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Last week's edition

About this Newsletter

April 4, 2005

Latest postings:

• PA, NJ, DE, MD, NY: Celva Corp.:  Salesman
• GA: Forysth County Government: Project Manager - Water Dept.
• GA: DeKalb County Government: Deputy Director Water & Sewer - Engineering & Technical Services
• NV: Las Vegas Valley Water District: Civil Engineer/Civil Engineer P.E.
• NV: Las Vegas Valley Water District: Senior Inspector
• NV: Las Vegas Valley Water District: Electronics Technician - Instrumentation
• TX: City of Fort Worth: Water Director
   

Want more? See all postings.

National/International News

—  Great Lakes News

• Fighting lake 'exotics' may be up to states
  (Muskegon Chronicle, 03/24) "If Congress is unwilling to counteract the invasion of exotic species that are upsetting the ecology of the Great Lakes, it may be up to the affected states to carry the ball."
  
  
• Groups push to protect Great Lakes from foreign pests
  (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 03/26) "The St. Lawrence Seaway opened for the 47th shipping season Friday, which means another invader may be on its way to threaten the Great Lakes."
  

—  Water Supply

• Steel prices pump up costs of Lewis & Clark pipeline
  (Aberdeen American News, 03/26) "Higher steel costs are driving up the price tag on a pipeline that will supply water for the region's growing population."
  
  
• Big muddle over the Missouri River
  (Kansas City Star, 03/28) "The governor of Montana has a message for us. 'I'm afraid I bring bad news,' Gov. Brian Schweitzer writes in an open letter to residents of states downstream on the Missouri River."
  
  
• Western states miss deadline for Colorado River plan
  (Grand Junction Sentinel, 04/01) "Colorado and six other states that share water from the Colorado River failed to meet today’s deadline for a plan to manage the river during drought."
  

—  Water Quality

• Seven Quebec towns on boil-water orders
  (Globe and Mail, 03/28) "Thousands of residents in seven municipalities in central Quebec were without drinking water on Monday after problems with the local water system."
  
  
• Company using bacteria to dissolve MTBE in Maryland
  (WBAL, 03/28) "A Carroll County gas station is the first site in Maryland to be treated with a bacteria that eats the gasoline additive MTBE."
  
  
• EPA: companies caused Penn. groundwater contamination
  (Express-Times, 04/01) "The Environmental Protection Agency has identified three companies as the sources of industrial solvents that have contaminated groundwater from Washington to Franklin Township, officials said Thursday."
  

—  Water Resources

• Clean Water Act: Definition of 'ditch' is muddy at best
  (Washington Post, 03/29) "Under the 1972 Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have jurisdiction over whether a ditch qualifies to be protected as a wetland."
  
  
• Sea lice from fish farms can plague wild salmon
  (NPR, 03/30) Audio. "The spread of parasitic sea lice from salmon farms to wild salmon could be far bigger problem than was previously thought."
  
  
• NOAA working to restore oysters in Chesapeake Bay
  (NOAA, 03/31) "Just off the bow, as the cabin cruiser cautiously nudges through wavelets stirred by a brisk March breeze, the untrained eye can make out faint café au lait blotches just under the surface, in contrast to the darker surrounding water of the Great Wicomico River in Virginia."
  
  
• Virginia task force probes fish deaths
  (Yahoo News, 03/31) "A state task force is investigating the deaths of hundreds of fish in Peninsula waters last week and this week."
  
  
• Ruling could curb invasive species via ships
  (Washington Post, 03/31) "A federal judge ruled Thursday the government can no longer allow ships to dump without a permit any ballast water containing nonnative species that could harm local ecosystems."
  
  
• Proposal to fight global warming may threaten oceans
  (NPR, 04/01) Audio. "Researchers find that freezing gas to combat global warming may significantly harm marine life. Scientists have suggested capturing carbon dioxide gas from factory smokestacks and pumping it two miles under the ocean's surface."
  
   
• Threat of suit in Oklahoma spurs poultry farmers to unite
  (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 04/01) "Poultry farmers in Arkansas and Oklahoma are joining forces to make sure they are represented in an expected lawsuit with the state of Oklahoma over poultry waste flowing into watersheds in that state."
  

