5-30-19 jt. finance committee delays action on cafo regulations

The Republican controlled Jt. Finance committee this week did not take up the governor’s proposal  to add oversight to large dairy operations.  Governor Tony Evers proposed adding five full-time positions to oversee permitting, inspection and enforcement of concentrated animal feeding operations and increase the annual  fee paid by CAFOs from $345 a year to $660.  Ryan Billingham with the Wisconsin Conservation Voters says the decisions will have long ranging effects on public health.  “We’ve been working on clean drinking water for years and we’re at a moment in time where everybody is at the table.  Its a once in a generation moment where we can address this crisis,”  Billingham told WFDL news.  Responding to opponents who say the dairy industry is struggling financially and CAFOs are already regulated and follow strict zero-discharge standards on daily manure management.  “Obviously all farms are regulated, CAFOs are regulated, but here in Wisconsin we know there’s a problem with our drinking water.  We know that people have brown water coming out of their taps and we have to do everything we possibly can to make sure we have safe, clean drinking water for everyone across the state.”    Co-chair John Nygren, R-Marinette, said the committee plans to address the proposal when the committee takes up the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.