Spring 2013 Newsletter - Clean Water Action Council

Transcription

Spring 2013 Newsletter - Clean Water Action Council
O F
j C E L E B R AT I N G 28
N O R T H E A S T
W I S C O N S I N
YE ARS OF WORKI NG TO P ROT EC T PU B LIC H EA LTH A N D TH E EN V IR O N MEN T IN
N O RTH EA ST W ISC O N SIN
i
SPRING 2013
THE GREENING OF NORTHEAST WISCONSIN
A Look at Efforts to Make Our Communities More Sustainable
The Man from Clear Lake, Gaylord Nelson,
Still Inspires the Green Movement.
By Charlie Frisk
Without the leadership of Gaylord Nelson, from 19631981, the efforts to make northeast Wisconsin a greener
place today would be much more challenging. While
Gaylord Nelson is best known as the founder of Earth
Day, his environmental accomplishments go far beyond
that. What led Gaylord Nelson to start Earth Day? In
his words, “It had been troubling me for several years
that the state of our environment was simply a non-issue
in the politics of the country. I knew that the public was
far ahead of the political establishment in its concern for
what was happening to the environment. The signs of
degradation were everywhere—polluted rivers, lakes, ocean
beaches, and air. The goal of Earth Day was to inspire a
public demonstration so big it would shake the political
establishment out of its lethargy and force environmental
issues onto the national political agenda.”
The first Earth Day exceeded almost everyone’s
expectations, possibly even Gaylord Nelson’s. During the
same year as the first Earth Day in1970, the Federal Clean
Air Act was passed and the Environmental Protection
Agency was created. In 1972 the Federal Clean Water Act
was passed, and in 1973 the Endangered Species Act was
passed. President Nixon vetoed the Clean Water Act, but
the Senate overrode his veto with a 100-0 vote in favor of
the act. It is almost impossible to imagine a vote such as
that happening today with the extreme partisanship that
has developed in both state and national politics.
Although Nelson is not listed as a co-author on any of
those pieces of legislation, he is thought to have been the
major author of both the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water
Act. Other politicians who had presidential aspirations
wanted their names on the bills, so he let them take the
glory. That is another example of how the political climate
in regard to environmental issues has changed. Today,
among most politicians there seems to be an irrational fear
of being labeled an environmental extremist, and it could be
difficult to find signers for environmental bills.
Nelson was a pioneer in speaking out about the
problems associated with the rapidly growing human
population and the increased demand for resources,
particularly from the wealthier nations. He was one of
the few politicians willing to speak out about the demand
for resources created by immigration into the U.S. Nelson
said, “We’ve talked about the exploding world population.
What is not generally recognized, however, is that the U.S.
population is the fastest growing of any industrialized
country and is unmatched in its consumption of resources.
At the current rate considering both birth rate and
immigration, the U.S. population will more than double by
the end of the 21st century. We will need to double almost
everything, meaning more sprawl, longer commutes, bigger
cities, and at least double the pressure on every resource we
have.”
Nelson also took on those who argued that
environmental protection and a strong economy were
mutually exclusive. “Look at it this way,” he said. “The
economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment.
2013 Membership Renewal is Due! See pg. 13. Thanks!
Tickets are NOW ON SALE for our Annual Banquet and Dance.
See pg. 11 for details.
Clean Water Action Council News j 1
All economic activity is dependent upon that environment
and its underlying resource base of forests, water, air,
soil, and minerals. When the environment is finally
forced to file for bankruptcy because its resource base
has been polluted, degraded, dissipated, and irretrievably
compromised, the economy goes into bankruptcy with it.”
We need politicians willing to talk like that today!
Nelson fought to the end of his life to protect our
environment. I can recall listening to him speak at the
Brown County Library within a year of when he passed
away. His body and his voice were much weaker, but
his spirit and passion were as strong as ever. He passed
away during the G.W. Bush years. The saddest thing
was that he went to his grave not knowing whether Bush
would be successful at undoing his era’s most important
accomplishments. This country needs another Gaylord
Nelson, or even better, several of them; so that we can move
out of the trench warfare we have been fighting on the
environmental front, and actually start moving ahead.
We need to demand more from our state leaders.
Under our current governmental regime, when mining
corporations are allowed to write their own environmental
regulations, and a real estate executive is head of the DNR,
it can be difficult to remember that there was a time when
Wisconsin was known as an environmental leader.
Author: Charles Frisk
Sources: The Man from Clear Lake by Bill Christoffersen, © 2004
Beyond Earth Day-Fulfilling the Promise by Gaylord Nelson, Susan Campbell,
and Paul Wozniak, © 2002
Zero Waste Group Forms in
Brown County
By Dean Hoegger
CWAC’s Summer 2012 newsletter theme
“Moving Toward Zero Waste: A Goal for
Northeast Wisconsin to Embrace” and the accompanying
articles inspired a small group of citizens to form an
action group. Led by Pittsfield resident, Linda Patzke, the
group quickly grew to over 25 concerned citizens from
northeast Wisconsin including elected officials, government
employees, representatives from the Oneida Tribe of
Indians, and local environmental groups. The group’s
mission is to move communities toward a zero waste future
through education, advocacy, and consumer empowerment.
The group, formed in December in 2012, named itself
N.E.W. (northeast Wisconsin) Zero Waste Coalition. The
coalition is working under the direction of a steering
committee, supported by the enthusiasm and organizing
skills of Patzke. Numerous meetings have already occurred
and a schedule is being developed for presentations.
The first one, “An Introduction to Moving toward Zero
Waste,” was held at the Brown County Library, on February
7. Amy Spears, environmental specialist from the Oneida
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Nation, presented an introduction to zero waste concepts
and CWAC president, Dean Hoegger, presented examples
of communities on the path to zero waste and how they
are reducing the threat of ground water pollution and
global warming. Due to the winter storm that night, the
program will be repeated at 6:00 p.m. on March 7, and
will be followed by a presentation by Mark Walter, Facility
Manager for Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste,
Brown County. Walter will teach participants about Brown
County’s recycling program and how residents can make
the program more effective.
The N.E.W. Zero Waste Coalition is also networking
with the Food Waste Task Force sponsored by the East
Central Wisconsin Planning Commission located in
Menasha. Linda Patzke attended the January meeting
where the coalition made plans to set a goal to reduce the
amount of food waste sent to a landfill by a set percent
in 2013. They hope to do this by developing programs
for homes and businesses to send their food waste to
composting facilities, on or off the site. The coalition
organized several sub-committees to make progress with
their goals.