—  Stormwater

• Judge rules for California stormwater cleanup plan
  (Los Angeles Daily News, 03/28) "A Superior Court judge rejected an effort by a coalition of cities and developers to prevent a countywide storm-water cleanup plan that would reduce the largest source of pollution to California's coast."
  

—  Wastewater

• Chlorine release at Colo. plant spurs efforts to replace system
  (Longmont Daily Times-Call, 03/26) "The accidental release of a small amount of chlorine by the city’s wastewater treatment plant into the St. Vrain River is made all the more irritating to Longmont officials because they’ve been trying for years to stop using the toxic gas to clean their water."
  
  
• Massachusetts program might finance sewers
  (Boston Globe, 03/27) "Medway may soon become one of the first in the state to borrow money for capital projects with the promise that it will be repaid using taxes collected from future development."
  
  
• Chronic spills spur scrutiny of Honolulu sewers
  (Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 03/28) "Despite spending $726 million on sewer improvement projects in the past 12 years, the city continues to struggle with a high number of sewage spills."
  

—  Hazardous/Toxic Waste

• DuPont's chemical releases to water, air on decline
  (Waste News, 03/31) "DuPont reduced chemical releases to the air and water by 12 percent from 2002 to 2003, the company said. The company also reduced all releases by 5 percent during the same period."
  
  
• Mediation could speed cleanup at Ford site in New Jersey
  (NorthJersey.com, 04/01) "A decades-old dispute over Ford's leftover toxic waste, which Native American residents claim has caused rampant illness, could be going to mediation."
  

—  Air Quality

• Nine states file suit challenging federal mercury rules
  (Medical News Today, 03/31) "A coalition of nine states, led by New Jersey, on Tuesday filed suit against the federal government in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, alleging that new Environmental Protection Agency rules on power plant mercury emissions are not sufficient to protect the health of fetuses and children, the AP/Boston Globe reports."
  
  
• In bid to cut mercury, US lets other toxins through
  (Christian Science Monitor, 03/31) "Perched along the James River fewer than 30 miles from Irving and Donna Wright's Virginia home, a coal-fired power plant sends up a plume of exhaust."
  

—  Nuclear Waste

• Nuclear waste: Public must know truth about groundwater effects
  (Detroit Free Press, 03/29) "A setback for the Yucca Mountain nuclear storage project feels like a setback around here as well. The long-delayed site represents the only decent hope so far that Michigan and its neighbors can get spent fuel away from the shores of the Great Lakes, where it sits alongside the nuclear plants that used it."
  

—  Everything Else

• Participants announced for federal water conference
  (Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, 03/124) "The Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee staff selected 22 groups to present and discuss their proposed solutions to the challenge of meeting the nation’s ever increasing demand for water."
  

Illinois

—  Water Supply

• Water project key issue in Mason mayoral race
  (Pekin Daily Times, 03/26) "Upgrading Mason City's water treatment system and revitalizing its downtown are the issues of greatest concern to both of the city's candidates for mayor."
  
  

• Q&A on Peoria water buyout scheduled
  (Peoria Journal Star, 03/29) "A question-and-answer session for the public on Peoria's possible water company buyout will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Lakeview Museum, 1125 W. Lake Ave."
  
  

• Construction will finally begin on Hamilton water plant
  (Hancock County Journal-Pilot, 03/30) "Construction on Hamilton's new water plant will begin in mid-May, pending the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's approval of the low bid accepted by the Hamilton City Council Monday."
  
  

• Oil companies pay for East Alton water contamination
  (KSDK, 03/31) "Oil companies in the Metro East have agreed to pay $8 million for polluting a well that supplies water to East Alton, Illinois."
  

—  Water Resources

• Phosphorus ban near lakes urged by Health Department
  (Waukegan News Sun, 03/28) "With a foot in the door, Lake County Health Department officials hope lake associations across the county will join in banning the use of fertilizer containing phosphorus."
  

—  Wastewater

• Du Quoin opens sewer plant bids
  (Southern Illinoisan, 03/26) "After eight years of planning and hard work, the city of Du Quoin wil finally get a new wastewater treatment plant and bids received this week were even somewhat lower than expected."
  
  
• Maple Park battles Cortland for sewer service
  (Aurora Beacon News, 04/03) "With the village's future growth on the line, officials and residents here are scurrying to fend off what they are calling the wicked witch of the west."
  

