Clean Wisconsin�s 2003 State of the State Report

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June 2003

Clean Wisconsin, formerly Wisconsin�s Environmental Decade, presents its eleventh annual State of the State report. Each year, the organization reviews the state of Wisconsin�s environment looking at the results of the collective work of government, advocacy groups and Wisconsin residents in protecting and enhancing the environment.

This year, Clean Wisconsin finds Wisconsin�s environment is in need of protection. From the Bush Administration�s dirty air plan to the lack of protections for the quantity of underground and surface water and the ecosystems that rely on these waters, there is a lot of advocacy work that remains to be done. Not only do we need to protect the resources and our natural areas but also our rights to enforcement information and upholding the open meetings law.

In the following pages, Clean Wisconsin presents five key state issues. There are many environmental issues that could be covered and many that Clean Wisconsin works on that are not addressed in this report. The selection of issues presented below provides a sense of the breadth of issues and a link to the theme that our rights, our health or our environment are being threatened and therefore need our protection.

BUSH�S DIRTY AIR PLAN

Background:
Over the years, Clean Wisconsin has worked to protect clean air and develop clean energy sources in Wisconsin. Our most recent efforts have moved Wisconsin closer to becoming the first state in the country to reduce mercury pollution from power plants. We have worked with state legislators to introduce a bill to reduce pollutants that cause global warming, smog and health impacts such as asthma. During the 2000 Presidential campaign, Bush announced his intention to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the main contributor to global warming and one of our target pollutants.

What Happened:
The Bush Administration launched a roll back of the Clean Air Act under the guise of the �Clear Skies Initiative�. The announcement and introduction of legislation came in February of 2002. The package did not include provisions from the president�s campaign to regulate carbon dioxide pollution as pledged by the President during his campaign. He reneged on that campaign promise and refuses to allow his administration to negotiate an international treaty on global warming.

The Bush Administration�s plan would weaken existing laws passed to protect our health from power plant pollution that causes asthma attacks among children, respiratory problems and deaths among older Americans, and put pregnant women at risk. The plan significantly delays the deadlines for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury. The President�s air pollution plan significantly undercuts Clean Wisconsin�s work towards clean air and clean energy. And if enacted, the president�s plan would mean more soot, smog, and mercury pollution from power plants, and no reductions in carbon dioxide pollution.

Looking Ahead:
Fortunately, there are many elected officials and concerned organizations who are standing up for clean air and health.

• Groups of federal lawmakers have introduced tougher clean air bills that include carbon dioxide pollution reductions.
• Clean Wisconsin has petitioned the state Department of Natural Resources to reduce carbon dioxide pollution from power plants.
• Wisconsin and other states continue to move forward with plans to reduce mercury pollution power plants.
• The state continues to move toward an increased supply of cleaner sources of electricity, like wind and solar power with Governor Doyle calling for Wisconsin utilities to provide 10% of our electricity from renewable sources in 10 years.

In addition to cleaning up existing coal-burning power plants, we need to encourage investment in clean energy sources. America has the capability and ingenuity to supply clean energy that creates jobs and stimulates economic development, while not damaging the environment.

Clean Wisconsin will continue to lobby for stronger environmental regulations for old, dirty power plants while promoting cleaner alternatives to coal.

THE CRANDON MINE�S MANY LIVES

Background:
Since the mid-1970s, Wisconsin residents have been fighting the development of the Crandon ore body, located in Forrest County. Originally an Exxon project, the proposed mine has changed hands 4 times since it was first proposed.

If developed, the Crandon mine would be a copper-zinc mine. The site is located at the headwaters of the pristine Wolf River, and is situated very near the Mole Lake Reservation, the Forrest County Reservation, and just up stream from the Menominee Reservation. If opened, the Crandon mine would be the largest toxic waste dump in Wisconsin.

Mining opponents fear that opening the mine will cause toxic sulfide contamination in ground water and surface water, pollute the Wolf River with cyanide-laden tailings, and destroy environmental and cultural areas within the mine site.

In response to these concerns, a strong grassroots coalition made up of tribes, local groups, environmental groups, conservationists, hunting and fishing groups and many others has grown to unite unlikely allies and has succeeded in preventing the mine for more than 20 years.

What Happened:
Late last year, Nicolet Minerals shut down their offices and announced that they would not continue attempts to open the Crandon mine. However:

• Nicolet Minerals did not withdraw their permit application from the DNR; and
• The DNR did not stop work on the draft environmental impact statement for the permit application even though the project is without an active owner; and
• A proposal to purchase the mine site using diverse funding sources died before negotiations ever began.

In early June, BHP-Billiton approached the State of Wisconsin with an offer to sell the mine site to the state. After completion of the appraisals (administered by the Department of Administration but paid for by BHP-Billiton), former Governor McCallum announced that the appraised price was too high effectively ending the discussion before negotiations could begin.

