clean wisconsin defender, spring 2014

7
Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1291 Madison, WI Clean Wisconsin 634 W. Main St., #300 Madison, WI 53703-2500 we believe everyone deserves clean water and clean air Spring 2014 Defender Also in this issue Asian Carp Update | Microplastics | Member Picnic ... NEXT PAGE! continued on page 3 By Clean Wisconsin Staff A top Clean Wisconsin priority is reduc- ing polluted runoff, which leads to ugly algae blooms in our waters. Since the passage of rules to limit phosphorus in Wisconsin’s wa- ters in 2010, we’ve been working statewide to bring local partners together around col- laborative water improvement efforts. The legislature seemed to be supporting the phosphorus rule, too. Two good bills, Act 7 and Act 70, passed that would have made the rules easier to work through and supported communities weighing the most cost-effective options for phosphorus con- trol. Meanwhile, multiple communities in Wisconsin have started laying groundwork for phosphorus reduction projects. But in January, SB 547/AB 680, a bill that threatened to pull the rug out from the phosphorus rule, was introduced. Currently awaiting the Governor’s signature, this bill creates a new option for phosphorus dis- chargers (such as sewage treatment plants and paper mills) to meet lower limits by pay- ing counties to engage sources of polluted runoff (such as farms and urban surfaces) in reductions. As originally introduced, the bill continued on page 3 By Emily Jones, Water Quality Specialist & Amber Meyer Smith, Director of Programs & Government Relations THE GOOD Local control for frac sand mines retained Two separate bills failed to be adopted this session to strip away local control over frac sand mines. Both efforts were led by Senator Tom Tiffany, also the author of the bad iron mining bill (see “Ugly” below), but this time, his bills quickly fizzled after immense outcry. In addition, the budget bill also added two new positions at DNR to monitor frac sand mining operations. Attempts to rollback groundwater protections failed Rather than discussing how we can add more groundwater protec- tions into our state laws due to dried-up lakes, rivers and streams, the Legislature instead debated SB 302, to rollback some the few protections that do exist. Fortunately, thanks to a huge effort this bill was not voted on by either the Senate or Assembly. In the 10 years since the last groundwater protection bill was en- acted, the problems due to overpumping of groundwater have only gotten worse. There are 40% more high-capacity well applications in Wisconsin than just a couple years ago, and the trend does not seem to be slowing. Yet SB 302 sought to limit restrictions that could be placed on these large wells, and even went as far as to es- sentially undo an important Wisconsin State Supreme Court case that established DNR’s duty to protect our groundwater resources under the constitutional Public Trust Doctrine. While we were able to stop the bill this session, this issue will certainly be at the fore- front of discussions about environmental policy for next session. THE BAD No progress on renewable energy, energy efficiency Several bills were introduced this session that would have increased Wisconsin’s commitment to renewable energy, but were not acted on by the legislature. Luckily, the Legislature also refused to move on other bills that would have rolled back our Renewable Energy Portfolio. Our work is stopping egregious policies from passing, but Wisconsin is quick- ly being left in the dust by other states that have chosen to prioritize a clean energy future. A Clean Energy Choice bill (LRB 4412) was introduced that would have allowed developers to own a renew- able energy system on a home, business or farm and sell the energy The legislative session that began in January 2013 has just ended, and legislators will now turn their attention to re-elections and preparing bills for the next session that begins in January 2015. Here’s a look back at the actions that helped — or hurt — our natural resources. WATERED DOWN NEW PHOSPHORUS BILL DILUTES WATER CLEAN-UP EFFORTS By Clean Wisconsin Staff

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Defender is the quarterly newsletter of Clean Wisconsin, the state's largest environmental organization.

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Spring 2014Defender

Also in this issue Asian Carp Update | Microplastics | Member Picnic ... NEXT PAGE!

continued on page 3

By Clean Wisconsin Staff

A top Clean Wisconsin priority is reduc-ing polluted runoff, which leads to ugly algae blooms in our waters. Since the passage of rules to limit phosphorus in Wisconsin’s wa-ters in 2010, we’ve been working statewide to bring local partners together around col-laborative water improvement efforts.

