December

• WSN Annual Conference Coming Jan. 25-6 in Stevens Point - Check out Saturday's workshops and activities(all pdf forms will open in a new window) and see what's up with our governor's candidate forum on Friday night.  You can register online or print and use this form.

• Crandon Mine Owner Dodges Pollution Responsibility - Company seeks and gets immunity from destruction caused by copper mine in Papua New Guinea.

• Buffer Strips Cut From Runoff Rules - Green Bay Press Gazette reports on removal of key pollution provision.

• Conference On Wetlands Planned - EPA to host February event in Chicago.

• Proposed Rules Would Cut Urban Runoff - Conservation design would encourage rain and snow melt infiltration rather than routing to storm water dainage system.[This file may take 30 seconds to load and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it, click here for a free download if you don't already have it.]

• Mining Forum Scheduled For Fox River Vally - Jan. 14 event in Appleton will focus on cyanide legislation and "no special treatment for mining" bill.
• Nicolet Cyanide Information Challenged - Group responds to misinformation campaign against cyanide ban legislation.View a table detailing cyanide transportation accidents. 

• Sawyer County Residents Continue Power Line Fight - Citizens and Town Government taking action, according to Sawyer County Record article.

• Preventing Water Pollution From Roads And Road Building - Proposed rules would help keep Wisconsin waters clean.

• CUB Sues PSC On Transmission Line Decision - Utility Watchdog group says PSC ignored alternatives.

• Farm Fields Being Restored To Wetlands - Walworth County project will add to state wildlife area.

• Vegetative Buffers Protect Wisconsin Waters - Public support for buffer rules needed.

• Phosphorus Based Nutrient Management Essential - Proposed rules would help clean Wisconsin waters[You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this, click here for a free download if you don't already have it.]

• WSN Annual Conference Coming Soon  - January gathering in Stevens Point will feature Governor Candidates' Forum.[You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this, click here for a free download if you don't already have it.]

• Cyanide Not So Safe - Curt Anderson responds to one Assembly Rep.'s views in the Green Bay Press Gazette.

• Proposal Threatens Wetland Protection - Green Bay Press Gazette editorial criticizes end-around on state wetlands law.  And click here for more background on Ashley Furniture's manueverings.

• Recycling A Better Alternative To New Mines - New report examines how to meet metallic needs.

• SOUL Takes Transmission Line Battle Into Court - Group files legal challenges in Circuit Court and before state Supreme Court.

• Crandon Mine Owner Facing Global Turmoil - Environmental and labor practices spark dramatic reactions.

• Appleton Post Crescent Argues For Caution With Cyanide - Paper editorializes on cyanide legislation and lessons learned from PCB contaminated Fox River.

• New Public Education Program On Factory Farms - Learn how you can protect your community.

• Senate Passes "No Special Treatment For Mining" Bill - Legislation would plug loopholes in mine waste handling and disposal. And read the news release from the citizens' coalition on the two mining victories this week. 

• Crandon Mine Benefit Nov. 13 - Enjoy great music and help support the Town of Nashville's legal battle against the Crandon mine at this Madison event.

• State Senate Passes Cyanide Ban - Mining victory propels bill to state Assembly for action.

• Letter To Legislators On Cyanide Bill - ECCOLA seeks to refute misrepresentations and illuminate meaning of mining legislation.[You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this letter, click here for a free download if you don't already have it.]

• Legislation Aims To End Mining Waste Loopholes - Senate and Assembly bills find bipartisan support for ending exemptions in state law.

• Cyanide Dangers Outlined At Mining Presentation - Speaker calls for passage of state law banning use in mining.Rally Pushes Cyanide Ban - Gathering at state capitol seeks support for state ban.

• Milwaukee Rainfall Contains Hazardous Mercury Levels - New report documents mercury-tainted rain at amounts 10 times greater than those considered safe by EPA and read the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's story on the finding.

• Help WSN Strategize - WSN issue chairs seeking input for planning action during 2002.