—  Air Quality

• Seven Illinois hospitals agree to shut down incinerators
  (Waste News, 03/30) "Seven of Illinois' 11 hospitals with on-site medical waste incinerators have agreed to close them down since Gov. Rod Blagojevich called for the closings in September 2004."
  

—  Everything Else

• New technology coming to Paris water-sewer treatment
  (Paris Beacon News, 03/29) "It’s not quite like looking inside a human being, but the same technology is coming to the Paris water-sewer maintenance staff."
  
  
• DuPage Water Commission chairman: 'There are no conflicts'
  (Naperville Sun, 03/29) "A Chicago law firm's lobbying contracts with the DuPage Water Commission and DuPage County Board overlapped shortly after the two governments fought in Springfield, but the water commission chairman and the lobbying firm said they saw no competing interests."
  

Indiana

—  Water Supply

• Boil advisory issued for 300 in Veolia
  (Indianapolis Star, 03/28) "Veolia Indianapolis Water officials issued a boil advisory Sunday for about 300 Far-Eastside customers after a loss of water pressure in some neighborhood lines."
  
  
• East Chicago water plant falling apart
  (NWI Times, 03/28) "The state of disrepair and antiquated technology at the East Water Filtration Plant has created a disaster-waiting-to-happen scenario, city officials say."
   

—  Water Resources

• River cleanup working in Gary
  (Indianapolis Star, 03/26) "Andrew Smith's friends warned him when he was about to buy a house near the Grand Calumet River. 'A lot of people told me I was nuts,' he said. 'They said, 'Man, that's a nasty ol' creek.''"
  
  
• Mercury Pollution
  (Evansville Courier Press, 03/27) Opinion. "What a shame it is that Hoosiers cannot freely eat the fish that inhabit Indiana's lakes and rivers. To do so would expose us to the serious health risks of mercury contamination."
  
  
• Green Twp. reservoir rumor proves unfounded
  (Mooresville/Decatur Times, 03/30) "Although the origins of the rumor remain unclear, what is clear is that a 1,000-acre water reservoir will not be coming to Green Township any time soon."
  

—  Wastewater

• College Corner sewer bills could more than triple
  (Palladium-Item, 03/26) "Residents were stunned Monday when they heard average sewer bills here could hit $82 a month if the town doesn't qualify for a federal grant for improvements to its wastewater system."
  
  
• Officials seek to minimize Mishawaka treatment plant impact
  (South Bend Tribune, 03/28) "The goal of the project is to pave the way into the 21st century for the city's wastewater treatment facility, nearly doubling its capacity to provide for future growth and to cut down on the overflow of combined sewers during storm events."
  
  
• Preparation for Lowell sewer project begins
  (NWI Times, 03/28) "Town officials and the officials for a development including 243 single-family homes on the town's east side will be meeting this week to secure easements for the $1.8 million east side sewer project."
  
  
• Morgan County sewer project could open area for growth
  (Indianapolis Star, 03/29) "Morgan County residents have two weeks to share thoughts about a sewer expansion that could make nearly 6,000 acres on the county's northeastside prime for development."
  
  
• Bremen wastewater plant project to proceed
  (South Bend Tribune, 03/30) "Bremen is a step closer to cleaner wastewater, thanks to a project the town has approved. Workers will soon begin building an addition to the town's wastewater treatment plant that will house sulfur dioxide."
  

—  Landfill/Solid Waste

• Mayor vetoes Michigan City Council transfer station
  (Laporte County Herald Argus, 03/31) "For the first time during his two-year tenure, Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie has vetoed a resolution approved by the Michigan City Council."
  

—  Everything Else

• Fort Wayne plans $46M in fixes, including water, sewer, stormwater
  (Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, 04/01) "Motorists who bump, weave and curse their way along Main Street between Leesburg Road and West Jefferson Boulevard have something to look forward to this year."
  

Michigan

—  Water Supply

• Fowlerville paves way for 3rd and biggest water tower
  (Detroit News, 03/26) "Low water pressure for village residents during the dry summer months may soon be a thing of the past. The Village Council approved building a third water tower with a capacity of 500,000 gallons."
  
  
• New Fenton plant results in 95 percent water rate increase
  (Flint Journal, 03/29) "City residents' water rates will almost double to help cover a $9-million bill for a new water plant and water main work."
  