The legislature seemed to be supporting the phosphorus rule, too. Two good bills, Act 7 and Act 70, passed that would have made the rules easier to work through and supported communities weighing the most cost-effective options for phosphorus con-trol. Meanwhile, multiple communities in Wisconsin have started laying groundwork for phosphorus reduction projects.

But in January, SB 547/AB 680, a bill that threatened to pull the rug out from the phosphorus rule, was introduced. Currently awaiting the Governor’s signature, this bill creates a new option for phosphorus dis-chargers (such as sewage treatment plants and paper mills) to meet lower limits by pay-ing counties to engage sources of polluted runoff (such as farms and urban surfaces) in reductions. As originally introduced, the bill

continued on page 3

By Emily Jones, Water Quality Specialist & Amber Meyer Smith, Director ofPrograms & Government Relations

THE GOODLocal control for frac sand mines retained

Two separate bills failed to be adopted this session to strip away local control over frac sand mines. Both efforts were led by Senator Tom Tiffany, also the author of the bad iron mining bill (see “Ugly” below), but this time, his bills quickly fizzled after immense outcry. In addition, the budget bill also added two new positions at DNR to monitor frac sand mining operations.

Attempts to rollback groundwater protections failedRather than discussing how we can add more groundwater protec-

tions into our state laws due to dried-up lakes, rivers and streams, the Legislature instead debated SB 302, to rollback some the few protections that do exist. Fortunately, thanks to a huge effort this bill was not voted on by either the Senate or Assembly.In the 10 years since the last groundwater protection bill was en-

acted, the problems due to overpumping of groundwater have only gotten worse. There are 40% more high-capacity well applications in Wisconsin than just a couple years ago, and the trend does not seem to be slowing. Yet SB 302 sought to limit restrictions that could be placed on these large wells, and even went as far as to es-sentially undo an important Wisconsin State Supreme Court case that established DNR’s duty to protect our groundwater resources under the constitutional Public Trust Doctrine. While we were able to stop the bill this session, this issue will certainly be at the fore-front of discussions about environmental policy for next session.

THE BADNo progress on renewable energy, energy efficiency

Several bills were introduced this session that would have increased Wisconsin’s commitment to renewable energy, but were not acted on by the legislature. Luckily, the Legislature also refused to move on other bills that

would have rolled back our Renewable Energy Portfolio. Our work is stopping egregious policies from passing, but Wisconsin is quick-ly being left in the dust by other states that have chosen to prioritize a clean energy future. A Clean Energy Choice bill (LRB 4412) was introduced that would have allowed developers to own a renew-able energy system on a home, business or farm and sell the energy

The legislative session that began in January 2013 has just ended, and legislators will now turn their attention to re-elections and preparing bills for the next session that begins in January 2015. Here’s a look back at the actions that helped — or hurt — our natural resources.

WATERED DOWNNEW PHOSPHORUS BILL

DILUTES WATERCLEAN-UP EFFORTS

By Clean Wisconsin Staff

2 Spring 2014

&

Executive Director Mark Redsten

Development Director Angela Cao

Director of Science & Research Tyson Cook

Chief Financial Officer Nick Curran, CPA

Communications Director David Hunt

Membership & Development Coordinator

Jake Immel

Organizing Hub Coordinator Melissa Gavin

Water Quality Specialist Emily Jones

Director of Programs & Government Relations

Amber Meyer Smith

Water Resources Specialist Ezra Meyer

General Counsel Katie Nekola

Staff Attorney & Climate Resilience Project Manager

Pam Ritger

Senior Policy Director Keith Reopelle

Midwest Clean Energy Coordinator Sarah Shanahan

Clean Energy Specialist Katy Walter

Creative Director Amanda Wegner

Staff Attorney Elizabeth Wheeler

Office Manager David Vitse

Chair Margi Kindig, MadisonVice Chair Chuck McGinnis, MiddletonTreasurer Gof Thomson, New Glarus Secretary Gary Goyke, Madison Belle Bergner, Milwaukee Shari Eggleson, Washburn Luke Fairborn, Whitefish BayElizabeth Feder, Madison Scott Froehlke, MontelloKaren Knetter, MadisonCarl Sinderbrand, MadisonBruce Wunnicke, Richland CenterBoard Emeritus Kate Gordon, San Francisco