• Sheybogen Press Calls For Strong Mercury Rules - Editorial supports strongest feasible rules on "a vitally important conservation issue."

• DNR Hearings On Mercury Rule Begin - Opponents and supporters speak out at first two hearings, three more set to come.

• Tribe Keeps Authority To Regulate Waters On Reservation - Court victory affirms Mole Lake Chippewa's right to protect water from Crandon mine pollution.

• Industry Attacks Mercury Pollution Control Rule - Opponents seeking to derail effort to clean Wisconsin's air, fish, and water of mercury.

• Our Water:  Clear Progress, Muddy Outlook - Read the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's terrific three part series on the state of our water (story will open in a new window).

• Kenosha County Endorses State Ban On Cyanide Use At Mine Sites - Kenosha is 7th Wisconsin county to call for new state cyanide law.

• What Do You Do When The Power Company Wants Your Land? - Advice from SOUL to landowners along the Duluth to Wausau transmission line route.

• Will The Well Run Dry? - Series of free lectures at the UW to explore fate of Wisconsin's groundwater.

• State Runoff Rules Need Public Comments - Help strengthen the historic rules with your thoughts by September 14.

• WSN Responds To DNR Split Veto - Letter to Governor expresses thanks and read Rep. John Gard's reaction. [If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these documents, click here for a free download.]

• Governor Vetos DNR Split - Move follows overwhelming opposition to plan.

• Dockominiums Ruled Illegal By Court - Desire of marina owner in Lake Geneva to privatize public resource rebuffed by Wisconsin Association of Lakes lawsuit.And read the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's account of the story.

• State Toughens Fish Consumption Advisory For More Wisconsin Lakes - 92 inland lakes contain mercury at levels demanding stronger advisories (this link will open in a new window) and read the Green Bay Press Gazette's account of the matter.

• International Paper Questions Wisdom Of DNR Split - Company concerned about potential pitfalls, according to Appleton Post Crescent and Governor Candidate Doyle calls idea bad for taxpayers.

• SOUL Presses Transmission Line Fight Despite PSC Approval - Only round one as fight continues.
• Gaylord Nelson Calls For Veto Of DNR Split  and Stevens Point Journal Editorializes Against Plan.

• Menominee County  Signs On To Growing List Of Counties Supporting Cyanide Ban - County backs state action prohibiting use of cyanide at Wisconsin mining operations.

• Mine Agreement Valid, Court Says - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story on Crandon agreement brokering.Background on the Nashville agreement.

• Lawmakers Ignore Public On Cyanide Ban - Green Bay Columnist Curt Andersen offers this fanciful view of a conversation with Nicolet Minerals.

• Public Hearings and Meetings Set For New Mercury Pollution Control Rule - DNR schedules gatherings around Wisconsin.

• Going Bananas Over DNR Split - Cumberland columnist discusses DNR break-up.

• Wetlands Deal In 1999 Budget Found Illegal - Challenge to filling of wetlands won by Wetlands Association and other groups.

• PSC Weighing Decision On Northern Transmission Line - Agency decision expected by end of August.

• Governor Should Chop DNR Proposal - So says Joe Knight in Eau Claire Leader Telegram story.

• Send A Letter To The Governor On The DNR Split - Citizen action can block the move, but your help is needed.  And a little multimedia humor about the proposal (our thanks to the unknown author).

• Natural Resources Board Opposes DNR Split - Citizens advisory board urges McCallum to veto budget proposal and the WSN and Republican and Democrat lawmakers weigh in with their views.

• Wisconsin Citizens Oppose Special Treatment For Mining - Environmental protection laws should be uniform, poll finds.

• Poll Finds Most Oppose Crandon Mine And Cyanide Use In Mines - Opposition strong in northern Wisconsin and among Republicans.

• GOP Munches On DNR - Editor of Merrill Foto News criticizes splitting of DNR.

• Proposal To Regulate High Capicity Wells In State Budget  - Provision would require full Environmental Impact Statement by DNR before any approval of Perrier type project.

• Snapshop Of Proposed DNR Budget - Plan splits forestry from DNR, funds other key programs.