For more information on either of these groups, e-mail
us at [email protected]
Sustain Door Returns Sustainability Fair
to Door County April 27
With a beginning dating back to 2005, when Mary
Rehwald presented “Sustainable Sweden and Its Lessons for
Northern Wisconsin” to about 25 community members,
Sustain Door formed shortly afterward and now continues
to be an active force for sustainability in Door County.
Monthly meetings, study circles, field trips, community
projects, and an annual sustainability fair most years are
used to educate the community and inspire participation
in the organization whose mission is to promote the social,
economic, and environmental sustainability of Door
County.
This year, a pre-fair event will be held on Friday night,
April 26. A presentation on safe lawns will be given by Paul
Tukey at Crossroads at Big Creek, Sturgeon Bay, at 7 p.m.
on Friday. The Sustainability Fair begins on the following
day, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Graham and
Martin Parks along the harbor in downtown Sturgeon Bay.
Fair goers will find interactive activities, local food, and
knowledgeable vendors from throughout the region. CWAC
will also have a booth at the fair.
David Lea, chairperson of Sustain Door, explained the
group’s origin and purpose. “We started our work based on
the movement from the late 1980s, The Natural Step. We
define sustainability as ‘development that meets the needs
of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.’ ” Lea said, “This
program was developed by Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert along
with leaders in business, science, government and education
in Sweden.”
“We have used this framework and definition for what
we do to help create a way of life in Door County based
on the interdependent ‘triple bottom line’ of economy,
society and environment, making decisions that address our
needs in a long-term sustainable way to ensure our future
generations have the same opportunities.”
“Our society today faces many challenges to our health
and long-term prosperity with many finite resources we
depend on diminishing, such as precious metals, fossil fuels,
pure air, clean water, forests, top soil and fisheries.”
Lea added that, “Some 31 counties, cities and towns in
Wisconsin to date have adopted The Natural Step concept
of ‘Eco-municipalities’ to make sustainable lifestyles their
goal. With study of further concepts such as “Appropriate
Technology”, “Transition Towns” and “Permaculture”, we
are working to make our day-to-day decisions promote a
healthy environment and a resilient community. With the
Fair, we offer folks from all walks of life a chance to network
and explore the options for living in a more sustainable
way.”
This year’s Fair is being co-sponsored by the nonprofit Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership. For further
information, contact www.sustaindoor.org or www.LNRP.org.
Submitted article
Green Bay’s Bird City Recognition
Leads to Avian-Related Successes
By Nancy Nabak
“Bird City” sounds like something out of an Alice in
Wonderland adventure. Birds hustling off to work, kissing
their baby birds goodbye, governing the town and creating
bird holidays, but Bird City Green Bay is far from fiction.
In 2011, Green Bay applied to Bird City Wisconsin to
become one of the inaugural 15 Bird Cities in the State.
(Bird City Wisconsin follows along similar lines as the
Tree City USA program, but began through a grant from
the Toyota Together Green program and the Milwaukee
Audubon Society).
To become a Bird City, an application must be filled
out, meeting seven criteria out of five categories. Green
Bay easily met the requirements in the first year and flew
to “High Flyer” status in its second year, meeting five
additional requirements. This year, we have once again
applied for “High Flyer” status.
Since the inception of Bird City in Green Bay, incredible
avian-related successes have occurred.
One of our first visible projects was to build a “backyard
demonstration area” to show individuals what they can
do to attract local and migrating birds to their yards. This
project was planned as a 3-phase program. In Phase 1,
dedicated volunteers and high school students helped plant
30 trees, involving a wide
variety of bird-friendly
species, across from
the Wildlife Sanctuary
entrance.
In Phase 2, a rain
garden and butterfly
garden were planted in
the same general area.
We are now on to Phase
3, which consists of
putting up educational
signage regarding the
demonstration project
as a whole. Three signs
will be posted, as well as
labeling of the various
tree species. Our goal is
to educate, motivate and inspire others to do the same­­­—
attract beneficial insects, butterflies and birds to their own
backyards.
We’ve also been very successful in drawing attention to
the declining Chimney Swift. For the last two years, we’ve
been conducting Chimney Swift surveys with “The Swift
Night Out Program”. Last year, with the help of nearly 30
volunteers, 2,000 Swifts were monitored in the downtown
area. Because this migrating bird is in such great decline,
Bird City Green Bay committed to building a man-made
tower in hopes of attracting a nesting pair and to offer a
Swift roosting site. The gorgeous tower is now up. In the
spring/summer, we hope to have our camera installed
which will feed directly into the Wildlife Sanctuary, and
an educational kiosk will be built with the help of NWTC
students.
In the future, keep your eyes open for updates on such
projects as kestrel platforms, the Pollinator Corridor, and
the Second Annual Big Bay Birdathon to be held in May.
Birds are flying high locally because we have a
community that cares and volunteers that get active. If you’d
like to learn more about Bird City and its programs, please
visit www.BirdCityWisconsin.org or contact Nancy Nabak at
[email protected].
Nancy Nabak has been voluntary Chairwoman of Bird City Green Bay since its
inception. She is also on the Sustainable Green Bay Committee and volunteers
for the Pollinator Corridor and Leadership Green Bay. She is a nature enthusiast
who happens to believe that a thing which has a beating heart and beating wings
deserves a piece of sky.
Clean Water Action Council News j 3
Green Bay Pollinator Corridor Creates
Chain of Native Landscape Gardens
by John Hermanson
A group of local concerned citizens has created a project
to support the greening of northeast Wisconsin. The Green
Bay Pollinator Corridor Project’s plan is to create a chain of
native-landscape gardens no further than a half-mile apart
spanning Brown County.
Habitats for pollinators and other beneficial insects
have been on a decline due to habitat loss and other
environmental factors. Franklin Middle School teacher,
Ned Dorff, along with other teachers and community
members including Wild Ones members have worked to
establish native plant gardens at three elementary schools
and three middle schools, as well as two prairie restorations
on both sides of town. Other native plant gardens are
being identified and mapped in hopes of inspiring refugee
corridors for beneficial insects and the other ecological
services native plants provide.
