As the new home of WISPIRG's environmental work, Wisconsin Environment can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release.
Madison, WI—A motion
passed by the Joint Finance Committee yesterday spells serious trouble for the
health of Wisconsin’s soils and waters. Introduced by Representative Ward
and Senator Harsdorf, the motion significantly reduces the authority of the
Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to protect
the state’s natural resources from agricultural chemical contamination.
The motion specified that DATCP may not collect or analyze samples before they
make a determination that probable cause of contamination exists. It requires
DATCP to make a determination of probable cause without allowing them to collect
that information, "The stipulations are equivalent to requiring a detective
to prove that a crime was committed, but forbidding him to collect any evidence,"
observed Kathy Pielsticker, executive director of Wisconsin League of Conservation
Voters.
The motion also requires that DATCP have reason to believe that the contamination
poses a significant risk to human health. "I’m finding it difficult
to interpret their doublespeak. Are they saying that some risk to human health
is okay?" asked Kerry Schumann of Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group.
The conservation community was both surprised and distressed by the Committee’s
actions. "This motion is baffling at best. Unless the goal is to tie the
hands of DATCP to detect contamination," said Caryl Terrell of the Sierra
Club. She continued, "Ironically, two rural legislators proposed the motion,
but only two Milwaukee legislators understood the dangers in letting spilled
ag-chemicals spread into groundwater used for drinking and cooking by rural
families."
"The field investigation of problem ag-chemical spills protects our drinking
water and groundwater resources. Cutting the fees that pay for this protection
puts our health at risk," said Derek Scheer of Clean Wisconsin.
The motion passed by Joint Finance will greatly contribute to polluted runoff,
or water that carries chemicals and sediment on the ground into wetlands, streams,
lakes and other waterbodies. Each year, the United States spends millions of
dollars combating the problems associated with polluted runoff, such as beach
closures, unsafe drinking water and fish kills. Wisconsin set a national precedent
in 2002 when it was the first in the country enacting rules addressing the problems
associated with polluted runoff.
"As a state, we have come so far to protect the water resources of our
citizens. Yesterday’s motion signifies a huge step backwards," explained
Schumann.
"The Committee’s decision will impact not only Wisconsin’s water
resources but the health of our citizens. Wisconsinites have placed their trust
in public officials to ensure the quality of their drinking water -- quality
we can no longer guarantee," said Diana Toledo, acting director River Alliance
of Wisconsin.
The governor’s original budget assured that the waters of state would be
protected from agricultural chemical runoff by providing additional resources
to DATCP and making cost-cutting adjustments to address agricultural chemical
cleanup.
The conservation community urges the full legislature to restore the fee increase
and remove the problem language from the motion.
Supporting organizations: Clean Wisconsin, River Alliance of Wisconsin, Sierra
Club- John Muir Chapter, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, WISPIRG
Additional Background:
Over 400 contaminated sites are being cleaned up under the ACCP (Agricultural
Chemical Clean-up Program). The fund is supported solely by annual fees and
surcharges on a range of chemicals sold in Wisconsin. All GPR (general tax-payer
funds) was removed in the 1999-2001 budget.
Two years ago, DATCP recognized that to keep the Fund solvent would require
a fee increase but an industry-supported proposal was not adopted in spring
2002 as part of the Budget Repair bill. Many of the fees have not been adjusted
for several years while the Fund is used extensively and is generally run with
a new zero balance.
Examples of problematic pesticides include lead arsenate contamination resulting
from past applications of the pesticide in orchards, particularly in Door County.
Additional Contact Information:
Caryl Terrell, Sierra Club- John Muir Chapter, 608.256.0565, cterrell@execpc.com
Anne Sayers, WI League of Conservation Voters, 608.850.4585, anne@conservationvoters.org
Derek Scheer, Clean Wisconsin, 608.251.7020, dscheer@cleanwisconsin.org
