Natural Resources Committee Hearing

This morning the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources is holding a hearing on the proposed revision of the state's reasonably available control technology emission limitations for volatile organic compounds, invasive species, the composition of the Natural Resources Board, phosphorus regulations, and other issues.

VOC RACT

Despite having met the 1997 8-hour ozone standard on a statewide basis since 2008, Wisconsin counties cannot be redesignated to attainment until the EPA approves the state's VOC RACT (volatile organic compounds, reasonable available control technology) rules, and determines the state's SIP to be complete.

The DNR sent updated VOC RACT rules to the EPA for approval in 2009, however, the EPA deemed those rules incomplete. It is expected that after the legislature approves these current modifications, the EPA will review and approve the rules some time in 2012.

Invasive Species

The committee will only hear testimony from the Department of Justice, the Department of Natural Resources, and the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Program regarding Asian carp and quagga mussels.

Asian carp were recently found in some inland Wisconsin waterways. Wisconsin and four other states have filed a federal lawsuit calling for re-engineering the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to keep the fish from entering the Lake Michigan.

The committee will also hear testimony on the physical invasion and expected environmental consequences of quagga mussels in Lake Michigan.

Natural Resources Board Composition

Under current law, the NRB consists of seven members appointed by the governor for six-year terms. Assembly Bill 104 would mandate at least one member of the NRB come from an agricultural background, and at least three members of the Board have held a hunting, fishing, or trapping license in at least seven of the ten years before their year of nomination.

Phosphorus

Current law prohibits retailers from displaying grass fertilizer that contains phosphorus. Assembly Bill 165 would allow retailers to stock and display fertilizer that contains phosphorous if they post a sign describing the state’s general prohibition against applying fertilizer that contains phosphorus to grass and the exceptions to the prohibition.

This post was authored by GLLF staff attorney Emily Kelchen.