislation on the ban of microbeads and a bill that would allow for popular ridesharing companies such as […]
Business Groups Oppose the Most Expensive Regulatory Proposal in U.S. History
Date Fri, Mar. 20, 2015 - 9:11am By Hamilton
At an estimated $1.7 trillion hit to GDP, it’s been dubbed the most costly EPA regulation in U.S. history. On March 17, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and other state business groups voiced their opposition to EPA’s proposed new ozone standard. Citing a study commissioned by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), WMC comments note […]
Wisconsin Comments on EPA’s Carbon Rule
Date Thu, Dec. 4, 2014 - 10:59am By Hamilton
Governor Walker, legislators, state officials, and industry groups submitted comments on EPA’s proposed carbon regulation for existing power plants at the beginning of December. The Department of Natural Resources and Public Service Commission jointly filed a robust 119 pages of comments to EPA. The comments outline general concerns, building block comments, technical data corrections for […]
Wisconsin Walleye Initiative Succeeding
Date Tue, Jul. 15, 2014 - 3:41pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Walleye Initiative has seen great success in boosting walleye populations statewide. The program, developed by the Department of Natural Resources and the Governor’s office, began in 2013 to increase the number of walleye in state waters. The program provides one time funding of $2 million to state, private, and tribal fish hatcheries to […]
EPA Announces Landmark Rule on Carbon Emissions
Date Thu, Jun. 5, 2014 - 10:39am By Hamilton
With this week’s announcement of the new EPA rules for existing power plants and carbon emissions, some are calling June 2nd, 2014 the most important day of President Obama’s second term. What makes the new proposed rule on carbon pollution emission guidelines so note-worthy? Background Under direction of the President’s Climate Action Plan, the EPA […]
EPA Proposes Rule to Assess SO2 Air Quality
Date Wed, May. 21, 2014 - 4:26pm By Hamilton
On May 13, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued proposed options for states and local air agencies to use air quality monitoring or modeling to determine whether areas meet the 2010 air quality standards for sulfur dioxide (SO2). Below is a discussion of the proposed rule. Background of 2010 Revised SO2 NAAQS In June 2010, […]
EPA Poised to Set Carbon-Emissions Rules for Existing Power Plants
Date Wed, May. 21, 2014 - 4:23pm By Hamilton
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Gina McCarthy, announced that the EPA is set to issue the much anticipated rules on June 2nd for existing power plants under § 111(d) of the Clean Air Act. The regulations could significantly limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and potentially force many existing coal-fired plants to cease burning the […]