The Defender is owned and published quarterly by Clean Wisconsin, 634 W. Main St., #300, Madison, WI 53703, 608-251-7020. A one-year subscription membership is $35. Please direct correspondence to the address above. Volume 44, No. 2 Issue date: April 2014©2014 Clean Wisconsin. All rights reserved. ISSN # 1549-8107

Clean Wisconsin protects Wisconsin’s clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being

an effective voice in the State Capitol and holding elected officals and polluters accountable.

Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin exposes corporate pol-

luters, makes sure existing environmental laws are enforced and educates citizens and businesses.

On behalf of its 10,000 members, supporters and coalition partners, Clean Wisconsin protects the special places that make Wisconsin a wonderful

place to live, work and play.

634 W. Main St., #300 • Madison WI 53703 Phone: 608-251-7020 www.cleanwisconsin.org

STAFF

BOARD

Printed with soy ink on unbleached, recycled paper.

Share your story with Clean WisconsinBecause we can’t advocate for Wisconsin’s environment without you, we want to know why you care enough to support us with your hard-earned money. Did you learn your conservation ethic from your grandparents? Do you take a daily hike through the woods near your house? Are you worried about the impacts of climate change? We want to learn about the places you love in Wisconsin, why they’re worth protecting, and why you support us. To share your story, contact Jake at 608-251-7020 x23 or [email protected] or submit it at www.cleanwisconsin.org/tellyourstory. Thank you again for supporting our work!

April brings Earth Day & Pledge MonthLet’s build a cleaner, healthier Wisconsin together! In honor of Earth Day and Clean Wisconsin’s 44th birthday, all donors will get the following gift(s) with their donation in April:

$60 gift Clean Wisconsin water bottle

$150 gift Clean Wisconsin messenger bag

$300 gift Clean Wisconsin water bottle & messenger bag

$1,000 gift Clean Wisconsin water bottle, messenger bag and two (2) tickets to our gala event, Epicurean Evening, in October. SEE BACK PAGE FOR DETAILS

April is also Pledge Month, and we want 100 new donors to join the Clean Wis-consin ranks! Help us achieve this goal by spreading the word.

Give today at www.cleanwisconsin.org/earthday2014

Be part of our inaugural gala event!Join the growing list of businesses sponsoring our inaugural gala event, Epicurean Evening, to be held October 8 at Madison’s The Edgewater Hotel!

We have three sponsorship packages available, and we are seeking items for our silent auction. Visit www.cleanwisconsin.org/epicureanevening or contact Jake at [email protected] or Angela at [email protected].

The Clean Wisconsin & Friends Bike Club is back!Join us the third Tuesday of each month, May through September, as we ride around Madison. NEW this year, we’ll have fun activites and special events during every ride. Are you on the list? Sign up at www.cleanwisconsin.org/ride.

Thanks to our 2013 #whereinwi volunteer photographersHats off to Wesley Adams, Joel Austin, Wendy Murkve, Dawn Sabin and Nichole Sadowski for their work. And be sure to check out our #whereinwi photo contest on Facebook most Fridays!

&journey

appreciation picnic

member

storiesfrom the

With adventurer Jon Turk, author of The Raven’s Nest

Lussier Family Heritage Center 3101 Lake Farm Road, Madison

Come for our first-ever member appreciation picnic, then stay to hear great stories from Jon Turk, author of North America’s first environ-

mental science textbook who left academia to explore remote parts of the world. Join us as

this adventurer shares stories from his journeys and how he’s seen the effects of climate change

firsthand.

Picnic starts at 11 a.m. and will be catered by Underground Kitchen, with an appearance by Chef

Jonny Hunter.

Jon Turk begins his talk at 1 p.m.

