CNOW Week of Jan. 27, 2020

• Oppose AB 794: Allowing Polluters to Undermine Science in Groundwater Standards
• Oppose SB 715 & AB 798: Throwing Money Away With Biomanipulation
• Support SB 716: Prohibiting Sale or Use of Toxic Sealant Products
• Support SB 710: Extending Assistance to Fix Failing Septic Systems
• Oppose SB 711 & AB 793: Undermining the Municipal Flood Control Grant Program
• Support LRB 4534: Creating the Clean Water Fund for Our Future
• Support LRB 3583/2: Funding for Well Compensation and Lead Service Line Replacements
• Support LRB 4127: Restoring Local Control and Funding Critical Positions at the DNR to Protect Our Water
• Support LRB 5092/4: Implementing CAFO Fees and Nutrient Management Plans
• Support LRB 5094: Funding Resources to Set Health-Based Standards for Water
• Support LRB-5093: Improving NR 151 Implementation and Ensuring Water Quality Standards

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to oppose AB 794, which is before the Assembly Government Oversight Committee on Wednesday.

Currently, all members of the public are allowed to participate in the process of approving new health-based standards for groundwater once submitted to the DNR. Our health depends on sound science and our state agencies provide balanced unbiased scientific review with robust public comment opportunities. Polluters have begun a push to influence the scientific review of public health impacts of groundwater. These polluters clearly have a self-interest in the outcome of such review. AB 794 would, for the first time, require the Department for Health Services to solicit input from self-interested parties on how health standards are developed.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to oppose SB 715 & AB 798, which are before the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday and the Assembly Committee on the Environment on Thursday.

Biomanipulation attempts to control algae growth not by removing its root cause, phosphorus, but “parks” it by controlling for the conditions that lead to algae growth. Biomanipulation does nothing to address the causes of algae bloom because it doesn't stop phosphorus from entering water systems. SB 715 & AB 798 would allocate $150,000 GPR funds in fiscal year 2019-20 on a process that is a proven failure at addressing algae blooms.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support SB 716, which is before the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Thursday.

Coal tar-based driveway sealants are extremely toxic and can lead to increased cancer rates and cause tumors in fish and other aquatic animals. SB 716 would prohibit the sale of coal tar-based sealant products and high PAH sealant products beginning Jan. 1, 2021, and prohibit the use of such products beginning July 1, 2021.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support SB 710, which is before the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Thursday.

Septic systems can leak and contribute to groundwater quality problems. SB 710 would delay the sunset for the Wisconsin Fund program until June 30, 2023, which helps homeowners to repair or replace failing septic systems. The bill also provides Department of Safety and Professional Services with two staff positions to help conduct sanitary permit applications and plans reviews and assist with the program.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to oppose SB 711 & AB 793, which are before the Senate Natural Resources Committee and the Assembly Environment Committee on Thursday.

Many communities in our state are experiencing flooding due to extreme weather events. These flooding events threaten people’s lives and cause property damage. SB 711 & AB 793 would eliminate the requirement that DNR prioritize municipal flood control grants on projects that would protect public health and safety and would require the DNR to consider economic impacts over water quality concerns. These changes also do not allow for consideration of future flooding risks, which are only accelerating due to climate change.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support LRB 4534, which is currently circulating for co-sponsorship.

Ensuring that the sources of our drinking was is safe should be a top priority of decision-makers. The Groundwater Coordinating Council’s 2019 report estimates that it would cost $440 million just to clean up nitrate contamination. Wisconsin needs a stronger financial foundation to support folks with contaminated wells. LRB 4534 would create a trust fund that would help implement a long-term strategy to fund remediation, prevention, and enforcement efforts so taxpayers don’t have to keep paying for cleanup.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support LRB 3583/2, which is currently circulating for co-sponsorship.

Far too many families in Wisconsin cannot turn on their tap water and feel confident that their water is safe to drink. LRB 3583/2 would provide $40 million in bonding for the replacement of lead service lines, a source of high lead levels in children’s blood. Additionally, the bill would reform the Well Compensation Grant Program to enhance the income limits so more families can access clean water.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support LRB 4127, which is currently circulating for co-sponsorship.

Over the last several legislative sessions, the legislature has rolled back many protections on sulfide mining, wetland development, and shoreland zoning. LRB 4127 would restore many of these protections while also providing funding to DNR staff scientists and educators fund in previous budgets while also supporting several Department of Justice positions to strengthen environmental enforcement and crack down on bad actors.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support LRB 5092/4, which is currently circulating for co-sponsorship.

Large industrial farms in Wisconsin pay less than other Midwestern states to cover the actual costs of the DNR being able to protect water quality. Less than 30 percent of small farms have Nutrient Management Plans, which help to ensure we are protecting our water from excessive pollution. LRB-5092/4 would increase fees for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) to ensure they are helping to cover the costs of their permits. The bill also requires the DNR to expand Nutrient Management Plan adoption with additional cost-sharing, with a goal of statewide adoption by 2030.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support LRB 5094, which is currently circulating for co-sponsorship.

Protecting public health requires scientists the Department of Health Services to develop appropriate evidence-based health standards. LRB 5094 would fund positions at DHS to help develop these health standard recommendations in a timely manner.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support LRB 5093, which is currently circulating for co-sponsorship.

In July 2019, Gov. Tony Evers directed the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to start the rulemaking process to expand targeted performance standards under NR 151 to sensitive regions of the state most affected by nitrate contamination. This meaningful action will help prevent groundwater from being contaminated in the first place, reducing the threat to public health in areas with sensitive soils and geology like southwestern Wisconsin and the Central Sands region. LRB 5093 increases the amount of cost-sharing available from 70 up to 100 percent under the nonpoint source pollution abatement program for projects that are located in sensitive areas, as determined by DNR. The bill also directs DNR to promulgate targeted runoff standards if statewide standards are insufficient to meet water quality standards.

Conservation NOW (CNOW) announce the pro-conservation positions on issues before the senate, assembly and/or governor in the week ahead to state legislators. Others wishing to follow activities in the state legislature also receive CNOW, including legislative staff, conservation voters, and media. All of these issues are tracked on the Vote Tracker. Issues in the CNOW may appear in the Conservation Scorecard, to be released in the summer of 2020.