Current Issues
Send Your Valentine for Babies’ Hearts!
WANT TO DO SOMETHING FUN AND EMPOWERING? EPA will be holding a public meeting on Feb. 14 (Valentine’s Day) to receive input on its efforts to establish the scope of risk evaluations for 10 toxic chemicals including the solvents TCE and PCE. This is a great...
Ho-Chunk Nation Improves Bat Access at Badger
By Randy Poelma, Ho-Chunk Nation Division of Environmental Health & Jennifer Redell, Wisconsin Bat Program ~ Resource managers from the Ho-Chunk Nation (Nation) completed a bat hibernaculum improvement project this fall on tribal lands at the former Badger Army...
Congress Requires Military to Pursue Alternatives to Burning Munitions
With President Obama’s signature on the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, a nationwide grassroots campaign to ensure the safe disposal of our nation’s conventional munitions stockpile secured a key victory. The amendment, written by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin...
Council Objects to Introduction of Motorcycles on State Non-Motorized Trails
The Wisconsin Nonmotorized Recreation and Transportation Trails Council has taken unanimous action in opposing introduction of on-off road motorcycles to the state’s trails. In comments this week to the Natural Resources Board, the Council said that these motor...
Noted Ecologist Comments on Badger Land Use Plan
With 35 years experience with the Wisconsin DNR, ecologist Mike Mossman has worked on many projects dealing with the effects of land use on plant and wildlife populations and endangered species. He has conducted bird, amphibian and mammal studies at the former Badger...
Madison Audubon Comments on Rec Area Plan
The Madison Audubon Society (MAS) has submitted formal comments to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board supporting much of the draft Master Plan for the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area (SPRA) but objecting to two proposed activities that contradict previous...
CSWAB Asks for Re-Testing of Residential Wells near Badger
CSWAB has asked the Wisconsin DNR to consider re-testing of residential wells near Badger Army Ammunition Plant given the annual sampling failed internal quality controls. In August and September of 2016, the Army tested 52 residential wells near Badger. Cloromethane...
WDNR Keeps Motorcycles/Rockets in Badger Plan
Despite our best efforts, the WDNR draft Master Plan for the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area still proposes dual-sport motorcycles and sport rocketry on the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant lands. These loud disruptive uses contradict the conservation goals for the...
CSWAB Joins Opposition to Michigan’s First Gold Mine in Decades
A Canadian exploratory mining company recently cleared a major hurdle on its path to build a controversial open pit gold, zinc and copper mine next to a major river along the Michigan-Wisconsin border, according to a report from Michigan Live. On Friday, Sept. 2, the...
EPA Agrees to Investigate Radiological Releases from Open Burning/Detonation
CSWAB is pleased to report that EPA Headquarters in Washington DC has agreed to our request to include radiological wastes in two upcoming national reports on open air burning and open detonation (OB/OD) of munitions. “One (report) will present all known alternative...
Is the U.S. Finally Ending the Toxic Practice of Burning Old Munitions in Open Pits?
By Daniel Ross /AlterNet By the year 2020, the U.S. is expected to have on its hands a growing stockpile of munitions nearing 1.1 million tons that are no longer considered useful to the military. As a means of disposal, these munitions, including small arms...
Army Testing Confirms Mercury Still High in Lake Wisconsin: Public Meeting on July 27
In 2003, Gruber’s Grove Bay on Lake Wisconsin was placed on the federal list of Impaired Waters pursuant to the Clean Water Act. Despite two previous dredging actions, the bay remains one of the most highly contaminated sediment sites in the State of Wisconsin. This...