This event is free to members, but space is limited. RSVP to [email protected]

or call 608-251-7020 x23

News, Notes Events

Saturday, April 19

www.cleanwisconsin.org 3

from the Executive Director

Mark Redsten Executive Director

Through the past 44 years, Clean Wisconsin has been fortunate to work with countless concerned citi-zens to protect our natural resources and the many places that make Wis-consin great.

In 2013 alone, Clean Wisconsin members drove 35,000 messages to Wisconsin legislators and decision-makers. That speaks volumes about your passion, even in a politically divisive and challenging legislative session. There is true strength in our numbers, as we helped derail truly terrible bills that could have diluted groundwater protections and left Wisconsin communi-ties virtually helpless against the frac sand industry.

With the end of the legislative session, it’s a great time to take stock of accomplishments and look forward to those is-sues that require continued vigilance. As you’ll read in this issue of Defender, there remain specific and ongoing environ-mental threats such as keeping invasive species like Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes, phosphorus pollution from industrial and agricultural dischargers out of our state’s waterways and more.

Clean Wisconsin shares a birthday with Earth Day. That’s both an honor as well as a great reminder of who we are, why we are here and the importance of what we do. We know we have to fight hard every day. That often means long days and weekend hours during big battles like we saw this legislative session, but it also means a vigilant, long-term fight for clean air and clean water.

This is why Clean Wisconsin is in the process of expanding our legal and science programs while becoming more active in areas outside of Madison. These strategic moves are built around the idea that our growth is crucial as we continue to face greater challenges to Wisconsin’s environmental protec-tions and programs. Your voices and your generous invest-ments of time, money and energy have forged a solid founda-tion for all of these efforts and many more. We’re proud to look back to 44 years ago when Clean Wisconsin was founded on Earth Day 1970, as we move forward to protect Wisconsin for future generations.

Thank you,

back to that host without being regulated as a utility. The Renew-able Energy Act was similarly introduced but not acted on which would have increased Wisconsin’s renewable energy portfolio and placed an emphasis on bioenergy and increasing renewable energy opportunities for businesses, farmers and homeowners. Efforts to improve energy efficiency through Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program also stalled out.While no progress was made in these areas, we were also able to

stave off some terrible policies that would have put Wisconsin at the absolute bottom of the pack in terms of clean energy. The as-sault on wind energy continued through a few bills (AB 83/SB 71, SB 167) that didn’t make it very far through the legislative process, and other bills sought to freeze or alter Wisconsin’s current com-mitment of generating 10% of our energy through renewables by 2015 (AB 34, SB 47). Luckily, these threats to our clean energy future got little attention and did not advance.

THE UGLYIron mining laws decimated

Viewed by many as one of the worst environmental bills of this session, if not of recent memory, AB 1/SB 1 is the new law written by and for Gogebic Taconite to come to Wisconsin and mine the beautiful Penokee Hills and pristine Bad River watershed with as little regulation as they can. While we all succeeded in stopping this terrible bill in 2012, they plowed ahead as soon as the Legis-lature resumed in 2013 to ram this bill through. While a mine is still years from becoming a reality (if ever), our predictions about this bill are already coming true. The Army Corps of Engineers has already told the DNR that the Corps will have to do a separate review process because of Wisconsin’s new arbitrary time limits. Clean Wisconsin remains engaged in the application process and in pushing for protection of our natural resources.

Citizen rights to challenge high-capacity wells prohibited

In the waning hours of the evening, a provision was added to the 2013 budget bill that prevents neighbors from challenging a high capacity well permit if the objection is raised over concerns about the wells’ cumulative impacts. The cumulative impacts of these large wells are of great ecological concern and limiting people’s legal rights is definitely a step in the wrong direction to protect our waterways from over-pumping.

Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund funding slashedThe biennial budget bill cut funding for this land preservation

program by 20%, required DNR to sell 10,000 acres of land it al-ready owns and put numerous restrictions on how future land pur-chases can be made. The cuts will have a crippling effect on the state’s efforts to protect land for future generations, especially since the program funding was just slashed by 30% in 2011.

