WSNetwork News

Did you know that, in the 1980s, one of the top two sites considered for nuclear waste storage was
the Wolf River Batholith located along the Wolf River in central and northeast Wisconsin?

Now that there are numerous problems with using Yucca Mountain, the Wolf River Batholith
could once more be a target site for nuclear waste storage.

Many of the people and groups who opposed the proposed Crandon mine, are organizing to
keep the Wolf River Batholith from ever being used to store nuclear waste.

A website for the group (under heavy construction) has been started at www.notinmybatholith.com.
If you would like to receive meeting notices, send information, volunteer or receive information about this important issue, send email to info@notinmybatholith.com

Action Alerts

Maintain funding for habitat management

Governor Proposes Cuts to Conservation and Renewable Funds

Stop the Army�s Plan to Burn PCBs at Badger Army Ammunition Plant

Habitat for Humanity builds energy-efficient homes in Dane County

Homes built by Habitat for Humanity of Dane County are among the most energy-efficient homes built in Wisconsin in terms of heating costs.

"Homeowners are paying about 25 percent less to heat a Habitat home than a typical certified home," said Dave Kinyon, project manager for Wisconsin Energy Star Homes, a state program administered by the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp. of Madison. "They are achieving good air tightness, and they also have a compact design that doesn't mean small."

The efficiency of the homes means the Habitat program not only makes homes affordable to own but cheaper to live in.

Furthermore, the Energy Star certification is built on standards that ensure the home is safe, durable and energy-efficient -- giving homeowners further peace of mind and ease in maintaining the homes.

Read the article in Wisconsin State Journal

Garlic mustard invading Wisconsin�s woodlands

Now is time to pull this invasive plant

�Garlic mustard is a major threat to the survival of Wisconsin�s woodland plants and the wildlife that depend on them,� says Kelly Kearns, a plant conservationist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. �It quickly dominates the forest floor and can displace most native wildflower species and tree seedlings within 5 years�

Garlic mustard is currently invading forests throughout southern and eastern Wisconsin. Although it is not as widespread in northern Wisconsin forests, it certainly can thrive and spread there as well, putting forests throughout the state at risk

Landowners need to get an early start on controlling garlic mustard. Hand-pulling is the easiest and most effective way to control new or small populations.

�Make sure that you pull up the entire root,� Kearns says. �If any flowers have begun to open, remove the plants from the woods; otherwise, the uprooted plants can still develop seeds.

Read the article in WDNR

Join the Garlic Mustard Pull
Saturday, May 21, Kaukauna

DATCP: Public Asked to Review Special Cranberry Pesticide Registration
Deadline May 6

Wisconsin cranberry growers would have a new insecticide for use in the bogs under a special pesticide registration proposed by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. This special registration will allow cranberry growers to use Diazinon G-14 to control girdling larvae, an insect that damages plants and reduces the amount of cranberries grown in infested acres.

The special registration process allows state to register pesticide products for specific uses without prior federal approval. The procedure gives states flexibility to meet local needs, such as controlling a plant disease or insect outbreak. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviews the states' decisions and can reject the decisions if they are not justified.

Citizens have until Fri., May 6, 2005 to comment on this proposed five-year special pesticide registration.

For copies of the environmental assessment, contact Patricia Kandziora, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911, (608)224-4547 or review the assessment Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at the department offices, 2811 Agriculture Dr., Madison, 2nd floor. Comments received on or before 4:30 p.m., Fri., May 6, 2005 will become part of the preliminary environmental assessment record. Send comments to Patricia Kandziora.

Read article in WisPolitics

New Web site will allow public to report shorebird activity

Goal is to help track shorebirds at waterfowl impoundments and natural wetlands

The public will be able to help state wildlife officials track migratory shorebirds at waterfowl impoundments and at natural wetlands thanks to a new web site that will allow people to report shorebird sightings at 12 locations around Wisconsin known to attract migrating shorebirds seasonally.

The Wisconsin Shorebird Survey web site is housed on the University of Wisconsin Green Bay web server and can be reached at http://www.uwgb.edu/birds/shorebird/

For more information Read the DNR article.

Celebrate Lake Superior Day July 17, 2005

Celebrate Lake Superior Day, July 17, 2005, by hosting an event in your environmental organization or department. The Lake Superior Binational Forum* is promoting this basin-wide event to highlight the personal, environmental, economic, and spiritual connections people have to this unique world treasure. This event is held annually on the third Sunday in July.

Join the festivities by hosting an activity or event in your organization or community. The attached file contains activity ideas, or visit the Forum's website at the end of April for a list of activities useful for environmental groups: http://www.superiorforum.info

For more information, email the Forum at lakesuperiorday@northland.edu. Use this email to let the Forum know what activity your group does so it can be added to the web site calendar.

It pays to protect pollinators

From Rural Defenders
"Scotty Johnson" <sjohnson@defenders.org>

Princeton University researchers working in the Central Valley of California found that native bees provide significant pollination services for watermelons, cherry tomatoes, and hybrid sunflowers. There are about 4,000 native bee species in the U.S. and most areas have 50 to 60 local native species. 80 percent of organic farms close to wild habitat could rely entirely on native pollinators for pollination services, and avoid the rather expensive practice of pollinating with commercial hives of European honeybees. In contrast, 50 percent of organic farms located distant from wild habitat could rely on native pollinators alone, and none of the conventional farms had sufficient native pollinators for pollination needs. Overall, native bees provided 28 percent of pollination on conventional farms and 60 percent on organic farms. Farmers can improve native pollinator populations on their farms by supporting natural area protection and restoration efforts in their communities; leaving field and road borders untilled to provide habitat for ground-nesting bees; eliminating or reducing insecticide use; and planting or preserving native flowering plants in pastures, hedgerows, and other areas on their farms.