Further information on this subject can be found on the
Wild Ones website (http://wildonesgreenbay.blogspot.com),
Bringing Nature Home, by Douglas W. Tallamy, and The
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation (www.xerces.
org). You can also find a recently published inspirational
illustrated book, The Pollinators Corridor, a graphic novel
by Aaron Birk.
Reference: Green Bay Public Schools Green Team receives
“Green Gift” from Cellcom - www.nsightnews.com.
Local City Ordinance Supports
Native Landscapes
By Margaret Gerhard
The city of Green Bay approved a revised city ordinance
allowing taxpaying property owners to grow natural
landscapes of native plants, and front yard herb and
vegetable gardens. The revised ordinance has parameters,
like setbacks and registration requirements. This welcome
change has been enthusiastically supported and embraced
by urban gardeners and environmentalists.
Over 20 years ago several citizens approached the
city council asking to allow native plantings and natural
landscapes. It was Lorrie Otto, founder of Wild Ones,
who since the 1960’s encouraged folks to transform their
monoculture turf lawns into natural, native gardens for
environmental reasons. With the current environmental
state of the planet, Ms. Otto’s “radical” ideas of the 60’s are
making even more ecological sense! The water issue alone
vouches for this truly greener landscaping approach!
The benefits of natural landscapes, rain gardens, and
edible yards, known as yardening, are multiple and diverse.
Besides obvious economic benefits, eco-friendly landscapes
4 i Clean Water Action Council News
boost tourism, increase interest in the area, enhance water
quality, and increase property values. These greener areas
restore biodiversity, create habitat and food for wildlife
and support healthy soils for a vibrant ecosystem. Natural
landscapes mean less CO 2 emissions from noisy polluting
lawn mowers, weed whackers and leaf blowers, and improve
air quality and climate. They reduce ground level wind
velocities, absorb solar radiation and reduce winter drifting.
This also means lower heating and cooling bills. Your
water bill is lower with a natural landscape, your aquifer is
recharged, algae blooms are decreased and water quality is
improved. Rain gardens are proven to reduce flooding.
There are also social and educational benefits of
natural landscapes, including psychological and emotional
benefits. Besides enhancing local biodiversity, they
promote community education and stewardship of natural
resources. These naturalized urban landscapes are living
field laboratories. They can provide privacy, block street
noise and buffer vehicular pollution. They increase
environmental awareness and appreciation, and encourage
creativity.
CWAC member Margaret Gerhard is an artist, teacher, student, dreamer and awardwinning environmentalist, dedicated to saving the planet by artistic recycling!!
Sustainable Farming is Promoted
in Northeast Wisconsin
By Lynn & Nancy Utesch
Sustainability is the ability of the current generation to
meet its needs, without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet theirs. - United Nations, 1987
Sustainable farming is the practice of farming that
does not deplete your soil, water or air. It operates on the
values of environmental stewardship that nurture the land
and maintain fertility, enabling the farm to produce for
generations without suffering the ill effects of overuse,
depletion and degradation that would ultimately render the
farm barren.
Good stewardship is basically a “do no harm” mentality
in farming. Protection and preservation of naturally
occurring ecosystems is not only wise, it is essential to the
vitality of the farm, and the web of life that depends upon
these systems. Tree lines, hedgerows, buffers, cover crops,
rotational crops, and overall diversity sustain the farm,
along with the natural benefits of insects and wildlife that
flourish under this model.
While many farming models today extol super-sized
equipment, technology, and “sound science,” a wise farmer
knows that technology cannot replace natural systems.
Mother Nature’s ultimate role in farmer’s lives is paramount.
Farmers know that their livestock, crops, and bottom line
are supremely ruled by nature, with weather playing a great
role in cycles of rejuvenation, restoration, and regrowth
on the farm. Nature always bats last, despite beliefs that
bigger, better, genetically-altered or other means will dictate
success.
Here in northeast Wisconsin, there are several
organizations that promote and educate both farmers and
the general public about sustainable farming. GrassWorks
is an organization that believes in the use of managed
grazing. Managed grazing is a farming method that
allows livestock to graze through numerous pastures, then
allowing those pastures to rest and re-grow. By using this
technique, the farmer works with nature and biological
processes to eliminate the need for many off-farm inputs.
This preserves natural resources, protects habitat for
wildlife, keeps farm animals healthy and productive,
produces high quality meat, eggs, and dairy products, and
secures a high quality of life for farmers and their families.
These practices can restore and maintain healthy rural
communities.
Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service
(MOSES) is an education-outreach organization working
to promote sustainable and organic agriculture. MOSES
serves farmers striving to produce high quality, healthful
food using organic and sustainable techniques. These
farmers produce more than just food, they support thriving
ecosystems and vibrant rural communities.
Tsyunhehkw^, the Oneida Nation’s 80 acre organic
farm, is a cultural-based community program of agriculture
committed to education and sustainability. They promote
holistic health through the production of high quality
foods including their heirloom white corn, grass-fed beef,
pastured poultry and eggs, organic fruits, vegetables, and
berries. Tsyunhehkw^ also has a cannery which produces
several products with their white corn, as well as salsa,
pickles, and many other items. Educational workshops and
tours in food preservation and processing are also offered.
The Tsyunhehkw^ store is located on Packerland and
Larson Avenues in Green Bay, where they sell many of these
items.
To find farms and products that are grown in an earth
friendly sustainable way, check out the Farm Fresh Atlas
of Eastern Wisconsin which is published yearly and is a
directory of farmers and farms in this locale. You may view
the Farm Fresh Atlas online at: www.farmfresheastwi.org
Support your local, sustainable farmers!
N.E.W. Plastics Corporation Brings
Sustainability to Lumber Industry
By Dean Hoegger
With a simple beginning in 1973 under the direction of
company founder, Irvin Vincent, N.E.W. Plastics became
the first company to turn milk jugs into plastic decking.
Company employees gathered milk jugs from home in
order to produce a new product out of what was then
deemed trash headed to a landfill, according to company
representative, Ron Madlem, during a recent tour given to
CWAC. Every 112 milk jugs became a ten foot long 2x4
explained Madlem. They have the capacity to divert up to
26 million pounds of plastic annually from reaching our
landfills. Today, the recycled plastic needed to produce
the lumber is purchased from brokers. Nonetheless, the
company continues its commitment to the green revolution
by producing extruded plastic lumber and components
from its RENEW Plastics division.
