In response to corporate lobbyists, Gov. Thompson's DNR has created a new "Contaminated Sediment Advisory Committee" which consists entirely of corporate representatives, their consultants and lawyers, harbor representatives, Thompson Administration officials, and 2 federal officials.  Public interest groups were not invited.

The first meeting was held Monday, June 7 in Madison.

The committee's topic is closely related to the controversial Fox River PCB contamination cleanup, and dozens of other river or lake sediment projects across the state.  The DNR's charge to the committee is "to develop a comprehensive vision on how to best proceed with approaching future sediment contamination issues."  DNR staff said they intended to "react to and satisfy issues raised by this committee."

The committee does NOT include any independent experts, academia, Native American tribe representatives, farmers, homeowners affected by sediment disposal options, or public interest organizations (environmental, conservation, fishing, boating, swimming, or angling organizations) who could be most impacted by contaminated sediment issues.

Instead, the 23 invited members of the committee represent:

• Wisconsin Manufacturer's and Commerce  (an industrial lobby umbrella group)
• Fort James Corp. and P.H. Glatfelter Corp (two of 7 key Fox River polluters)
• Foley & Lardner, and Godfrey & Kahn Lawfirms (who represent some Fox River polluters)
• Superior Special Services (provides sediment dredging and landfilling)
• Wis. Public Service and Northern States Power (power utilities)
• Brown County Port and Solid Waste Department (needs disposal for harbor dredgings)
• Foth & Van Dyke, Montgomery Watson, and Kestrel Management  (3 industry consultants --- involved in sediment remediation sites)
• Fox/Wolf Basin 2000   (a pseudo-enviro group created by Fox River polluters)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  (one rep.)
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (one rep.)
• Thompson Administration (eight reps.--- six from DNR, one from Division of Health, and one from Dept. of Transportation.)

"Citizen groups would have to think twice before insisting on joining such a committee, when Thompson's DNR has already shown a clear preference for addressing industry's concerns exclusively.  It would be an exercise in futility for us," stated Rebecca Katers, Executive Director of Clean Water Action Council.  "This industry preference by DNR has become standard practice since Thompson took control of DNR in 1995 and eliminated the Public Intervenor Office."

The committee was created in response to a visit and request to DNR Secretary George Meyer, by corporate lobbyists Mark Thimke, of Foley and Lardner, and Patrick Stevens, of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce.  At the first committee meeting, Mark Thimke was encouraged to provide introductory remarks and describe his "vision" for the committee.

Foley and Lardner representatives donated $47,485 to Gov. Thompson's campaigns between 1993 and 1998, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.  Members of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce donated a significant share of the $9,529,212 raised for Thompson over the same period.

The committee is charged with considering:

• Sediment Criteria --- including calculations and application;
• Risk Assessment;
• Natural Resource Damage;
• Role of Modeling;
• Exposure Routes;
• Water Quality Criteria;
• Process for Developing Sediment Cleanup Objectives;
• and Landfill Disposal of Contaminated Sediments

"Who does DNR work for?   The public or major donors to Thompson's campaigns?"  asked Katers.  "It's obvious this committee is rigged to provide input and access for corporate lobbyists, while citizen concerns are sidelined.  Voters should be outraged."