Bear complaints in Wisconsin have been on the rise in recent years, and a new study seeks to pinpoint whether there is widespread use of birdshot to deter problem bears.

The post Wisconsin bear complaints are up. Are shotgun pellets making things worse? appeared first on WPR.

Only 13 percent of Wisconsin’s wetlands would fall under federal protection under proposed changes to the “waters of the United States” rule unveiled last month, but most would still be protected under state law.

The post Most Wisconsin wetlands would lack federal protection under EPA’s proposed rule appeared first on WPR.

Minnesota’s largest power company is backing away from plans to develop a proposed $1 billion gas-fired power plant in northern Wisconsin due to legal challenges and permitting delays.

The post Minnesota utility says it won’t buy from planned $1B power plant in Wisconsin appeared first on WPR.

U.S. House Rep. Tom Tiffany cosponsored the bill this year with Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and 30 other lawmakers.

The post US House passes bill to remove federal protections for wolves appeared first on WPR.

The founder of an avian rehabilitation facility in Antigo said it’s the worst year she’s ever seen for shootings of protected birds, including an American white pelican that’s currently undergoing treatment.

The post Wisconsin raptor rehab facility sees spike in illegal shootings of protected birds appeared first on WPR.

In a new lawsuit, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa alleges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers violated federal environmental laws when it granted a permit to Enbridge for its proposed Line 5 reroute.

The post Bad River tribe sues Army Corps to overturn federal permit for Line 5 reroute appeared first on WPR.

The report released Wednesday by the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project found nearly two-thirds of states have cut staffing and more than half have reduced funding for environmental agencies since 2010. Wisconsin was among the top 10 states in the nation for these cuts.

The post Wisconsin’s cuts to environmental funding were among nation’s highest, report says appeared first on WPR.

George Meyer, an influential leader in Wisconsin in conservation, died Wednesday in Madison surrounded by his family. He was 78.

The post George Meyer, former Wisconsin DNR Secretary, has died appeared first on WPR.

The latest rule is the most significant change since it was first approved by EPA in 1991 to reduce lead exposure in drinking water.

The post Wisconsin moves to require lead pipes replaced by 2037 appeared first on WPR.

A Wisconsin Senate committee held a public hearing on a Republican bill that would bar local governments from passing ordinances that grant legal rights to natural resources.

The post GOP bill would ban local ‘rights of nature’ ordinances appeared first on WPR.

Wisconsin is reviewing registration of pesticides that some Wisconsin farm groups say would help manage pests and disease, but some scientists and environmentalists argue they contain PFAS.

The post Wisconsin reviews registration of EPA-approved pesticides that are said to contain PFAS appeared first on WPR.

A settlement is pending in the state’s case against a Marinette manufacturer of firefighting foam over alleged violations of the state’s spills law for failing to report PFAS contamination.

The post Settlement nears in Wisconsin lawsuit against Tyco, Johnson Controls over PFAS appeared first on WPR.

Wisconsin hunters bagged 2.6 percent fewer bucks than last year during the nine-day gun deer season.

The post Wisconsin hunters got slightly fewer bucks during gun deer season appeared first on WPR.

Early results of a new study show landfill runoff contained the highest levels of PFAS among liquid wastes sampled statewide in Wisconsin.

The post Early study results show landfill runoff in Wisconsin has high PFAS levels appeared first on WPR.

Ice cover on the Great Lakes has often been thought to cap evaporation that can influence water levels and regional weather. But a new study finds ice doesn’t play as big a role in blocking evaporation as once thought, which could prove vital for predicting future climate conditions and lake levels.

The post Great Lakes ice is thought to block evaporation. A new study says weather plays a bigger role. appeared first on WPR.

Wisconsin lawmakers want to provide fire departments access to grants for a new type of firefighting foam derived from soybeans that could provide an alternative to PFAS-based foams.

The post Wisconsin bill promotes soybean-based firefighting foam to replace PFAS appeared first on WPR.