The RENEW division produces EVOLVE PVC and
BPH free plastic lumber and custom extrusions from up
to 94% recycled plastic. Unlike treated wood lumber,
which has limited recycling options and is often landfilled,
the EVOLVE product is made from 100% high density
polyethylene (HPDE) and is completely recyclable.
RENEW accepts used and scrap EVOLVE lumber and will
convert it into new products.
N.E.W. Plastics website and literature reassure their
customers that all of their products are BPA and PVC
free. BPA, or bisphenol-a, is a chemical used to make
polycarbonate plastic. BPA is known to seep into food
and beverages from the plastic and according to the Mayo
Clinic, the Food and Drug Administration is taking steps
to reduce human exposure to the chemical. PVC is difficult
to safely recycle and is known to release dioxin, a serious
carcinogen, in its production. Being BPA and PVC free
also makes the N.E.W. workplace a safer work environment
for the over 200 employees at their Luxemburg, Wisconsin
facility.
More about the company’s products and operations can
be found at www.newplastics.com
Clean Water Action Council News j 5
Gardner Town Board Seeks
to Regulate CAFOs
By Peter Sigmann
There are not many townships left in northeast
Wisconsin without at least one concentrated animal feeding
operation (CAFO). While the town of Gardner in Southern
Door County is one of them, it has nevertheless been the
recipient of millions of gallons of animal sewage from
Brown and Door County, which euphemistically is called
“liquid manure” and spread on hundreds of acres of leased
fields.
Evidence indicates that excess nutrients­—and probably
many unmeasured substances—rapidly appear in the
groundwater and in Little Sturgeon Bay. The town’s
financial base lies primarily on coastal real estate values.
Any increase in phosphate pollution would be a serious
threat for the local economy. When the town supervisors
received advice from the Wisconsin Towns Association to
establish a local Livestock Facility Ordinance, the decisionmaking was agonizing. Local towns and communities are
left with very little power to control their local environment,
as the result of the Livestock Facility Siting Law that
was enacted in 2004 with rules made by the Agriculture
Department in 2006. This law paved the way for factory
farms in Wisconsin.
The state law has the primary objective to regulate
livestock facilities in a uniform manner. However, it fails
to protect natural resources, public health, and quality
of rural life. It prevents communities from controlling
CAFO locations with protective ordinances or zoning
and prescribes an application and approval process to be
followed by local government. The state says that a properly
completed application must be approved by the local
government thus removing local control.
What then are the benefits of a siting ordinance? The
town comes into possession of the proposed facility’s
application, including details on location, odor and air
emissions, nutrient management, waste storage and
runoff management. The state presumes compliance with
state standards as long as the application says so. Local
ordinance can be more stringent than state standard only if
it can be shown by reasonable and scientifically defensible
findings of fact that stricter standards are needed to protect
public health and safety.
Another benefit of local involvement in permitting is
the opportunity to monitor a CAFO’s compliance with its
permit. Having feet, eyes and noses on the ground should
be more effective than infrequent and casual visits by state
inspectors. While reasons for townships to refrain from
passing a local ordinance include limited financial and
manpower resources, it may still be worthwhile for them
passing such an ordinance. Being “in the loop” is especially
useful in the event that a suit has to be filed against a facility
6 i Clean Water Action Council News
that violates the conditions of its permit. This is a case
where something may be better than nothing!
For more information, see this review by Midwest
Environmental Advocates:
http://midwestadvocates.org/assets/resources/An_Overview_
of_the_Livestock_Siting_Law.pdf
CWAC member Peter Sigmann lives on the shore of Little Sturgeon Bay. He enjoys
being on the water and has led environmental initiatives of the Little Sturgeon
Property Owners Association
The Action in CWAC
Clean Water Action Council board members took a
variety of actions on behalf of the membership and the
community of northeast Wisconsin since the Winter
2013 newsletter. Membership dues, our annual meeting
fundraiser, and donations are paying the expenses for this
work, including printing, mailing, annual fees, posters,
media campaigns, fees associated with legal actions, and
limited travel to hearings, action events and conferences.
This is why your participation is so important. Your 2013
paid membership will help us continue to take these actions
and to keep you informed.
If your address label has a ’13 after your name, we
have received your 2013 membership dues. Your volunteer
check-off will help CWAC connect you to volunteer
opportunities. Our Green Bay office is a great place to work
on issue research and communication projects. Also, please
call or email us when issues arise that are of special concern
for you. Listing your e-mail address in the Action Alerts
box on the membership form will keep you informed of
environmental issues, actions we have planned, and ways
you can participate.
Read below about actions we have taken in the last
three months. Be sure to contact us if environmental
issues arise in your community. CWAC is here to support
citizen action. The following are our most significant
activities since December.
Judge Rules Against Gasification Plant
Developers Who Now Look Elsewhere
By Dean Hoegger
After an 18 month effort to get the truth known about
the Oneida Seven Generations Corporation’s (OSGC)
gasification incinerator, CWAC, Incinerator Free Brown
County, and area citizens were finally rewarded for their
tireless efforts. Residents were greatly relieved to have
this project out of their community, but now must remain
vigilant for a startup elsewhere.
The ruling on January 9 by Brown County Circuit
Court Marc Hammer against the Oneida Seven Generations
Corporation’s claim that the city of Green Bay arbitrarily
rescinded their conditional use permit is a victory for all
citizens no matter their opinion of gasification incineration.
The judge found the Oneida Tribe’s LLC had made
significant misrepresentations in the application process.
Allowing any company to proceed with development after
discovery of a fraudulent application would have set a bad
precedent for all of Wisconsin. This ruling strengthens the
expectation that applicants must make a full and accurate
disclosure in a permit application, protecting the integrity
of the permit process!
This ruling was especially gratifying to opponents
of the project who had questioned Oneida Seven
Generations about the accuracy of the information they
were providing to the public in their presentations, on
the company’s website, and in media releases. Questions
regarding emissions were repeatedly dismissed by the
LLC’s spokesman by saying there would be no pollution
because of the closed-looped system. After learning
similar misrepresentations were also made to the city,
opponents brought that information to the city council in
April, 2012. At that time they voted to have a rescission
hearing. The subsequent vote to rescind the permit gave
residents a renewed confidence in local government.
Council members listened to their constituents and acted
on information which they verified in the public record.
However, Judge Hammer’s decision did not stop OSGC
from going forward with a gasification plant elsewhere.
