Hello,

Here is an update about the current hurdle that we must overcome concerning CAFO’s. We were not aware that the change to a general permitting process was underway. We should be encouraging everyone and anyone who cares about protecting our water and general community well-being to become a part of this process by contacting Tom Bauman to receive more information.

 

Thank you!

 

 

Begin forwarded message:

Dear ACES members and others,

Some of you may be aware that Petry has a WPDES permit in the works for his Darlinton Facility. According to the DNR’s fitchberg office, who met with the Petry contingent a few weeks ago, they are planning a major expansion there which will start next spring. Although Petry’s current focus is there, he may likey target Westby for a future cafo as it’s rumored that the calif. dairy men aspire to implement 10 new cafos here in wis.

As I stated in the below email to our state constituents, fighting the DNR proposed gen. Permit will be an imperative if we expect to keep the little local control that we have re. Cafo’s. I urge ACES, and others, to seriously consider taking aggressive action in opposing the Proposed DNR General permitting process for wis cafos. Please let me know if I can help out in any way.



Below is the text from that email about gen permiting:

Dear Concerned Citizens,

 I'm writing you regarding my concern about the proposed DNR WPDES/CAFO General Permitting process that is being proposed by the WDNR. I don't claim know a lot about this matter, only what I hear from the DNR, so if any of you have more info on it please reply with an update.

 I spoke with a DNR official from Fitchburg, Wis and he stated that the DNR hearing on this matter is just around the corner and if there's not strong op. to it, it'll likely go through and there will be "0" local control, and little local communication re. cafo permitting. The permitting process will all be "streamlined" and Madison will take care of it all. This is a DNR "program decision" so it's not a law proposed by the legislature. The DNR official emphatically encouraged me, if I'm concerned with local control, to get organized and promptly oppose this intuitive.

 You can bet that a number of business groups will be strongly supporting this general permitting initiative. However, I'm confident that it can be stopped by strong opposition. The only question is, are there enough people willing to voice there opposition to it?

 The DNR official told me that first step is to contact Tom Bauman, 608-266-9993 (Phone) thomas.bauman@wisconsin.gov, from the WDNR and tell him you want to get on the notification/mailing list about any meetings, hearings or updates re. the DNR's general permitting for WPDES/CAFO's. In the mean time, consider writing your state reps, organize, and plan on being present when this matter goes to hearing.

 Again, please reply to me if you have any updated info. on this matter.

 Thanks

John Fox

608.634.3786

 

Sincerely,

 

Emily Joy Rozeske

Office Manager
Valley Stewardship Network
124 1/2 S. Main Street
Viroqua, Wisconsin 54665

 

(608) 637-3615
www.kickapoovsn.org

 

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