• Waste Lagoons Threaten Environment & Public Health - Report calls for a ban on new manure lagoons.

• Milwaukee County Supports Cyanide Mining Ban - Board endorses state bills to prohibit use of toxic chemical at mining operations.

• Global Warming Topic Of Conference In Milwaukee - Interfaith response will be the focus on Sunday, July 22, at Marquette University. 

• Power Line Foes May Go To Court - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story says opponents likey to challenge any PSC approval.

• State Stewardship Funding Level Uncertain - Budget negotiations differ over how much money is available for state land purchase program.

• Reinstate Public Watchdog - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel calls for return of Public Intervenor and Appointment of DNR Secretary by Natural Resources Board.

• More Power Plants In Wisconsin's Future? - Assembly budget slashes funding for energy conservation and renewable energy programs.

• Two More Counties Endorse Cyanide Mining Ban - Brown and Shawano support state effort to ban use of toxic chemical at state mining operations.

• Tribe Seeking New Meetings On Crandon Mine - Potawatomi want Army Corps to address major project changes by mine applicant.

• DNR Split Not Wanted - Assembly making a mistake, argues UWEC biology professor.

• Proposed Assembly Budget Assaults Air And Water - Conservation and environmental groups seek rejection of nasty policy amendments.

• DNR Board Poised To Adopt Historic Mercury Pollution Controls - DNR staff recommending agency set standards slashing mercury pollution of Wisconsin's waters from in-state sources by 90% over next 15 years.

• Citizens Establish Fox River Web Site - Public health and PCB clean-up campaign is the goal.

• Rep. Gard To Push DNR Split In Assembly Budget Bill - Effort will focus on getting Republican caucus to include the measure in their state budget plan.

• State Climate Change Coalition Reacts To U.S. Global Warming Stance - Interfaith groups express the need to take action to save our grandchildren. 

• The Art Of Persuasion - A brief list of talking points to use when asking your legislator to support the bill banning cyanide use in mining.

• Bill To Ban Use Of Cyanide In Mining Passes Wisconsin Senate Committee - Bipartisan vote sends measure onto full Senate.

• Mining Company's Assertions On Cyanide Impacts Disputed - Letter discusses record of cyanide use.

• Open Records Request Filed On Mine Waste Discharges - Northern Thunder seeking data on Flambeau mine acid drainage.

• Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Opposes DNR Split - Organization sends letter to Joint Finance Chairs and Fiscal Analysis Details Negative Impact of Michigan's DNR Split.

• Protesters Oppose Crandon Mine In Australia - Annual meeting of new owner met with opposition from Crandon mine opponents.

• How We Won The Battle For Isolated Wetlands - An insiders' view of what went into the struggle.

• Proposed Transmission Line Unites Tribes - Cree and Chippewa Recognize Common Concerns.

• Citizens Rip DNR Split Plan At Hearing - Overwhelming opposition to proposal voiced in Onalaska.

• Four More Views On Splitting The DNR - Superior Daily Telegram, River Alliance, Howard Tanner, and WI Employees Union express perspective.

• Michigan's 5 Year Experiment With Split DNR - Results of break-up should be a warning for Wisconsin. And the Ashland Daily Press editorializes against DNR break-up.

• Hearing Set On Cyanide Mining Ban - Senate Bill 160 will receive public comment on Thursday, May 10 in Madison.

• Trout Unlimited Weighs In On The DNR Break-Up Proposal - Group critical of plan at state council meeting.  And read the state Legislative Fiscal Bureau's detailed analysis of the break-up.[If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these documents, click here for a free download.]

• Perrier Says State Has Firm Bottled Up - President doubts firm will ever operate well in Wisconsin.

• Move Underway To Break-Up DNR - Plan to cut agency in half raises cost and efficiency concerns according to ECCOLA.  And read a memo from DNR staff discussing the issues.

• Negotiated Wetlands Bill Applauded - Protections for wetlands made in bill introduced into legislative special session.

• State Environment More Vulnerable - State-of-the-State assessment says challenges ahead.

