Department of Natural Resources

Mar 13, 2012

Senate unanimously approves regulation of geothermal well drilling (UPDATE)

A bill that would make geothermal well drillers a state regulated industry passed through the Senate Tuesday.

Mar 13, 2012

Assembly to take up water permitting bill

The state Assembly is set to take up a bill that would ease restrictions on pier and dock construction on state waters.

Mar 8, 2012

Mining company pulls out of project, taking jobs with it

Within hours of the state Senate failing on a majority vote to pass the latest form of a bill to streamline permits for mining projects, a Florida-based company that prompted the legislation scrapped plans for its project.

Mar 6, 2012

Finance committee approves mining bill

Wisconsin Republicans made another attempt Monday to persuade a key GOP state senator to vote for a contentious bill that would reform the state's iron mining laws, offering another set of revisions the lawmaker promptly rejected.

Mar 5, 2012

Waterways building permitting bill about to wash ashore

A bill Republicans say would streamline the permit process for building projects near navigable waterways has made its way to the Assembly Floor.

Mar 5, 2012

Property owner to pay 12K for waterway, wetland violations

Suamico property owner David Blohoweak has been ordered to pay $12,000 in forfeitures, assessments, costs and fees for illegally filling wetlands and building an artificial pond on the bank of a navigable stream without any permits from the Department of Natural Resources, according to a news release from the Wisconsin attorney general's office.

Mar 4, 2012

Recalls derailed mining bill

Wisconsin Republicans declared victory when they retained control of the state Senate in a flurry of recall elections last year. Now those elections have returned to haunt GOP lawmakers as they struggle to pass their cornerstone mine permitting bill.

Mar 2, 2012

Army Corps: Wetland law doesn’t affect jurisdiction

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reminding the public that Wisconsin's new wetland development law doesn't change federal construction requirements.

Mar 2, 2012

DNR blames bluff collapse on lack of pond liner (UPDATE)

Wisconsin regulators investigating a bluff collapse at a Milwaukee-area power plant last Halloween say a "significant factor" may have been the lack of a liner in a storm-water pond.

Feb 27, 2012

At least 60 Wis. communities don’t treat water

About 60 communities in Wisconsin don't treat drinking water to kill contaminants, despite a recommendation to the contrary, according to a newspaper report.

Feb 16, 2012

Assembly passes bills loosening air regulations

The state Assembly has passed two bills that would scale back sections of Wisconsin's air pollution regulations.

Feb 14, 2012

Senate passes new wetland protocols  (UPDATE)

Minority Democrats in the state Senate have used a procedural maneuver to delay a vote on a Republican bill that would ease regulations on wetland development.