May 9, 2012

 

Senator Neal Kedzie
Representative Jeffrey Mursau
Chairs, Senate and Assembly Natural Resources Committees
State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702

Dear Senator Kedzie and Rep. Mursau:

We are writing to express concern about a recent Wisconsin State Journal report that Governor Walker’s chief environmental appointees put as many as 40 families at risk of drinking water contaminated with human waste to help a political donor. As Chairs of the Natural Resources Committees in the Legislature and respected individuals in the natural resources community, we ask that you schedule a joint committee hearing to explore this potential legal and ethical violation.

Herr Environmental has a history of significant violations of laws designed to protect public health and the environment. Department of Natural Resources administrators protected them from potential prosecution by the Department of Justice. Administrators blocked the recommendations of professional staff to refer the case and test the drinking water wells where human waste was spread at 300% the legal limit.

If you share the public’s discontent, we ask that you also join us in calling on Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to conduct a full investigation into political interference with science-based law enforcement as reported by the Wisconsin State Journal.

This follows on the Wisconsin State Journal story showing a more than 50% decline in enforcement actions over the last year.

We are open to any productive discussion with you on how to help restore integrity to our Department of Natural Resources and sincerely hope for your cooperation.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Brett Hulsey State Representative	Louis Molepske, Jr. State Representative	Mark Pocan State Representative
Fred Clark State Representative	Chris Larson State Senator	Tamara Grigsby State Representativee
Kelda Roys State Representative	Gordon Hintz State Representative	Penny Bernard Schaber State Representative
Frederick Kessler State Representative	Terese Berceau State Representative	Lena Taylor State Senator