  
• Evart bottles Ice Mountain deal
  (Cadillac News, 03/29) "Evart city officials have approved a water purchase deal with Nestle-owned bottler Ice Mountain, but environmental groups hope state action will force a closer look at the legalities of the measure."
  

—  Water Resources

• Study will identify Wayne County flood fixes
  (Detroit News, 03/26) "A plan to identify remedies to flooding problems for thousands of homes in nine Wayne County communities is forging ahead, with a study under way."
  
  
• Stabilize lake levels, or risk losing dams in Roscommon
  (Bay City Times, 03/26) "The people in charge of some of Michigan's 2,500 dams just can't resist messing with Mother Nature. We wish they would knock it off."
  
  
• Residents to avoid Ruddiman Creek and Muskegon Lake
  (WOOD-TV, 03/28) "The Muskegon County Health Department is advising everyone to avoid contact with Ruddiman Creek and Muskegon Lake."
  
  
• Caledonia Board approves work to county drains
  (Advance Newspapers, 03/29) "Caledonia Township Board members recently approved spending $16,000 to maintain the county drains in the township."
  
  
• Plans move forward to dredge toxic muck from Saginaw River
  (Bay City Times, 03/29) "A major puzzle piece is in place for building a disposal site for dredging spoils along the Saginaw River. Construction likely will begin this fall, said Saginaw County Public Works Commissioner James A. Koski."
  
  
• Ruddiman Creek cleanup is a 'go'
  (Muskegon Chronicle, 03/30) "The long-awaited cleanup of Ruddiman Creek is expected to begin this summer, eight years after the first of several studies identified the Muskegon Lake tributary as one of Michigan's most polluted waterways."
   

—  Wastewater

• Blockage in Saline sewer causes backup
  (Ann Arbor News, 03/29) "A sanitary sewer blockage caused a sewage backup into the basements of three houses on Whitlock Street in Saline late Sunday."
  
  
• Sewer spill prompts Flint River health advisory
  (Flint Journal, 03/29) "A blocked sewer line spilled untreated waste into a creek flowing into the Flint River east of downtown on Easter Sunday."
  
  
• Muskegon County urged to sell some wastewater property
  (Muskegon Chronicle, 03/29) "Whitehall Township Supervisor Dennis Babcock is asking Muskegon County officials to consider selling a portion of the defunct wastewater treatment plant property just east of the city of Whitehall."
  

—  Hazardous/Toxic Waste

• Cleanup of Dearborn W.R. Grace asbestos site begins
  (EPA News Release,, 03/28) "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 next week begins cleanup of the former W.R. Grace vermiculite-processing plant at 14300 Henn St., in Dearborn, Mich. Once an investigative effort concludes, the project may expand to nearby residential properties."
  
  
• Ann Arbor dry cleaner getting $3 million for cleanup
  (Ann Arbor News, 03/30) "An Ann Arbor dry cleaning business will get $3 million from the state, and three Livingston County locations a total of about $2.2 million, for environmental cleanup under a plan unveiled Tuesday by Gov. Jennifer Granholm."
  

—  Everything Else

• Bonding plan is good for environment and jobs
  (Detroit Free Press, 03/30) Editorial. "Gov. Jennifer Granholm's program to speed up bonding for environmental projects is especially good for Detroit, where two of the three cement silos on the riverfront will come down as a result."
  
  
• Griffin Policy Forum topic: Threats to Michigan's water
  (CMU Newsroom, 03/29) "A diverse panel will slosh through the politics and threats surrounding the Great Lakes state’s water resources at the Spring Griffin Policy Forum at Central Michigan University on April 19."
  

Minnesota

—  Water Supply

• Pollution levels too high in eight Lake Elmo wells
  (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 04/01) "Residents of eight Lake Elmo homes will receive bottled drinking water for at least a month after state officials measured a contaminant in the water of their private wells at a level slightly above what is considered safe."
  

—  Water Resources

• Mississippi segment may be removed from impaired waters list
  (Grand Rapids Herald-Review, 03/25) "A segment of the Mississippi River between the Pokegama Dam and the Prairie River was placed on the impaired waters list by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in 1998, soon however, that segment may be removed from the list."
  