Iron County is in the “bullseye” for the heaviest snowfall, with overall totals of 30 inches or more anticipated before the storm tapers off there tomorrow morning.

The post Blizzard conditions expected through Thanksgiving for parts of northern Wisconsin appeared first on WPR.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

State environmental regulators can require large livestock farms to obtain permits that seek to prevent manure spills and protect state waters, a state appeals court has ruled. 

Last year, a Calumet County judge ruled in favor of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in a case challenging the agency’s authority to require permits for concentrated animal feeding operations or CAFOs. Those farms have at least 1,000 animal units or the equivalent of 700 milking cows.

In 2023, the WMC Litigation Center sued the DNR on behalf of the Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and Venture Dairy Cooperative. They argued that agency rules that require CAFO permits and regulate stormwater runoff from farms can’t be legally enforced because they’re inconsistent with state and federal law.

In a decision Wednesday, a three-judge panel upheld the lower court’s decision.

“Because we conclude the two challenged rules do not conflict with state statutes and do not exceed the DNR’s statutory authority, we affirm the circuit court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of the DNR,” the panel wrote.

A DNR spokesperson said it’s reviewing the decision and unable to comment further at this time.

An attorney for farm groups had argued the DNR can’t go beyond federal requirements under state law, adding that state and federal laws exempt farms from regulation of their stormwater runoff.

Federal appeals court rulings in 2005 and 2011 found the Clean Water Act doesn’t allow the Environmental Protection Agency to require CAFOs to get wastewater discharge permits until they actually release waste into waterways. The three-judge panel noted state permitting programs may impose more stringent requirements than the EPA’s permitting program.

In a joint statement, Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and Venture Dairy Cooperative said the decision is disappointing for Wisconsin’s ag community.

“We believe that there is no place for bad actors and that polluters should face penalties, but this case had nothing to do with weakening environmental laws. Our sole mission in challenging the DNR’s authority was to ensure that Wisconsin farmers are held to standards consistent with federal law,” the groups wrote.

“We continue to believe that a ‘presumption of guilt’ runs contrary to the very fundamentals of the American justice system. We are disappointed with today’s outcome and will continue to fight for Wisconsin farmers regardless of the size of their farm,” the groups continued.

The ruling affects the state’s 344 CAFOs. Under permits, large farms must take steps to prevent manure spills and runoff that include developing response plans, nutrient management plans and restricting manure spreading when there’s high risk of runoff from storms.

Midwest Environmental Advocates is among environmental groups that intervened in the case. They said the legal challenge could have severely limited the DNR’s ability to protect state waters from manure pollution, noting CAFOs can house thousands of cows that produce more waste than small cities.

Adam Voskuil, an MEA attorney, said the ruling affirms environmental regulations.

“We’re continuing to protect water resources in the state, and (it’s) a prevention of rolling back really important, necessary regulations,” Voskuil said.

Without them, Voskuil said the DNR would be responsible for proving whether each individual CAFO has discharged pollutants to surface water or groundwater. He said it’s likely the agency wouldn’t have the resources to do that work, meaning many farms wouldn’t be permitted or taking required steps to prevent pollution.

Darin Von Ruden, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, said there has to be oversight of any industry.

“There needs to be some kind of authority that can call out the bad actors and make sure our water supply is safe,” Von Ruden said.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has been defending DNR in the case. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has previously said the state should be strengthening protections for state waterways, not weakening them.

Manure has been linked to nitrate contamination of private wells. Nitrate contamination can lead to blue-baby syndrome, thyroid disease and colon cancer. Around 90 percent of nitrate in groundwater can be traced back to agriculture.

The lawsuit is not the first to challenge DNR’s authority to require permits for CAFOs. In 2017, the Dairy Business Association sued the agency in part over its permit requirements, dropping that claim as part of a settlement with the DNR. Large farms have also challenged the agency’s authority to impose permit conditions on their operations. In 2021, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled the DNR had authority to impose permit requirements on large farms to protect water quality.

This story was originally published by WPR.

Wisconsin DNR can require CAFO permits to protect water, appeals court rules is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.