Wondering about a bill not listed here? Visit our website for a full recap of environmental

bills in the 2013-’14 legislative session.

lacked any accountability for actual phosphorus reductions, set arbi-trary thresholds for water quality limits and payments, and delayed cleanup efforts by at least a decade.

Worst of all, it would have greatly undermined the work Clean Wisconsin and others have done in creating the adaptive manage-ment option (AMO) of the phosphorus rule, which allows discharg-ers to work with agriculture to achieve the greatest and least expen-sive phosphorus reductions. We remain committed to AMO and helping communities build these innovative partnerships.

Since the overall concept of the bill was good, offering discharg-ers another way to work with agriculture to have the biggest overall impact on waterway cleanup, we set about trying to make improve-ments to get a product that doesn’t undermine adaptive manage-ment option. With your help, we were a leading presence at Assem-bly and Senate hearings, and suggested changes based on our long history with the phosphorus rule. And our voices were heard — sort of.

The final version includes some important changes, including

setting clearer accountability measures for measuring progress on phosphorus cleanup, regular review by DNR, and water quality thresholds based on science. Unfortunately, the bill still delays ulti-mate waterway cleanup and could still undercut efforts communi-ties have already undertaken on adaptive management.

The good news is there is a long way before this new option be-comes available. The EPA must review the bill and may approve it based on public input and if the bills’ provisions comply with the Clean Water Act. Clean Wisconsin will be closely monitoring this process, weighing in on it and alerting members to take action. Above all, the goal is cleaning up our waters. Clean Wisconsin be-lieves AMO, with its focus on meeting water quality standards, is the best way to get there and will continue to work toward that goal.

In the face of these unknowns, Clean Wisconsin is closely moni-toring this bill through its next steps, including the EPA’s response and the public comment period on a state study. Meanwhile, we continue to work to advance the AMO in watersheds facing phos-phorus impairment due to polluted runoff.

Good, Bad, Ugly continued from cover

Phosphorus Rule continued from cover

Above all, the goal is cleaning up our waters. Clean Wisconsin believes the adaptive

management option is the best way to get there and will continue to work

toward that goal.

4 Spring 2014

While plastic has been a water pollution concern in for awhile, it is only recently that researchers have started to take a hard look at problem of “microplastics” in inland waters. And when they looked, they found them to be widespread throughout the Great Lakes. So just what are microplastics, and what they do?

Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic that range in size from 5 millimeters on the large end (about the size of a pencil eraser) to micrometers (less than the width of a human hair). They enter the environment in a variety of ways, like through the gradual breakdown of plastic-containing litter like bottles or bags into smaller and smaller sizes. Additionally, there are some products that are specifically designed as microplastics, like plastic “microbeads” used in cosmetics and cleaning products. These products get washed right down the drain, and are difficult to remove from the water by sanitation systems because of their buoyancy and resistance to coagulation (a process where particles are made to clump together, so they can be settled out of the wastewater stream).

Since microplastics aren’t biodegradable, once they get into the environment they stick around for a long time. This means that there are many opportunities for them to be taken in by aquatic organisms, and researchers have found them in everything from tiny inverte-brates to large fish. More research is still needed on how these microplastics end up impact-ing the organisms that ingest them, but it is clear that they have the potential to disrupt digestive systems, and decreasing feeding by taking up space in those digestive systems.

There are also potential chemical impacts from microplastics, which may be an even larger concern. For example, most plastics contain additives, like BPA, to give them certain prop-erties. If these additives leach out of ingested microplastics, they could cause significant impacts for individual organisms or even their offspring. Additionally, microplastics may act as a pathway for toxic chemicals to be concentrated from the water and enter into the foodweb. This is because microplastics can act as sponges for persistent organic pollutants (like pesticides and PCBs) or other chemical pollutants in the water. When the microplas-tics are then eaten or otherwise taken in by aquatic organisms, those pollutants may then be released into the organisms. This becomes an even larger concern with pollutants that accumulate in the organisms and then “biomagnify” up to much higher concentrations as animals higher up the food chain eat lots of contaminated organisms that are lower down.