  
• Ducks, Wetlands, Clean Water Rally to be held in St. Paul
  (Fergus Falls Journal, 03/29) "The Ducks, Wetlands and Clean Water Rally will be held Saturday at the Capitol Mall in St. Paul."
  
  
• Duluth's street sand causing stream, storm sewer problems
  (Duluth News Tribune, 03/31) "There's no question that sand is a critical traction tool for motorists navigating Duluth's icy streets during winter months, but it's also a big mess come spring."
  
  
• Dakota County: Clean water good, increased fees not so much
  (South St. Paul Sun Current, 03/31) "Will the plan to clean up the state’s lakes hold water? A bill is proposed in the state House of Representatives called the Clean Water Legacy Act. The legislation would establish a policy framework and funding mechanism to deal with the state’s water quality issues."
  

—  Wastewater

• Duluth waits on approval of overflow solution
  (Duluth News Tribune, 03/30) "Nearly one year after submitting a $130 million plan to fix the city's sewage-overflow problem, Duluth and Western Lake Superior Sanitary District officials still don't know if federal regulators will approve it."
   

—  Hazardous/Toxic Waste

• State seeks delay in work on five Superfund sites
  (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 03/31) "The cleanup of 14 former landfills and five contaminated Superfund sites in Minnesota may be delayed to save money."
  

—  Landfill/Solid Waste

• St. Louis County has a better recycling rate than Duluth
  (Duluth News Tribune, 03/28) "In 2003, the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District collected 51,167 tons of recyclable materials of all kinds -- a heck of a lot more than the 34,341 collected in 1998."
  

—  Air Quality

• Legislation would cut Minnesota mercury emissions
  (Duluth News Tribune, 04/01) "Minnesota's Republican and Democrat lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation that would cut mercury emissions at coal-fired power plants in the state by 90 percent by 2011."
  

—  Everything Else

• Stearns County honors several conservationists
  (Agri News, 03/29) "More than 400 people attended the recent Stearns County Pheasants Forever Banquet in Freeport. The county's Soil and Water Conservation District presented two awards during the event."
  
  
• Minn. companies help Sri Lanka rebuild water system
  (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 03/30) "Minnesotans take it for granted, but clean drinking water is a major issue in post-tsunami Sri Lanka. And on Friday, a group of executives from Twin Cities-area environmental companies will head to Sri Lanka to help the island country rebuild and modernize its damaged water infrastructure."
  
  
• Lawmakers finish bonding bill, including fix for Duluth sewers
  (Duluth News Tribune, 03/31) "With much back-slapping and grinning, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and bipartisan legislative leaders said they had reached a final deal Wednesday on a bill that launches $945 million in statewide construction projects this year."
  

Ohio

—  Water Supply

• Water line to run through Hilliar Twp.
  (Mount Vernon News, 03/31) "Construction will begin soon to place a major new water transmission line through Hilliar Township."
  

—  Water Resources

• River Sweep set to cleanup Ohio June 18
  (Ironton Tribune, 03/29) "Old cans, empty cereal boxes, plastic bags - no one likes the trash that piles up on our waterways, but this summer local residents will have a chance to take action."
  
  
• Ohio EPA proposes fees for developers, coal miners
  (WCPO, 03/30) "The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing that developers and coal mining companies pay the cost of reviewing projects that alter wetlands and other waterways."
  
  
• Ottawa Hills: Public hearing discusses future of dam
  (Toledo Blade, 03/31) "Ottawa Hills' long-standing dam in the Ottawa River near Secor Road soon may be a memory."
  
  
• Monroe County: Students will check waterways
  (Toledo Blade, 03/31) "Students at several schools across Monroe County will be getting their feet wet this spring as part of a program to determine the relative health of several area waterways."
  

—  Wastewater

• Windham car wash owners complain of sewage overflow
  (Akron Beacon Journal, 03/27) "Working at Jim and Amy Olson's car wash can be a dirty business, and they're hoping a lawsuit will help clean up the mess they say is caused by sewage overflows from the village's sewer system."
  
  
• Sludge has environmental benefits
  (Mount Vernon News, 03/28) "The interdependence of cities and farms is often perceived as going in one direction: Food produced on farms is shipped to cities to feed the inhabitants."
  
  
• Funding sought for Shenandoah sewer
  (NorthCentralOhio.com, 03/29) "The long-awaited Shenandoah sewer improvements could be put out for bid by mid-summer."
  
