Budget amendment could clear way for Couture

Mining company submits sampling plan to DNR

Published: June 19, 2013
Tags: DNR, Gogebic Taconite, iron mine, mining

A company looking to dig a huge iron mine just south of Lake Superior has filed new papers with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources outlining a bulk sampling plan and notifying the agency it plans to seek a mining permit.

Republicans won’t seek to restrict mining access (UPDATE)

Published: June 19, 2013
Tags: DNR, iron ore, Mark Honadel, mining, Robin Vos, Scott Suder

A provision designed to limit public access to the proposed site of an iron ore mine near Lake Superior will not be included in the state budget, Assembly Republican leaders said Wednesday.

Number of town of Jackson polluted wells hits 39

Published: June 18, 2013
Tags: DNR, pollution, Wells

Wisconsin environmental officials say the number of wells contaminated by a 2012 gasoline pipeline spill continues to grow in the town of Jackson.

Contaminated soil to be excavated from former Army plant

Published: June 18, 2013
Tags: Badger Army Ammunition Plant, DNR, soil

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has approved a U.S. Army proposal to excavate contaminated soil at the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant in Fitchburg.

High capacity wells change delayed in budget

Published: June 18, 2013
Tags: DNR, permits, Robin Vos, Wells, wetlands

The Wisconsin Assembly on Tuesday began debating a budget plan that Republicans were seeking to revise to boost its chances of passage, but the proposed changes don’t address some of the most contentious proposals.

Communities seek money for water tests

Published: June 17, 2013
Tags: DNR, EPA, Fund for Lake Michigan, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Michael Murphy

Cities and counties in Wisconsin are looking for ways to pay for water tests that could lead to beach closures after the federal government proposed eliminating money for the tests.

Lawmakers seek simplicity in shore-land zoning bills

Published: June 13, 2013
Tags: Dan Belman, DNR, Don Belman Homes, Jerry Petrowski, Pamela Biersach, Sheri Milleville, shore-land zoning, WBA, Wisconsin League of Municipalities

For each annexation Madison has approved along lakes and waterways in the past three decades, city officials have kept track of the shore-land zoning rules that applied at the time in Dane County.

Bills try to weaken shore land zoning protections, critics say

Published: June 11, 2013
Tags: DNR, shore land

A pair of bills meant to give cities and villages complete zoning authority over annexed land actually would undermine standards adopted to protect lakes, rivers and streams, environmental groups say.

Legislation would ease path for big water wells

Published: June 10, 2013
Tags: budget, DNR, Scott Walker, Wells

Wisconsin’s big water users would have an easier time getting permits to drill high-capacity wells under legislation Republicans have tucked into Gov. Scott Walker’s budget.