Fortunately, some (but not all) major cosmetics companies have agreed to eventually phase out microbeads. Until then, here’s how you can help keep them out of the environment:

Follow the three Rs: Reduce your plastic use, reuse plastic products when possible, and be sure to recycle them when you’re done.

Don’t buy them: Avoid using products that contain plastic microbeads; pay particular attention to face and body washes or scrubs, toothpastes and hand soaps.

Check the ingredients: Avoid “polyethylene” or “polypropylene, even in products that don’t explicitly state that they contain exfoliants.

Go natural: Opt for products that contain natural ingredients, such as oatmeal, sea salt, sugar, fruit pits or pumice.

25th Senate DistrictD-Poplar

office phone: [email protected]

Few legislators appreciate Wisconsin’s natural resources as deeply as Senator Bob Jauch. Perhaps that’s because his district in Northwestern Wisconsin has such a rich heritage of preserving and protecting the lakes, rivers, great northern forests and wetlands of the area. Whether making an impassioned speech on the Senate floor or taking beautiful photo-graphs of the North Country, it’s clear that Jauch sees Wisconsin through the same conser-vation lens as Aldo Leopold and Gaylord Nelson.

Jauch has made his mark on nearly every major state environmental policy enacted in the last 30 years. From acid rain laws in the ‘80s, Wisconsin’s first comprehensive recycling law in 1990, childhood lead prevention laws in 1994, through the Great Lakes Compact in 2008, Jauch has been a strong voice for responsible environmental protections.

Most recently, Jauch led the fight against the new open-pit mining laws passed in 2013 that leave our beloved Northwoods exposed to irreversible pollution. While the bill was signed into law, the issues raised by Jauch helped educate the public about the deeply flawed bill and the impact it would have on Northern Wisconsin. “I truly believe, as Gaylord Nelson did, that the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around. Our natural resources are simply too valuable to be handed over to private industry without public oversight.”

The 25th Senate District is geographically the largest district in the Legislature, includ-ing Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price and Washburn counties and parts of Burnett, Dunn, Polk, St. Croix, Sawyer and Vilas counties. Jauch served in the military, including tours in Vietnam and Japan, eventually making a home in northern Wisconsin with his wife and two children.

Because of his environmental leadership, Jauch received several “Clean 16” awards from Clean Wisconsin’s predecessor organization. While he is equally as passionate about chil-dren’s health and educational issues, the beauty of his Northwoods district and the passion his constituents have to protect it may best define his legislative legacy. “The citizens of Northern Wisconsin live where they do because they love the land, they value it. They are the embodiment of the land ethic that has defined our state for so long and it has been an honor to represent them and their passion for Northern Wisconsin in the legislature for 32 years.”

Jauch plans to spend his retirement years enjoying his family and honing his photography skills, a hobby that has become a passion because of the beauty of his district. Clean Wis-consin even featured some of his photography in the “Beautiful Imagery, Powerful Voices” reception to show images of the potential site of the Penokee mine.

Clean Wisconsin thanks Sen. Jauch for his years of service in the Legislature. We’ve been lucky to have his articulate, passionate leadership for clean air and clean water over the years, and his voice will be missed in the Capitol.

Sen. Bob Jauch

Legislative Leader Profile

Under the Lens

BREAK DOWN

By Tyson Cook, Staff Scientist

the burgeoning problem of microplastics —

itty-bitty plastic pieces in our water

ABOVE PHOTO: Sen. Jauch contributed his personal photography to Clean Wisconsin’s

“Beautiful Imagery, Powerful Voice” reception in February 2013.

Pre-production plastic pellets, or “nurdles,” are used in the manufacturing of the plastic products

and can easily enter the environment. PHOTO: Flickr/NOAA Marine Debris Program

www.cleanwisconsin.org 5

NoncompliantApplication for natural gas

pipeline fails to comply with law, consider impacts to environment

By Katie Nekola, General Counsel

Clean Wisconsin is intervening in a case at the PSC involving a proposed 75-mile-long natural gas pipeline between Tomah and Eau Claire to support future development of industrial (frac) sand processing facilities here. We have won two discovery disputes and submitted comments on the draft Environmental Impact State-ment (EIS), pointing out that it’s inadequate and fails to comply with the law, and submitted expert testimony.