The company is now trying to site a facility in Oneida
and is making inquiries with the Morrison Town Board.
In Oneida, they have asked for and received a zoning
permit change on reservation property referred to as the
Tower Foods site. CWAC was contacted by tribal members
asking for our support of their efforts to stop the project.
CWAC wrote to the Oneida Land Commission urging that
the zoning change not be made due to the nearness of the
Turtle School, tribal organic gardening businesses, and a
pristine wetland. CWAC also pointed out that OSGC was
not fully releasing the details of their project, which alone
was cause for not rezoning.
Although the zoning change was granted, CWAC
continues to work with these members to prevent the
plant from being built. Two strategies are currently being
employed. Several tribal members gathered signatures of
enrolled tribal members which they say are sufficient to
require a full tribal council vote on the matter. Sources
within the tribe indicate many members were reluctant to
sign for fear of losing their jobs with tribal businesses. If
enough signatures are confirmed, a council meeting will be
held in May to take up the matter.
In the meantime, tribal members have proposed
a boycott/buycott, as they have called it. Since the
Tsyunhehkw^ Herbs and Organics farming business is close
to the proposed site, the idea is to boycott those products
due to contamination concerns from a gasification plant.
On the other hand, those supporting the opposition could
agree to buy products if no plant is built. Should this
boycott/buycott be implemented, CWAC will e-mail an
alert, unless OSGC releases their plan and an evaluation of
the project indicates an alert to be unnecessary.
Tribal member, Leah Dodge has also written to the
Oneida Tribe’s Business Committee revealing further
false statements made by OSGC and how their project
conflicts with at least one of the Tribe’s resolutions. In
The Oneida Tribe of Indians Resolution 12-08-10-B,
there are numerous false statements; the most egregious
include misleading information about emissions. They
are as follows: “WHEREAS, emissions from this facility
are comparable to a natural gas generator and will be
limited to the four generators that will send the energy to
WPS,” and “WHEREAS, this facility will meet strict federal
Environmental Protection Act guidelines for air emissions
and will not have smoke stacks, will not produce excessive
noise or emit toxic gas or odors.” Both of these statements
fail to identify that smokestacks would be needed to
disperse the over 18 toxic air emissions the WDNR reported
the plant would release, including dioxin.
The potential for dioxin release conflicts with another
resolution, The Oneida Tribe of Indians Resolution #1108-00-B, Dioxin and Persistent Organic Pollutants. This
resolution calls on the federal government to pursue ending
the production and release of dioxin because dioxin is a
“known carcinogen” and dioxin is linked to severe health
effects. The resolution further notes that tribal families are
disproportionately exposed to dioxin because of their landbased culture and subsistence practices.
OSGC also presented information to the Morrison
Town Board for what appears to be a gasification plant. A
representative from Incinerator Free Brown County (IFBC)
covered the event and has received a videotaped portion
of the meeting. E-mail CWAC for a copy of the video
segment. IFBC also sent a letter to Morrison Town Board
members informing them of the past misrepresentations by
OSGC and raising many issues that board members should
consider in determining if the project is appropriate for
Morrison.
CWAC will keep you posted through an e-mail alert and
our Facebook page if there are further developments.
2013 Membership Renewal
is Due! Thank you!
See pg. 13
Clean Water Action Council News j 7
Clean Water Action Council Staff
Attends Recycling Meeting
By Carla Martin, CWAC Intern
Protesting the Dairy Business Association
and CAFOs
By Samantha Francar, CWAC intern
Although the morning of February 19th was filled with
freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall, that didn’t stop
the passion of local citizens and the members of Kewaunee
County’s Citizens Advocating Responsible Environmental
Stewardship (Kewaunee CARES) who demonstrated against
the Dairy Business Association convention at the KI Center
that day.
Kewaunee CARES organized a protest to voice their
opinions on the Dairy Business Association’s “Diary
Expansion Symposium” where corporate dairy farms
met to plan expansion of factory farms in Wisconsin.
These factory farms not only use confined animal feeding
practices , but they also produce hormone-infested waste
filled with contaminates like E.coli, making drinking water
unsafe and polluting bodies of water like the rivers and
lakes in the state of Wisconsin.
Nancy Utesch, a farmer in Kewaunee and a member of
Kewaunee CARES, was one of the picketers at the CAFO
protest. “We live in Kewaunee County, and there are 16
animal factories, each in various stages of expansion. With
each expansion, our water is threatened more, our air
quality, our futures, and our quality of life. We’re concerned
about what’s happening. We believe that we already have
expanded for what the people can tolerate and the tolerance
of the land.”
The people who came out to protest showed dedication
and excitement, bearing the cold and the whiteout snow.
Drivers rode by and honked in support, and each picketer
held their signs with pride and satisfaction knowing
that they would not only reach out to the factory farms
in objection, but to their local neighbors and future
generations to protect themselves from harm along with the
environment that they live in. Thank you to all who came
and rallied. Your actions are very much appreciated.
8 i Clean Water Action Council News
The Clean Water Action Council staff attended the
Wisconsin Council on Recycling meeting on February 21,
2013 in Green Bay. The Wisconsin Council on Recycling
is a citizens group, appointed by the governor, to advise
the governor, legislature and state agencies on solid waste
reduction, recovery and recycling policy. The council is
staffed by the Department of Natural Resources.
The agenda for the meeting covered the topics of
recycling plastics, pharmaceuticals, tires, and carpet.
Cynthia Moore with the WI DNR stated that, “$64 million
dollars’ worth of plastics went into Wisconsin landfills
in 2009”. This opens opportunities for new technologies
and emergent markets. A presentation was made on tire
recycling programs in other states, as well as a presentation
from a representative from Carpet Landfill Elimination and
Recycling (CLEAR) about initiatives to recycle residential
carpeting. For more information visit: http://dnr.wi.gov/
topic/recycling/council.html
CWAC Will Mail Open Burning Warnings
Upon Request
By Dean Hoegger
With spring just around the corner, rural residents
can expect an increase in the use of burn barrels and open
burning. By state law, only leaves, plant clippings, nonrecyclable paper and cardboard, and clean, untreated wood
may be burned. However, burn barrels often contain far
more dangerous materials which are largely unknown to an
observer. Open burning permits may be issued locally for
the purpose of burning brush, leaves, and untreated lumber.
But often painted or treated lumber, plastic products,
carpets and pads, and other unwanted materials will also be
burned in violation of the state law and the local permit.
