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Millions in State Revenues
Lost Due to Lack of Enforcement of Water Laws
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Madison, WI - The state lost between 14 and 284 million dollars in
1998 alone by failing to prosecute facilities that significantly violated
state water pollution laws, according to a report released today by Midwest
Environmental Advocates, Inc.
"Who Is Guarding Our Waters? A Report on
the Wisconsin DNR's Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws" analyzes
water pollution violations and enforcement during the 1990s. |
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The primary findings of the report include the following:
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From 1990 to 1998, between 28% and 46% of major industrial facilities were
in Significant Non-Compliance with their Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (WPDES) permits. During the same time period,
between 31% and 55% of major municipal facilities were in Significant Non-Compliance
with their WPDES permits.
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From 1990 to 1998, on average, the DNR sent Notices of Violation to only
10% of all municipal and industrial facilities that were in Significant
Non-Compliance with their WPDES permits.
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During that same time period, the DNR only referred to the Department of
Justice for prosecution 2.5% of all industrial and municipal facilities
that were in Significant Non-Compliance with their WPDES permits.
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In 1999, the DNR failed to inspect 53% of all major industrial facilities
with WPDES permits.
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In 2000, only four industrial and municipal facilities were prosecuted
for water pollution violations. Of these four, they paid only $212,217
dollars to the state in penalties.
"Thirty years after the Clean Water Act was created to protect our waters,
Wisconsin's industries and municipalities are still polluting and the DNR
is not doing enough to prevent it," said Melissa
Scanlan, Executive Director of Midwest Environmental Advocates, Inc.
and primary author of the report.
Scanlan added that, "When the odds of getting penalized for polluting
are this low, it is no surprise to see such a high number of facilities
violating their permits and treating our rivers and streams like waste
conveyers."
"Clearly, we need legislation to correct this problem and administrative
reforms within the DNR," said Keith
Reopelle, Program Director of Wisconsin's Environmental Decade.
"This report," noted Reopelle, "provides a blueprint for the necessary
changes, including increasing referrals to the Department of Justice for
prosecution, consistently sending Notices of Violation to polluters, giving
citizens the right to enforce all state environmental laws, and restoring
the Public Intervenor's Office."
For
additional information, write MEA at 22 E. Mifflin St. #301, Madison, WI
53703 or call 608-251-5047.