• Conservation Congress Sends A Wetlands Message - Citizens overwhelmingly endorse wetlands protection.

• Help Stop Mercury Laced Fish - Card suggests actions to end mercury poisoning of Wisconsin's waters as May 5 fishing opener approaches. 

• Subscribe To The WSN E-Newsletter - New twice-a-month "WSNetworkNews" aims to inform.

• Protecting Wetlands Is A Legitimate State Concern - Appleton Post Crescent editorial calls for end to gridlock.And the Green Bay Press Gazette calls for a halt in wetlands development until the legislature can agree on a protection strategy.

• Assembly Sponsor Revises Wetlands Bill While Destruction Continues - AB 322 still contains major loophole for developers.

• Citizens Announce Plan For Monitoring Wetlands Filling - Advocates hope action slows destruction of unregulated wetlands.

• Attend The Conservation Congress Hearings Monday April 9 - Support DNR Independence, Public Intervenor Restoration, Mining safety, and energy conservation at your local county meeting.

• Follow The Legislative Correspondence On Wetlands Protection - Leaders offer proposals while gulf of compromise remains unbridged.

• Power Line Would Hurt Economy and Flood Lands - So writes Curt Anderson in the Green Bay News Chronicle.

• Conservation Groups Tour Clean Farm - Visit highlights need to protect and restore farm conseration practices.

• Open Season On Wetlands Destruction Begins - Menards filling wetland for new store in absence of state regulatory protections.

• What Price Bottled Water?? - Perrier bottling project heightens state groundwater concerns.

• Crandon Mine Project Sold Again - Billiton merges with Austrailian firm BHP.

• Legislature Must Protect Wetlands - Green Bay "Press Gazette" editorial critical of politics and special interests blocking bill from becoming law.

• DNR Holding Hearings Statewide On New Runoff Rules - March hearings cover most significant state effort ever aimed at controlling polluted run-off.

• Judge Rejects Cancellation Of Crandon Mine Local Agreement - Town of Nashville may appeal ruling.  And, ECCOLA says ruling is more about corruption of democracy than mine permitting.

• WSN Seeking Fox Valley And Milwaukee Hubs - New Hubs would join 4 others around the state to work on WSN issues and activities.

• State Tightens Advisory On Fish - Any caught in inland lakes may exceed limit of mercury.

• DNR Independence Bill Passes State Senate - SB3 heads to Assembly, citizens need to contact their representatives.

• Wetlands Protection Bill Sails Through State Senate - Vote of 27-6 sends bill to Assembly where builders hope to bog it down.

• Groups Applaud Bi-Partisan Support for Wetlands - Call for full Senate approval of wetlands vote on Tuesday.

• Ousted DNR chief calls for protection from politics - And Sen. Dale Schultz calls for restoration of DNR Independence as does Attorney General Jim Doyle.

• McCallum To Name New DNR Secretary - Ousting Meyer is biggest change so far.

• DNR Independence Bill Passes State Senate Committee - Natural Resources Committee 5-0 vote sends bill to full Senate.

• Columnist Echos Call For Return of Public Intervenor - Wausau outdoors writer notes support for office.

• Senators to Push Wetland Measure - Panel working toward restoring protection.

• Groups Endorse New Bill Calling For Cyanide Mining Ban In Wisconsin - Call comes on the anniversary of European disaster.

• WSN Holds Annual Meeting - Quick update on conference highlights and new issues.

• Bring Back The Public Intervenor - DNR Sec. George Meyer issues the call to the Wausau Daily Herald.

• Supreme Court Deregulates Wetlands - Decision effects 80% of Wisconsin's wetlands inventory.

• Mining Meetings Cross State - Student Mine Summit and No Line, No Mine meetings planned for Mole Lake and Milwaukee.

• Conservancy Buys Wetland - Purchase of 2,346 acres hailed as saving Great Lakes ecosystem.

• EPA Proposes New Factory Farm Reg's - Move aims to protect public health and environment by curtailing water pollution from animal waste.

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