According to Wisconsin Gas, the sand mining industry needs more natural gas for drying the sand before shipping it to states where it is used for fracking natural gas. It also estimates that if built, the equivalent of five large sand processing operations are likely to develop over the first six years of operation, with a cor-responding growth in mining. The number of permitted or opera-tional mines and processing facilities has grown 130% since 2010.

Although the project application and Draft EIS claim a new pipeline will promote economic development in Western Wis-consin, neither document mentions the environmental impacts of frac sand mining and processing. If built, this pipeline is likely to have serious environmental impacts. Western Wisconsin is home to many sensitive natural resources, including forested and non-forested wetlands, upland habitats, and threatened and en-dangered plant, animal and bird species. The pipeline would be placed under rivers and streams, with the potential for “frac-outs,” which can happen when pressurized drilling mud rises to the sur-face of waterways, affecting aquatic life.

Clean Wisconsin has intervened in the environmental and eco-nomic review process, pointing out that an EIS is legally required to consider impacts related to the industrial development spurred by the project in question. The draft EIS fails to comply with Wis-consin law in this and other ways, and we have asked the DNR and PSC for a more thorough assessment.

With Asian carp knocking on the door to the Great Lakes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released a report last De-cember detailing options to keep these invasive species out of our precious lakes. With a $7 billion fishing industry at stake, the re-port was published two years ahead of schedule, showing how im-portant it is to move quickly. Of the eight options outlined, Clean Wisconsin and many others are in strong support of options 5 and 6, permanent separation of the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins.

Clean Wisconsin has long pushed for permanent separation for several reasons. For starters, Asian carp consume up to 40% of their body weight each day. They eat plankton and vegetation, the same diet that sustains many of our favorite native fish, and they feed on the eggs of native species, wiping them out before they even have a chance to develop.In addition, Asian carp have very few predators because they grow so large so quickly. Thriving in the shallower waters of rivers, it’s a guarantee that as soon as Asian carp become established in Lake Michigan, they will invade any connecting tributary.

With all this in mind, it’s clear that permanent separation is the best solution to prevent the spread of dangerous Asian carp and other aquatic invasives.

Researchers from the University of Notre Dame have already dis-covered Asian carp DNA in Lake Michigan, but it’s not too late to prevent these and other invasives from becoming established in the Great Lakes. And we already have some serious political back-ing. On March 14, 11 U.S. senators sent a letter to USACE seeking quicker movement toward short- and long-term solutions.

USACE took comments on the report through the end of March; Clean Wisconsin advocated for permanent separation of the two water systems to prevent future invasive species introductions.

In the near future, there will be opportunities to contact your federal legislators, and we hope you’ll do just that because the Great Lakes deserve a great legacy and together, we can keep it that way.

A Permanent Solution to keep Asian carp out of Great Lakes

By Marc Wendt, Communications Intern

Clean Wisconsin is excited to partner with the RE-AMP network to roll out a new asset for orga-nizations in the Mid-west working to fight climate change. RE-AMP is a network of nearly 160 nonprofits and foundations across eight Midwestern states working on climate change and energy policy with the goal of reducing global warming pollu-tion economy-wide 80% by 2050.

The Organizing Hub was built to help RE-AMP groups de-velop strong, effective campaigns to fight climate change with ongoing strategy, coaching and implementation assistance. The Hub will also advise on plans for current climate change campaigns and lead skills-building trainings for groups in the Midwest. Coordinator Melissa Gavin, who formerly ran the State Environmental Leadership Program, has been brought on to develop the Organizing Hub and work with groups in the Midwest on their climate change campaigns.