Open burning is responsible for nearly two-thirds of the
dioxin released in the U.S. each year. These methods also
release furans, acid vapors, carcinogenic tars, and heavy
metals including lead, cadmium, and chromium. Even
when the burning is over, problems with toxins persist. The
ash remaining can cause immediate exposure problems
or persist over time as rainfall causes these pollutants to
enter the surface or ground waters. Open burning is clearly
hazardous to one’s health.
Whenever possible, report these violations to a local
authority first, such as county law enforcement, which
is likely to send an officer to the scene. Also report the
violation to the DNR Tipline at 800-847-9367, who will
have a warden make a follow-up call to you.
For non-emergency responses, whether it is just the
use of a burn barrel or on the ground burning violations,
CWAC will mail a WDNR open burning information sheet
to your neighbor with a cover letter from CWAC. You
provide us with the name and address of the recipient, and
we will do the mailing without identifying you.
Maribel Residents Still Monitoring
Digester Proposal
By Dean Hoegger
CWAC board members Charlie Frisk and Dean
Hoegger attended a meeting of the Ledge Guardians in
Maribel on January 22. Residents were told that there
has been no new zoning change request to site a digester
since the previous request was incorrectly submitted
in 2012. However, they were also told that it remains a
Maribel Village Board meeting agenda item each month.
The previous application was for rezoning a site that is a
designated environmental corridor as identified by the
Village of Maribel 20-Year Comprehensive Plan.
Results of water testing were also shared as well as
information about how to interpret the results. The testing
was completed to obtain a baseline of water quality if a
digester was permitted at the site. The greatest potential
threat to groundwater from a digester would be the
spreading of the leftover material on nearby fields, many
having little topsoil to absorb nutrients.
Frisk and Hoegger were invited to share information
about the mission and activities of CWAC including our
work with Kewaunee Cares.
CWAC Attends Algoma Water Forum
Organized by Kewaunee CARES
Members of CWAC’s Kewaunee CARES committee
organized a forum to examine the effects of concentrated
animal feeding operations (CAFOs) on human health and
the environment in Kewaunee County. Lynn and Nancy
Utesch and James Olson hosted the event with numerous
speakers scheduled by William Iwen.
Andrew Werthman, of the PEW Environmental
Group explained that besides the threat to groundwater
and human health, CAFOs are negatively affecting local
economies. This industrial animal product production
transfers costs to local communities while at the same
time reducing money spent locally. With fewer farms, the
services and equipment become more specialized, and
are not often found within the community. With greater
concentrations of animals, CAFOs require more feed than
what is raised locally, and is therefore often shipped in from
great distances.
Several presenters discussed legal and political actions
including Susan Turner from Jo Daviess County, Illinois.
Turner spoke about how the organization she helped
found, Helping Others Maintain Environmental Standards
(HOMES), through grassroots organizing and fundraising,
was able to affect the departure of A.J. Bos Industrial Dairy
Farm from her county. More about the group’s success can
be found by searching H.O.M.E.S. where you will find their
Facebook page, lawsuit, and related articles.
Another political resource is found at the PEW website:
http://www.pewenvironment.org/campaigns/reformingindustrial-animal-agriculture/id/8589940398/
Here you will find many resources including an online
petition urging the EPA to make pollution from CAFOs
among its national enforcement initiative.
Midwest Environmental Advocates director Kim Wright
spoke about the importance of reporting possible violations
to the DNR Tipline at 800-847-9367. She also noted that it
is important to report any threats or intimidating behavior
toward environmental activists to local law enforcement.
She said threats are not entirely uncommon and should be
taken seriously.
CWAC board members Bev Watkins and Dean Hoegger
also attended the forum.
Kewaunee CARES Continues Surface
Water Testing
By James Olson
CWAC continues to sponsor surface water testing in
Kewaunee County to obtain baseline data on water quality
in an effort to monitor the efforts of concentrated animal
feeding operations in the county. The Kewaunee CARES
committee is conducting the study.
On January 22, following some mild temperatures and
some snow melt, water testers sampled two locations near
a field where winter spreading of manure had occurred.
The first location was at the corner of County S and Maple
Road in Lincoln Township of Kewaunee County. This is
one of the routine locations used since testing started last
September. Samples taken were tested only for coliform
bacteria and E. Coli bacteria The lab was asked to test at a
higher sensitivity than previous samples in order to get a
clearer understanding of the degree of pollution happening.
Total coliform at this site was 5790cfu/100 ml and E. Coli at
530cfu/100ml. Actual testing last October was much higher
for both, most likely because manure applications were
greater and testing followed a 3-inch rain event. However,
the site tested 1/8th mile to the east, along a ditch near the
field where manure was applied, revealed a level of 19,863
cfu/100ml for total coliform bacteria and 355 cfu/100 ml for
E. Coli.
The high level of coliform bacteria is indicative of the
presence of manure in the water. Observations of ditches
and streams in the area that day showed significant flow of
dark brown water. As soon as snow melting starts again in
the spring, more samples will be taken at these and other
locations in the county.
You can follow their water testing and CAFO concerns
at: kewauneecares.wordpress.com.
Clean Water Action Council News j 9
CWAC Submits Written Testimony Opposing
Wisconsin Strip-Mining Bill
By Dean Hoegger
In support of the Bad River Band of Chippewa Indians,
CWAC submitted hand-delivered written testimony to
the Joint Finance Committee on January 17, the only day
scheduled for public comment. The bill was essentially
written by Gogebic Taconite, the mining company
wanting to strip-mine iron ore near the Bad River Band’s
reservation and traditional rice-growing wetlands. While
the bill contained many provisions that failed to safeguard
the environment and human health, CWAC primarily
commented on how the bill would reduce or eliminate
public participation.
On Monday, February 25, the bill passed the budgetwriting finance committee by a 12-4 vote, and as of our
press time, it was headed to the Legislature where it is
expected to easily pass on party lines.
Has money had an impact on how quickly the bill
is being pushed through the Legislature? According to
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a broad coalition of promining business interests made $15.6 million in campaign
contributions to officials who control the bill’s fate. During
the same period, mining opponents gave state officials
$25,544 in campaign donations.
CWAC Office Becomes a Busier Place
The Green Bay office is busier than ever with interns
and volunteers working to keep members well-informed on
issues and engaged in public meetings statewide and here in
northeast Wisconsin. A membership drive was completed
and research needed to update the website is well underway.