  
• Waterville OKs contract for sanitary station
  (Toledo Blade, 03/29) "Waterville Village Council yesterday awarded a contract to refurbish its sanitary pumping station on Dutch Road and voted to have the YMCA of Greater Toledo run the village's recreation program for the first time this summer."
  
  
• Morrow, South Lebanon mull sewerage plant
  (Cincinnati Enquirer, 03/30) "Morrow and South Lebanon are the latest Warren County communities eyeing the Little Miami River as their key to development."
  

—  Hazardous/Toxic Waste

• More tests urged for plant in Middlefield
  (Willoughby News-Herald, 03/14) "Federal and state Environmental Protection Agency officials have urged Carlisle Engineered Products Inc. to conduct more tests of its rubber and plastic plant at 15332 Old State Road in Middlefield Village to determine the extent of polychlorinated biphenyl and other chemical contaminants."
  

—  Everything Else

• Toxic chemical output has dip
  (Toldeo Blade, 03/30) "More than 289 million pounds of toxic chemicals were released into Ohio's air, land, and water in 2003."
  

Wisconsin

—  Water Supply

• Public Service Commission approves lake pipeline
  (Green Bay News-Chronicle, 04/01) "The state Public Service Commission approved Tuesday the Central Brown County Water Authority's pipeline to carry treated water from Lake Michigan via Manitowoc."
  

—  Water Resources

• Dispute flows over Delafield dam
  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/26) "Peering out the window of her historic home, Margaret Zerwekh watches ducks and geese wander about an ice-covered millpond created by the dam she owns."
  
  
• Land sought to control Menomonee River corridor flooding 
  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/29) "A national conservation organization has proposed buying 73.5 acres along Little Menomonee Creek and the Little Menomonee River to assist downstream flood control efforts and protect a heavily wooded stream corridor used by migratory birds."
  
  
• Area farmers earn honors for water quality
  (Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, 03/30) "A state-of-the-art farm runoff project going on here may tell farmers and scientists how farming impacts water quality. And that project has already garnered a statewide honor for a dairy farm’s owners."
  
  
• Trout Unlimited awards $22,000 in Embrace-A-Stream grants
  (Dunn County News, 03/30) "The national conservation organization Trout Unlimited (TU) has announced three major grant awards for watershed restoration projects in Wisconsin."
  
  
• Oak Creek power plant suit goes before state high court
  (Appleton Post-Crescent, 03/31) "Supporters of a plan to build two coal-fired power plants at the site of an existing plant in suburban Milwaukee urged the state Supreme Court to reinstate the project approval."
  

—  Hazardous/Toxic Waste

• 3M deal gives hope to pollution regulation
  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/29) "At a news conference in Menomonie on Tuesday, state officials praised 3M Corp. for environmental initiatives ranging from cutting its waste stream to lowering air emissions beyond the required limits."
   

—  Landfill/Solid Waste

• Reducing trash isn't rubbish
  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/26) Editorial. "In approving rules that would allow landfills to get bigger and taller, the state Natural Resources Board took a sensible step Wednesday in regulating how landfills are operated."
  
  
• Madison may spend $150,000 to begin landfill cleanup suits
  (Wisconsin State Journal, 03/31) "Madison may risk $150,000 on a lawsuit that could pay off in tens of millions of dollars. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is proposing to spend the money to hire outside legal counsel to sue several insurance companies with the hope of recovering more than $25 million spent cleaning up six landfills over the past two decades."
  

—  Air Quality

• New state pollution rules prompt outrage
  (Channel 3000, 03/31) "Some campaign finance and environmental groups say 'corruption' at the state Capitol reached a new level Wednesday as an air pollution bill was slipped into a public hearing with little notice."
  
  
• GOP acts quickly to ease air rules
  (Wisconsin State Journal, 03/31) "Republicans moved quickly on proposed changes to state air pollution rules Wednesday, introducing and holding a hearing on a bill supporters said cleans up changes passed last year, but which critics said threatens serious harm to Wisconsin's air quality."
  

—  Everything Else

• Burlington water issue draws challenger for chairman
  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/28) "One issue has washed over town elections this year: public water. Gerald Kaul is among the residents of the Browns Lake area who want public water."