Looking Ahead:

• Clean Wisconsin, with mining activists around the state, continues to work towards the passage of a bill to ban the use of cyanide in all Wisconsin mines. This bill would help ensure that Wisconsin�s waters will remain safe from mining pollution for future generations.
• The threat of the Crandon mine still remains and Clean Wisconsin will continue to seek permanent solutions for this site. Exxon walked away from the project only to return six years later. Now Nicolet Minerals is walking away. Without a permanent solution for the ore body and the mine property, the specter of toxic mine at the headwaters of the Wolf River will never die.
• In an effort to protect the area from a devastating mine, Governor Doyle stated that he would reopen negotiations with BHP-Billiton to talk about a possible state purchase of the mine site.

A Local Connection:
Herb and Genie Buettner
Herb and his wife Genie own the Wild Wolf Inn near White Lake. His inn overlooks the Wolf River just an hour or so downstream from the proposed Crandon mine. Herb rents canoes, kayaks, and equipment for whitewater rafting, in addition to running his inn and restaurant. If the mine is opened, Herb�s business will be devastated by pollution from the mine site. Tourism is already inhibited in the area by the threat of the Crandon mine. The Buettner�s can be reached at 715-882-8610.

POWER A CLEANER FUTURE�.or maybe not?

Background:
The way we use electricity has changed a lot since the 1960s. Unfortunately, the way it is produced has not, even though we have cleaner choices. Wisconsin�s aging fleet of coal burning power plants are the largest industrial source of air pollution. In 2002, seventy percent of power generation in Wisconsin was from coal. Yet, Wisconsin power companies want to build more coal plants.

Clearly there are many cleaner energy choices available today or in development. Wind, solar, natural gas, fuel cells, and of course energy efficiency to name a few represent the type of options that Clean Wisconsin has advocated for in our work.

Wisconsin is at the threshold of making critical decisions for our future energy needs. If the state chooses more outdated, dirty coal plants, we are locked into 50 plus years of pollution that causes global warming, mercury contamination of our fish, and asthma attacks.

What Happened:
Initial proposals have been discouraging. Wisconsin power companies continue to view coal as the dominant fuel. The impact of these proposals is compounded by the selection of power plant technology that does not represent the cleanest technology available. These proposals include:

• Oak Creek-- WE Energies has an aggressive campaign to turn the existing Oak Creek power plant into one of the 10 largest coal plants in the nation.
• Wausau-- Wisconsin Public Service Corp. announced plans to build a new 500 megawatt coal plant at the site of an existing plant (Weston).
• Alma-- Dairyland Power Cooperative announced plans to build a 250 megawatt coal plant, 40 miles southwest of Eau Claire.

Add these to similar proposals in Sturgeon Bay and Cassville and Wisconsin quickly becomes a frontier for new coal plants.

Looking Ahead:
Clean Wisconsin is not opposed to the construction of new power plants. However, we will continue to oppose coal projects that threaten the environment and public health. With the lifespan of at least 40-50 years for each power plant, we can not afford to use second best technology when it comes to protecting public health and the environment.

• Clean Wisconsin will advocate for an increase in the goal set for renewable power sources, like wind and solar power, in Wisconsin. The current goal is 2.2% which no longer drives consideration of renewables. We will advocate for a requirement that 10% of Wisconsin�s power come from renewable sources by 2011.
• Clean Wisconsin will also continue to work with coalitions that support the use of cleaner energy sources and technology. An example is RESET - Responsible Energy for Southeastern Wisconsin�s Tomorrow - created out of concern for impacts of the proposed mega coal plant in Oak Creek. As a founding member of this remarkable coalition, Clean Wisconsin has worked hard to ensure a cleaner energy choice in the Oak Creek area.
• Clean Wisconsin will seek opportunities to increase energy efficiency through changes in building codes, consumer education and working with forward-thinking businesses.
• Clean Wisconsin will also continue working to retire the oldest and dirtiest of coal plants to protect our health and environment.

TRAMPLING CITIZENS AND THE COUNTRYSIDE - TRANSMISSION LINE

Background:
The Arrowhead-Weston transmission line was first proposed in 1998 by two utilities: Minnesota Power and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation. The proposed line would run from Duluth to Wausau, cutting a 150 foot swath across farms, forest and rivers. Citizens in northern Wisconsin quickly rallied to oppose the line because of the environmental and social damage it would create in communities along the corridor. SOUL (Save Our Unique Lands), a citizen group formed in opposition to the line, as well as Clean Wisconsin and the Citizens Utility Board filed a lawsuit with the Public Service Commission to oppose the line and promote sustainable alternatives.

Despite thousands of pages of testimony and heavy opposition at public hearings, as well as clearly presented viable alternatives, the Public Service Commission granted a permit in 2001 to allow the construction of the transmission line. Clean Wisconsin, SOUL and CUB continued to fight the line in court and local opposition continued in the form of counties and citizens refusing to allow surveying for the line on public and private land.