And of course, the CWAC newsletter was completed and sent
to the printer last week. Please look for your newsletter at the
beginning of the month of each change of seasons. You will
see the Summer 2013 issue the first week of June.
The office is also graced with the presence of two UWGB
interns, Carla Martin and Samantha Francar.Carla comes to us
with a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Policy and
Planning and a certificate in Environmental Sustainability and
Business plus a two-year internship as the renewable energy
intern at Wisconsin Public Service Corporation. She worked
extensively on the SolarWise for Schools program while with
WPS. Carla is taking the lead in many areas including research
for updating our website. Samantha is in her junior year in
the Environmental Policy and Planning program and brings
a youthful perspective to our organization. She, too, is doing
research for the website update and is bringing a younger
crowd to our Facebook page, which she has updated.
We are looking for patrons to fund student internships.
Contact us for the details. If you are interested in volunteering
your time and talents, please contact us to volunteer or to be
on the weekly office hours and projects update.
10 i Clean Water Action Council News
Join the Mother Earth Water Walkers
for an Event on May 5th
By Kim R. Diaz
The water that runs through the bays, the lakes, the
rivers, the streams, and the creeks is the same water that
runs through our bodies. The spirit of the water is sacred
and it gives us life. We are all connected to the waters of the
earth and they to us. We have a responsibility to the waters
and all the living things on the earth that depend on the
waters.
In 2003, two Anishinawbe grandmothers began walking
for the water. They were concerned about the pollution that
was finding its way into the waters from human activity.
They began walking to pray for the healing of the waters.
Each step is a prayer of thanksgiving for all the waters of the
earth. The grandmothers and a group of supporters began
walking around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. In
March of this year, the Mother Earth Water Walkers will
be walking along the Mississippi River. They walk in the
spring because that is a time of renewal for the waters of the
Earth.
Last year a group of women came together and walked
for the water of Green Bay in support of the grandmothers.
They walked along the western shore of the bay of Green
Bay. This year on May 5th, the walk will take place along
the eastern shore of the bay. They would like to invite those
who are interested to join them. The walk will begin with
a water ceremony for cleansing, followed by the walk, and
will end with a feast and music. The Mother Earth Water
Walkers will then present the Environmental Hero Award
to a very special warrior for the water, Dean Hoegger.
Please watch for details on times and locations at:
http://www.motherearthwaterwalk.com/index.php/about-us
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/02/19/
fundraiser-women-walking-length-mississippi-river-147758
Legacies, memorials, and direct gifts to
CWAC are deeply appreciated.
Please contact our treasurer,
John Hermanson at
[email protected] for more information.
pril 6
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For free posters,
please e-mail us at contact@
cleanwateractioncouncil.org
or call Dean @ 920-495-5127
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Dance for the Environment and Membership Dinner
Saturday, April 6 @ 5:30 p.m.
Our annual membership meeting and dinner will be held at the Riverside Ballroom at 1560 Main St., Green Bay,
followed by the dance at 7:30. There will Door Prizes, a Silent Art Auction, and will feature
Zoomie & the Dynamics for the dance. Please consider ordering a block of tickets to sell to friends.
Paid members are eligible for door prizes at the dinner!
Ticket Order Form for $15 Advance Tickets
# of tickets_______@ $15 each for a total of $_______
Please indicate the # of your dinner preference(s):
( ) Parmesan Chicken
( ) Vegetarian Lasagna
( ) Gluten-free Chicken
_______ Yes, I have an item for the silent art auction/door
prizes. I will bring it by 5:00 or call Dean at 495-5127
for prior pickup.
(Please place your order by Monday, April 1)
Send tickets to (name/address):
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Phone #: ____________________ (in case we have a question)
Please include payment with your order.
Checks payable to: Clean Water Action Council
P.O. Box 9144, Green Bay, WI 54308
Please send any nominations for CWAC Board Member elections to us prior to the annual meeting.
Clean Water Action Council News j 11
m
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! m Meetings, Events and Happenings
m Thursday, March 7 ~ 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
Introduction to Moving Towards Zero Waste, at The Brown
County Central Library
Amy Spears, an Oneida Nation Environmental Specialist and
Dean Hoegger, President of the Clean Water Action Council will
introduce key concepts, principles and practices that are key to
the Zero Waste movement.
m Thursday, March 7 ~ 6:45 - 8:00 p.m.
“Waste Not…Want Not”, at The Brown County Central Library
Following the Zero Waste presentation, Mark Walter, the
facility manager for Recycling and Hazardous Waste for Brown
County, will give a Power Point presentation, “Waste Not…Want
Not,” with a show-and-tell, and will answer questions after the
presentation. Bring some household plastic containers to find out if
they are recyclable.
m Thursday, March 7 ~ 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
New Leaf Foods and Sustainable Green Bay team up to sponsor
the Incredible Edible Landscapes at the Brown County Central
Library Auditorium.
New Leaf Foods and Sustainable Green Bay join up to
sponsor the Incredible Edible Landscapes panel discussion with
local experts on growing food in an urban landscape. Topics
include: Yardening, Permaculture, Heirlooms & Diversity, and
Nutritional Landscaping. More info can be found on Facebook
or on the website. Volunteers are needed. Please sign-up if you
are interested: http://www.newleafmarket.org
m Saturday, March 9 ~ 9:00 a.m.
The Round River Alliance’s first Nature Hike at Point Au Sable
The Round River Alliance is a student organization at UWGB
and is hosting a nature hike. The hike will focus on birding,
invasive shrub IDing and info, and current and future restoration
projects taking place at Point Au Sable.
m Thursday, March 28 ~ 4 - 8:00 p.m.
Environmental Compliance Workshop at the Brown County
Central Library
CWAC will host a workshop on investigating industrial
facilities for compliance with anti-pollution requirements.
Attendees will get an overview of the Clean Air and Clean Water
Acts, learn how to gather information on industrial facilities
using online databases and public records requests, review actual
permits and compliance records for a Green Bay facility, and
learn what steps they can take to reduce industrial air and water
pollution in our communities. Jamie Saul, an environmental
attorney with McGillivray Westerberg & Bender LLC in
Madison, will lead the workshop. Register for this free workshop
by contacting Dean at 920-495-5127.
m Thursdays this Spring ~ 6:00 p.m.
