Phosphorus levels aren’t just a problem for Wisconsin farmers – it looks like it’s a BIG issue for their rural communities too.
Thirty-one members of the Wisconsin State Legislature have signed a letter asking Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation to find a way to revise Wisconsin’s phosphorus standards that are part of the federal Clean Water Act.
The letter, circulated by Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), was prompted by input from small municipalities in the 17th Senate District who are struggling to meet unreasonable phosphorus standards without making extreme renovations to wastewater treatment facilities. The financial burden of these renovations, distributed among small populations, will be devastating to small rural communities.
“We have done all we can at the state level to manage the impact of unreasonable phosphorus regulations on our small communities,” Marklein said. “We need our Congressional delegation to find a way for us to revise the standards that we set for ourselves as part of the federal Clean Water Act.”
A copy of the letter circulated is here. 5.16.17_Phosphorus.CongressionalDelegation
