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Ashland Mayor Wants Environmental Impact Statement of Proposed Industrial Farm in Bayfield Co
http://malcontends.blogspot.com/2015/03/ashland-mayor-wants-environmental.htmlThe Mayor of the City of Ashland has requested a detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The letter by Mayor Debra S. Lewis requesting the EIS is dated last Friday and comes as sentiment against the proposed Concentrated Agricultural Feeding Operation (CAFO) has rapidly grown in Bayfield and Ashland counties in far-northern Wisconsin.
Lewis' letter is reproduced below:
February 27, 2015
Ms. Cathy L. Stepp,
Secretary Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921
Via email: DNRSecretary@wisconsin.gov
Re: Badgerwood, LLC Hog Facility Reicks View Farm CAFO
Dear Ms. Stepp:
I write as the Mayor of the City of Ashland to respectfully request, in the strongest possible of terms, that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before taking any action to permit the operation of the proposed Badgerwood, LLC Hog Facility, also known as the Reicks View Farm Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) in the Town of Eileen, Bayfield County. While the CAFO would be located outside of the City of Ashland, some of the CAFO's greatest impacts would fall directly on the City of Ashland, due primarily to the location of the proposed CAFO near the headwaters of Fish Creek, and to Ashland's location, just seven or so miles east, at the mouth of Fish Creek, where Fish Creek enters Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay.
I understand that the types of permits required for the CAFO to operate have generally been excepted by Natural Resources rule from EIS requirements, either as a "minor action" or as an "equivalent analysis action." However, I believe that the Badgerwood CAFO is of such magnitude and complexity that the DNR should exercise its discretion under NR 150.20(4), Wis. Admin. Code, to follow EIS procedures. Virtually every factor listed in NR 150.20(4)(b) points to the appropriateness of an EIS in this case.
The Ashland City Council recently passed, unanimously, a resolution calling on the Bayfield County Board to exercise its authority to adopt more stringent standards than contained in ATCP 51 to regulate CAFOs. In issuing the call, the City Council cited its concerns for safe drinking water, beach safety, tourism, and public health factors. I am confident that if the timing of the DNR's decision on an EIS for the project allowed it, the Ashland City Council would take similar action specifically to request that an EIS be required. As it stands now, the City's resolution directed to Bayfield County does state our policy on the matter and as such should be considered as a factor under NR 150.20 (4)(b)(2), that the "project may be in conflict with local . . . environmental policies."
The City of Ashland has the following specific questions which can only be answered by the careful preparation of an EIS :
Ms. Cathy L. Stepp,
Secretary Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921
Via email: DNRSecretary@wisconsin.gov
Re: Badgerwood, LLC Hog Facility Reicks View Farm CAFO
Dear Ms. Stepp:
I write as the Mayor of the City of Ashland to respectfully request, in the strongest possible of terms, that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before taking any action to permit the operation of the proposed Badgerwood, LLC Hog Facility, also known as the Reicks View Farm Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) in the Town of Eileen, Bayfield County. While the CAFO would be located outside of the City of Ashland, some of the CAFO's greatest impacts would fall directly on the City of Ashland, due primarily to the location of the proposed CAFO near the headwaters of Fish Creek, and to Ashland's location, just seven or so miles east, at the mouth of Fish Creek, where Fish Creek enters Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay.
I understand that the types of permits required for the CAFO to operate have generally been excepted by Natural Resources rule from EIS requirements, either as a "minor action" or as an "equivalent analysis action." However, I believe that the Badgerwood CAFO is of such magnitude and complexity that the DNR should exercise its discretion under NR 150.20(4), Wis. Admin. Code, to follow EIS procedures. Virtually every factor listed in NR 150.20(4)(b) points to the appropriateness of an EIS in this case.
The Ashland City Council recently passed, unanimously, a resolution calling on the Bayfield County Board to exercise its authority to adopt more stringent standards than contained in ATCP 51 to regulate CAFOs. In issuing the call, the City Council cited its concerns for safe drinking water, beach safety, tourism, and public health factors. I am confident that if the timing of the DNR's decision on an EIS for the project allowed it, the Ashland City Council would take similar action specifically to request that an EIS be required. As it stands now, the City's resolution directed to Bayfield County does state our policy on the matter and as such should be considered as a factor under NR 150.20 (4)(b)(2), that the "project may be in conflict with local . . . environmental policies."
The City of Ashland has the following specific questions which can only be answered by the careful preparation of an EIS :
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Now that the taconite mine is shelved for now they want to assault WI pristine beauty with a hog farm (from out of state of course).
