Wisconsin Farmers Union and Clean Wisconsin Petition to Intervene in Lawsuit

Wisconsin Farmers Union and Clean Wisconsin filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit that threatens to eliminate critical environmental oversight of Wisconsin’s largest livestock operations.

The lawsuit was originally filed against the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in May by Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and Venture Dairy Cooperative, lobbying groups that represent the interests of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). The CAFO groups allege the DNR lacks authority to require large livestock operations housing more than 1,000 animal units to apply for permits under Wisconsin’s water pollution permitting program.

Wisconsin Farmers Union and Clean Wisconsin have petitioned to intervene in the lawsuit to protect water resources and the health and wellbeing of rural communities.

“It’s no secret that animal waste is one of the biggest sources of water pollution in Wisconsin. Our state’s longstanding permitting program for very large animal operations helps limit the amount of manure contaminating our rivers, lakes, streams and drinking water. The idea that the DNR can’t require Wisconsin’s largest livestock facilities to meet permitting standards at all, or that somehow CAFOs don’t cause water pollution, has no legal or factual basis,” said Clean Wisconsin Attorney Evan Feinauer....