Mark Cain, Joe Baeten, and Tom Bauman of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) ran the public hearing on July 24th for the Roth Feeder Pig 5-year Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (WPDES) permit. Just over thirty area residents filled the room in Wauzeka’s Century Hall.
In his overview of the permit, Mark Cain explained that this WPDES permit is a “zero discharge permit”, though when it comes to monitoring and enforcement, he noted that it is essentially a “self-reporting system”. Many in the audience were also surprised to hear both the DNR and the owner, AV Roth, claim that there is no plan to expand the Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) or increase the manure output.
This was surprising because according to the revised Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) submitted – after the first was found to be incomplete and sent back by the DNR – the estimated amount of manure produced had more than doubled to 3.1 million gallons of liquid plus another 264 tons of solid manure. Many of the public comments heard commented on this notable increase in manure and the question was asked how this could be, if there was no planned expansion of the CAFO. In total, eleven members of the public spoke at the hearing, ten with concerns and questions and one in support of the operation. CSP was impressed with the respect and professionalism of all involved.
During AV Roth’s comments he again used the Rountree clay layer as a counter for karst geology and, while CSP does not doubt his sincerity, any contention that this is a proper protective formation has been thoroughly de-bunked by Professor Kelvin Rodolfo’s 2012 Study of the Geology and Hydrology of Viroqua Township.
Increased phosphorus levels in a number of fields was also stated as a concern, with many fields requiring retesting this fall. None of the questions or discrepancies were addressed during the hearing, and individuals were left try to get their concerns addressed as the DNR wrapped up their presentation equipment.
Crawford Stewardship Project (CSP) will continue working with the public, Roth Feeder Pig, and the DNR to clarify the situation and that the DNR does not permit an expansion, as the current NMP states. Had there been a substantive prior conversation to this hearing between CSP and the DNR, as in past years based on the annual expert review of the NMP funded by CSP, many of these issues could have been addressed before-hand. However, CSP’s review was ignored and the public was once again left with a very short deadline to submit comments.