What Happened:
Amongst a variety of criticisms of the proposal, one serious critique was that American Transmission Company (ATC), the company currently in charge of the project, seriously underestimated the costs of the project which would then change the considerations of alternative routes and options to the proposed line. Specifically:

• ATC came back to the Public Service Commission requesting an additional $230 million to construct the line. Claiming that �aggressive� environmental standards, payments to landowners and a two year delay caused the project to be $230 over-budget.
• ATC has caused the Public Service Commission to reevaluate their decision and make an additional decision whether to approve the budget increase.
• Clean Wisconsin, under a government accountability project, began an investigation of the Public Service Commission under the open meetings law. After review of sign-in sheets for meetings with the Commissioners, private meetings between one or more Commissioners and the executives from American Transmission Company were identified. Clean Wisconsin, through an attorney, filed Freedom of Information Act requests to ascertain whether these meetings violated the state�s open meetings law.
• Clean Wisconsin has asked the Public Service Commission to suspend consideration of American Transmission Company�s request for an additional $230 million for the project

Looking Forward
Clean Wisconsin is currently awaiting the result of its open records request. In the meantime, Clean Wisconsin continues to work with SOUL and CUB. The Public Service Commission will no doubt reconsider the cost of the line opening the transmission line project up again. While much of the decision-making and therefore persuading goes on inside the walls of the Public Service Commission, Clean Wisconsin will continue to assist communities to highlight the impacts of the line which ripple far beyond the corridor of the line itself. A Local Connection: Linda Ceylor Linda owns and operates Hillside dairy with her husband. Because she lives so close to the proposed transmission line route she is concerned about the effect of the transmission line on farms and farmers. Linda lives near Phillips, Wisconsin. Linda can be reached at 715-474-2271, or hillsidedairyfarm@yahoo.com.

WISCONSIN WATER – OUR WAY OF LIFE

Background
Over the past thirty years, Clean Wisconsin as well as many other organizations have worked to ensure that the waters of Wisconsin are clean and of sufficient quantity so that we can enjoy fishing, swimming and fresh drinking water. While water quality has improved, much remains to be done.

The heritage of the state and our everyday lives are grounded in the water resources present in Wisconsin.

• Wisconsin sits between two of the world�s great waterways, the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes.
• Wisconsin contains 15,000 lakes and 44,000 miles of perennial streams (More lakes than Minnesota!).
• Wisconsin contains 5.3 million acres of wetlands.
• Wisconsin holds, beneath its surface, groundwater sufficient to cover the state to the depth of 30 feet.

What happened
Little rain in the fall of 2002 and lower-than-normal snowfall this winter means little rain-water to replenish the lakes.

• In July 2002, Wisconsin officially joined the other 49 states in being classified as having drought-like conditions.
• Lake Michigan water levels are projected to reach record low water levels this summer (2003), the lowest since 1964, raising concerns for shippers and marina operators.
• The lack of precipitation coupled with increasing use in certain communities has led to significant drops in drinking water sources under the ground.
• Water levels around Green Bay have been dropping at 4 feet per year.
• Water levels in some areas around Waukesha are dropping at 14 feet per year.

Led by Clean Wisconsin, over twenty five groups and activist gathered at a water summit in May 2002 to discuss the challenges facing the state to protect its water resources. We discussed the responsibilities that go along with using water resources for recreational, commercial and community purposes and how use should not lead to the abuse of this resource. Collectively, we agreed to declare 2003 the Year of Water and to support events and activities that highlight and celebrate this resource.

• Both Governor McCallum and, now Governor Doyle declared 2003 The Year of Water;
• The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters held the Waters of Wisconsin Forum bringing together hundreds of people to discuss Wisconsin�s water heritage and the challenges it faces.

The Future
Clean Wisconsin has launched a long-term water project: Wisconsin Water – Our Way of Life. Through this project, Clean Wisconsin will educate citizens, businesses and elected officials on the essential role of water in our lives and how to protect our water resources being active water stewards. The following principles will be the cornerstone of the project:

• Clean water is an essential human right as well as the basis for all life including the health, beauty, and biological diversity of Wisconsin�s ecosystems.
• Clean water is essential to the health of Wisconsin�s economy and fundamental to the future of our state�s agriculture, commercial and recreational fisheries, tourism and recreation and other businesses and industries; and
• This unique abundance of water nonetheless constitutes a limited resource that must be used and stewarded wisely in the interest of future generations and the diversity of living things that depend on it.

A Local Connection:
Susan Priebe and Ellen Rulseh started a business in Madison called, Partnership for Rain Gardens. Similar motivations across the state are working toward protecting our local water resources and recharging the underground reservoirs of water. Partnership fro Rain Gardens can be reached at 608-240-9424.