MADISON, WI - Community groups from throughout the State will make an Earth Day appeal tomorrow to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to change the way it regulates Wisconsin's largest factory farms. Numerous organizations, including several groups that formed in response to factory farms in their communities, are proposing a "Citizens Memorandum of Understanding" (MOU) that would redefine how the DNR regulates Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). The citizens' proposal will come on the last day before close of public comment for the DNR's proposed General Permits for factory dairies.

Through the MOU, citizens are reaching out to DNR to remind the agency of its mission to protect natural resources on behalf of Wisconsin citizens. Last year DNR signed a similar agreement with the Dairy Business Association (DBA), the main lobby group for Wisconsin factory farms, which the groups assert has undermined the agency's mission and compromised its integrity.

"What better day than Earth Day to give DNR the opportunity to work with its real constituents - the citizens of this State - and gain DNR's commitment to regulating factory farms as required by law," said Jennifer Nelson of Crawford Stewardship Project. "The DNR's unethical agreement with the Dairy Business Association showed the unprecedented influence factory farms have over the agency, and today we offer an alternative to get DNR back on track," she added.

The MOU will be delivered to DNR Thursday (April 22), adding to citizen input opposing General Permits for dairy CAFOs. The MOU proposes that DNR reconsider this environmental rollback, which would streamline approval of new factory farms and severely limit citizen input on the permit terms for proposed facilities.

"The General Permits are the result of DNR's back room deal with the Dairy Business Association, and do nothing to protect Wisconsin communities or water quality. DNR should instead focus on better enforcement at the factory farms we already have, to prevent even more pollution of our waters," said Russ Tooley of Centerville CARES.

The MOU does commend DNR for demanding increased fees for CAFO permits, and urges the agency to stand behind its statements that the General Permits will not issue unless it has the fees needed to effectively enforce them. The Citizens seek to work with DNR to change the way it addresses CAFO pollution in part by establishing regular stakeholder meetings with the agency.

Contacts:

Edie Ehlert, Crawford Stewardship Project
(608) 734-3223
edieehlert@centurytel.net

Russ Tooley, Centerville CARES
(920) 726-4900
tooley@lakefield.net

John Peck, Family Farm Defenders
(608) 260-0900
familyfarmdefenders@yahoo.com