Wisconsin judge upholds DNR's power to require preemptive pollution permits for factory farms, maintaining protections for water resources.

A Wisconsin judge upheld that state regulators can require factory farms to secure permits before discharging pollutants. Factory farm lobbyists had challenged the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) authority to mandate such permits, but Judge Carey Reed found in favor of the regulators, providing protection to lakes, streams and drinking water. This ruling is significant for protecting water quality, especially as many surface and groundwaters are contaminated with animal waste.

January 31, 2024
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