In 2014, the Organizing Hub will work with at least three cli-mate change campaigns in the Midwest. The Hub will also be available to other climate change campaigns in RE-AMP, offer training on campaign planning, grassroots and grasstops orga-nizing and developing effective climate change messages, and will offer the Campaign Excellence Conference in fall 2014. In addition to housing the Organizing Hub for the RE-AMP network, Clean Wisconsin will provide technical assistance on digital advocacy to groups in the Midwest though the Hub.

Clean Wisconsin is proud to serve as the host of the RE-AMP Organizing Hub and we look forward to helping the Midwest become a climate leader through our work and expertise.

A Hub for Excellence

AMPREOrganizing Hub

Introducing the Organizing HubBy Keith Reopelle, Senior Policy Director

www.cleanwisconsin.org 7

President’s Circle$25,000+Anonymous

Philanthropist$10,000–$24,999The Kailo Fund

Patrons$5,000–$9,999Anonymous (2)

Benefactors$2,500–$4,999

Anonymous (5)Amy GillilandCarl SinderbrandDaniel Smith MD & Marcia SmithDW & Christena BensonEdward & Ann HastreiterGof & Mary ThomsonGretchen La Budde & Michael Whaley

Henry Anderson MD & Shirley S. Levine

Jack Westman MDKarin SandvikKatharine Odell

Kurt Sladky & Deb NeffLaurie & Richard KracumLiz MiddletonLuke & Carol FairbornMargaret Baack & Michael McAdams

Margi & David KindigPeggy Scallon MD & Mark RedstenRichard Gosse DDS & Karen GosseRobert Hagge Jr.Roland Schroeder & Mary MowbraySusan & Jerry GreenfieldThomas Schlueter MD & Ellen Neuhaus MD

Investors $1,000–$2,499

To become a member or for more information regarding the benefits of the Environmental Pillars Society, contact development director Angela Cao at 608-251-7020 x17 or [email protected].

Thank you to these members of Clean Wisconsin’s Environmental Pillar Society

for their dedicated generosity to our work!

If you own a business and share in our mission, please join our Corporate Guardians program. This is an excellent investment in your

business as you support our work for clean air, clean water and the places that make Wisconsin great for future generations!

Interested in joining the businesses below?Contact Angela Cao at 608-251-7020 x17 or [email protected].

All donations to Clean Wisconsin are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

Benefits

$1,000–$2,499 level• Listing in Defender, on

cleanwisconsin.org and in our annual report

• One social media post per month about your business

• Special early-bird invitations to our events, including our inaugural “Epicurean Evening” benefit dinner

$2,500+ level• All the benefits listed for

$1,000-$2,499 donors• Two social media posts per

month about your business, plus• Invitations to exclusive events

with our executive director to learn more about how your support directly affects our work on behalf of Wisconsin

www.crossroadscommunityfarm.com | Cross Plainswww.sustaineng.com | Madison

Additional Corporate Guardians also sponsoring our Epicurean Evening

(see reverse)

Johnson Controls, Inc. www.johnsoncontrols.comDelta Properties www.delta-properties.com, Madison

Nordic Consulting www.nordicwi.com | MadisonCapital Fitness www.capitalfitness.net | Madison

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A night with celebrity chefs for

SAVE THE DATE

OCTOBER 8, 2014 | THE EDGEWATERMadison

Join Clean Wisconsin for An Epicurean Evening,an inaugural celebrity chef event to benefit our statewide work for

breathable air, drinkable water, clean, efficient energy and the places we all love.

Chefs at the 2014 event include:Dan Fox, Heritage Tavern

Tory Miller, L’EtoileJonny Hunter, Underground Butcher & Forequarter

Anna Dickson, MerchantAn Epicurean Evening will be one of the premier events held at the Edgewater Hotel following its

reconstruction and grand re-opening this fall. With over 300 guests slated to attend, special raffles, a wine pull, an auction and special guest mixologist JR Mocanu from Merchant creating craft cocktails,

this event promises to be the culinary event of 2014.

Tickets are $150 per person or $1,200 per table of 8.

This event is quickly filling up! Get tickets today at

www. cleanwisconsin/epicureanevening

Cocktails at 5:30 p.m. | Dinner at 7 p.m.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Sponsorships still available! See page 2