The Helfenstein Soup Council is hosting a Food Film Series
and Discussion at 6 p.m. at The House of Tawet, 601 North
Broadway, Green Bay.
The Helfenstein Soup Council is hosting a food film series
and discussion on the last Thursday of the month. These films
explore the topic of how food production is a big piece of our
12 i Clean Water Action Council News
pollution problem. “Fresh” on March 28, “End of the Line” on
April 25, and “Our Daily Bread” on May 30th.
m Saturday, April 27 ~ 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore
is sponsoring the Fox Cities Community Wide Earth Day
Celebration
The Earth Day Celebration will be held at 3000 East College
Avenue in Appleton, WI. This event is free for the whole
family. The Fox Valley Sierra Club is seeking Appleton Earth Day
volunteers. Please contact Dale Schaber, 920-739-6041, dschaber@
athenet.net.
m Saturday morning, April 20 ~
Baird Creek Clean-Up, Green Bay. Check in at Triangle Hill and
sign up for a location along Baird Creek to clean up! Bring gloves
and bags. Local environmental groups will be there with booths
and information about their organization and things they are
doing and how you can get involved.
m Tuesday, April 2nd ~ 7:00 p.m.
UWGB hosts the iPat film, “Vegucated” at the Christie Theatre. The film will be followed by a short informational session with
a local expert and time for questions from the audience. The
series is free and open to the public. iPat stands for impact=popu
lation*affluence*technology.
m Saturday, April 6 ~ 5:30 - 11:00 p.m.
CWAC Banquet, Silent Auction, and Dance featuring Zoomie
and the Dynamics, at the Riverside Ballroom, 1560 Main Street,
Green Bay.
Social begins at 5:30, silent art auction 5:30-8:30, dinner with
entrées of chicken parmesan, vegetarian lasagna, and gluten-free
chicken at 6:00, program at 7:00, followed by music and dancing
from 7:30-11:00. $15 advance tickets are available from board
members, at the CWAC office, or by calling Dean at 920-4955127. Advance dance-only tickets are also available for $10.
m Sunday, May 5 ~
The Mother Earth Water Walkers Event, along the eastern
shore of the bay of Green Bay. Watch for details at:
http://www.motherearthwaterwalk.com/index.php/about-us
m Saturday, May 11 ~ 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The Answers to Energy Eco Expo, Shopko Hall, Green Bay
PMI Entertainment Group and Cumulus Broadcasting have
joined together and created the Answers to Energy Eco Expo.
Expo Features:
• Educational seminars and hands-on workshops
• Saturday morning Farmers’ Market
• Organic and locally grown cuisine provided by
local restaurants
• Family and children’s activities
• Regional vendors and resources who are excited to show
the easy ways to be more “green” in your daily life
For more information visit: http://ecoexpowi.com/
✂
Join or Renew Your Membership to
Clean Water Action Council!
Date______________
( ) $20 Individual
( ) $30 Family (this amount would really help)
( ) $50 Sustaining
( ) $100 Donor
( ) $500 Benefactor
( ) Non-member donation of $ __________for______________
( ) Other $________
Provide your e-mail address below for an eco-friendly version sent
privacy protected, but please include your street address also:
E-Mail_________________________________________________
Name(s)________________________________________________
Address________________________________________________
City_____________________________ State______ Zip_________
Phone_________________________________________________
Please send me, privacy protected, occasional action alert e-mails
to this e-mail address:
E-Mail_________________________________________________
PLEASE VOLUNTEER!
(BE SURE TO NOTE PHONE NUMBER ABOVE)
 the newsletter
 events
 work at office
 joining or leading one of the committees
 mailings
All contributions are tax-deductible.
COMMITTEES
Non-Point Pollution: Charles Frisk
Special Events: Bev Watkins
Public Health: Dean Hoegger
Membership, Finance and Fundraising: John Hermanson
Renard Island: Tom Neuser
Kewaunee Cares: Lynn Utesch
Phone numbers are listed under Board Members
Find us on Facebook for updates on hearings such as
the Oneida Trash to Energy Project and current
or upcoming events.
www.cleanwateractioncouncil.org
Dean Hoegger, President
920-495-5127
Tom Neuser, Vice-President
920-468-4105
John Hermanson, Treasurer
920-845-5479
Jane Blameuser, Secretary
920-468-1509
Charlie Frisk
920-406-6572
Drew Hoegger
920-606-9388
Bev Watkins, Newsletter
920-866-3648
Lynn Utesch
920-388-0868
UWGB INTERNS:
Carla Martin
Samantha Francar
 other
Send check or money order to:
Clean Water Action Council
P.O. Box 9144
Green Bay, WI 54308
BOARD MEMBERS
CONTACT US
By phone: 920-421-8885
If you leave us a message, we will try
to get back to you within 24 hours.
By mail:
Clean Water Action Council
P.O. Box 9144
Green Bay, WI 54308
By e-mail:
[email protected]
a
The newsletter, “Clean Water Action Council
of N.E. WI” is published quarterly by the
Clean Water Action Council of Northeast
Wisconsin, Inc., P.O. Box 9144,
Green Bay, WI 54308, a registered nonprofit charitable, educational organization.
All contributions are tax-deductible.
ON
CI
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CL
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N WAT
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Clean Water Action Council
of Northeast Wisconsin
P. O. Box 9144
Green Bay, WI 54308
N
of Northeast Wisconsin
013
Your 2 enewal
R
ership
Memb e! See pg. 13
is Du
in this issue...
Page 1: • The Man from Clear Lake, Gaylord Nelson,
Still Inspires the Green Movement.
Page 5: • N.E.W. Plastics Corporation Brings Sustainability to Lumber Industry
Page 2: • Zero Waste Group Forms in Brown County
• Sustain Door Returns Sustainability Fair
to Door County April 27
Page 6: • Gardner Town Board Seeks to
Regulate CAFOs
• The Action in CWAC
Page 3:
• Green Bay’s Bird City Recognition
Leads to Avian-Related Successes
Page 10: • Join the Mother Earth Water Walkers
for an Event on May 5th
Page 4: • Green Bay Pollinator Corridor Creates
Chain of Native Landscape Gardens
• Local City Ordinance Supports
Native Landscapes
• Sustainable Farming is Promoted
in Northeast Wisconsin
Page 11: • Dance for the Environment Information
and Ticket Order Form
Page 12: • Mark Your Calendar!