Letter from Rep. Danou: DNR enforcement practices need transparency

• Rep. Danou

Rep. Danou

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MADISON – State Representative Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau) today called for an audit of the Department of Natural Resources’ regulations regarding human sewage application to farm fields. The request comes as a result of a recent report that top-level DNR administrators did not refer actions by Herr Environmental to the Department of Justice to investigate the waste hauling company and its alleged spreading of human sewage in a Jefferson County field.

“Politics should never transcend public health, “ said Danou. “The people of Wisconsin need to have faith that government departments work together to do what it is right. My main concern here is that the law is always applied in a fair, and ethical way so that decisions are not made in an effort to provide special treatment for preferred individuals or companies.”

After discovering that Herr Environmental spread human sewage three times on fields where people rely on nearby wells for drinking water, DNR investigators recommended that the Herr Environmental case be turned over to the Department of Justice. However, top officials in the Secretary’s office with connections to Herr Environmental asked that the company only receive the minimum fine of $4,338.

“Wisconsin has a proud history of transparent government and we have resources to help us find concrete answers to our questions. That being said, I encourage the co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to direct the Legislative Audit Bureau to review DNR enforcement practices when situations such as this, and all other matters of public health arise.”

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