For more information, see: www.newfarm.org/research/2005/mar05/pollinator.shtml

Episcopal Bishop joins Christian leaders in Earth Day letter to President Bush on Clean Air Policy

With a major mobilization of its base, U.S. Christian leaders are using their clout to call attention to the Bush Administration�s "clean air" policy that they say goes against Christian principles of stewardship and care for God�s creation and God�s children.

In a letter sent today to President Bush, nearly 100 national and state Christian leaders in the country, representing millions of congregants, expressed grave moral concern and dismay over the President�s stewardship of America�s environment and the implications for Americans� health - particularly for children, women and the elderly.

Read the Article and the Letter

Environmental Leaders Endorse a Shift From Petroleum to Renewable Resources

On April 19 over 70 environmental organizations and leaders today endorsed the SEED (Secure, Sustainable Energy and Environmental Demand) Action Agenda, calling for a broad market shift away from petroleum dependency, and toward bioplastics and biofuels that can be produced using renewable resources.

Declaring this "the last century of petroleum," the groups publicly endorsed a set of technologies that manufacture materials and fuels with resources from the Midwest, not the Middle East.

Read the article at ENN

Clean Up: Trade In Your Old Gas Can

The One You'll Get In Return Spills Less, Reducing Air Pollution

Here's something simple you can do that will make a difference -- trade in your old gas can for one that is more environmentally friendly.

In a program sponsored by Dane County Clean Air Coalition, about 3,500 of the new gas cans -- designed to keep gas from spilling -- will be made available free to the public on June 11.

Dane County residents will be able to turn in their old containers and get up to two of the environmentally friendly containers while the supply lasts. The new containers are also available to purchase at many area hardware stores.

Read the article from Wisconsin State Journa

Muir's Letters Put On Web

A rare collection of Muir's letters has been published online for the first time by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The letters offer new insight into the man considered the first environmentalist and founder of the Sierra Club, the nation's largest grass-roots environmental group.

Spanning more than 50 years of Muir's life, they document in his own words how he evolved from a strict Calvinist at UW to a mountain-climbing, tree-hugging advocate for all things nature.

See the Original manuscript letters of John Muir, 1861-1914

Read the article in The Capital Times

WISPIRG Looking for Windfarmers

From: "Jennifer Giegerich, WISPIRG State Director" <JenniferG@wispirg.org>

Beyond cleaner air and cleaner water for Wisconsin, clean energy could also mean an economic boost for our farmers. Whether it is leasing land for wind turbines, burning switch grass, or utilizing anaerobic manure digesters, clean energy alternatives offer our farmers opportunities for additional income and are an economic boost to our rural economies. Our elected officials need to hear from farmers.

If you are a farmer, you can join a network of farmers who support clean energy alternatives. We will add your name to a letter asking our elected officials to support clean energy in Wisconsin. If you are not a farmer, forward this message to any Wisconsin farmers that you know and urge them to join the network.

Then, ask your friends and family to help too by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To sign up, click on the following link, or simply paste it into your browser:

http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=96&id4=ES

Wood County seeks input about forest policy

Comments needed for plan revisions

Wood County residents have a chance to help shape the future of the county's forest.

The county's forest plan is revised every 10 years by state Department of Natural Resources and Wood County forest officials. It's scheduled to take effect by January 2006 and last until 2015.

Whom to Contact:
More information can be found at the Wood County Park and Forestry Web site at co.wood.wi.us/parks
Forest survey forms also can be downloaded from the Web site (PDF file). Hard copies can be obtained at the County Courthouse.

Anyone who has any comment or concerns about the forest plan can contact the Wood County Park and Forestry Department at 422-8422.

Residents can let officials know what they want done with the county forest by filling out surveys that can be downloaded from the Wood County Park and Forestry Web site, co.wood.wi.us/parks.

Read article in Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune

Comments sought on master plan for largest state forest, Northern Highland American Legion State Forest

A draft master plan and environmental impact statement (EIS) for the 225,000-acre Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest is now available for public comment through June 1, 2005.

The plan proposes additional recreational opportunities including more primitive and developed campsites, designation of areas for both motorized and non-motorized activities and an expansion plan that would add high quality aquatic communities and patches of old growth to the forest as they become available from willing sellers.

The forest is located in Vilas, Oneida and a small portion of Iron counties in north central Wisconsin.

Public Hearings are Scheduled for the first week of May. May 3, 4, 5, 9 - Four open house informational meetings are scheduled from 3:30 - 8 p.m. to provide information, answer questions, and collect written and verbal testimony from the public regarding the Draft Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest Master Plan and EIS. with public hearings to begin concurrently at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Robert Dall at (715) 365-8993. Meeting will be held at the following locations:

May 3, Neenah - Neenah Public Library - Shattuck Meeting Room, 240 E. Wisconsin Ave.
May 4, Fitchburg - Fitchburg Community Center - Oak Hall Room, 5510 Lacy Road.
May 5, Boulder Junction - Boulder Junction Community Center 5386 Park Street (just off County Hwy. M)
May 9, Wausau - Wausau Park Inn 2101 N. Mountain Road.

For more information See DNR Announcement and
DNR re NHAL

Permanent waterway rules in effect May 1

Half of projects expected to receive
shorter review or be exempt from permitting

New well requirements aim at protecting state groundwater

Garlic mustard invading Wisconsin�s woodlands

Permanent waterway rules in effect May 1

Half of projects expected to receive shorter review or be exempt from permitting

New well requirements aim at protecting state groundwater

Garlic mustard invading Wisconsin�s woodlands

Half of projects expected to receive
shorter review or be exempt from permitting