Midwest Environmental Advocates is a nonprofit law center that combines the power of law with the resolve of communities facing environmental injustice to secure and protect the rights of all people to healthy water, land, and air.

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Our Work : Litigation

Kinnard Farms Water Pollution Discharge Permit

In 2021, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in favor of our clients and affirmed the authority of the DNR to protect rural drinking water by setting limits on herd size and requiring CAFOs to monitor groundwater where manure is spread. Following the ruling, the DNR issued a modified wastewater permit for Kinnard Farms. Kinnard responded by filing a legal challenge in April 2022. A group of neighbors represented by MEA intervened in the case and successfully negotiated a settlement in May 2023 requiring Kinnard Farms to stop spreading liquid manure.

Meteor Timber wetlands fill and frac sand facility

Meteor Timber, LLC sought approval to destroy an unprecedented amount—16.25 acres—of pristine forested wetlands for a proposed industrial sand facility.

“Friend of the Court” Brief in Clean Wisconsin v. DNR

Midwest Environmental Advocates supports Clean Wisconsin’s high-capacity well challenge in defense of waters protected by the Public Trust Doctrine of Wisconsin’s Constitution.

Dairy Business Association - DNR Settlement

Clean Water Action Council, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Friends of the Central Sands and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation successfully intervened in a lawsuit over DNR authority in CAFO pollution permitting.

Petition to EPA to object to Wisconsin Proppants, LLC air permit

Jackson County, WI mining operation air pollution permit proposed without Clean Air Act compliance regarding estimating, monitoring or controlling fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

Petition to EPA to object to Superior Silica Sands air permit

Barron County, WI mining operation air pollution permit approved without Clean Air Act compliance regarding estimating, monitoring or controlling fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

Department of Natural Resources Open Records Complaint

Complaint demonstrates how the state agency violated state open records laws by unreasonably delaying DNR responses to MEA open records requests and brings to light an emerging pattern of delayed open records response to interested citizens, non-profit groups, and the media.

BNSF rail expansion permit challenge

Without an environmental impact statement, petitioners say the DNR’s process to approve a permit to fill wetlands and expand rail lines carrying crude oil violated the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act.

Appleton Coated water pollution permit challenge

Clean Water Action Council challenges pollution permit with a request for judicial review.

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Fairmount Minerals frac sand mining air pollution permit challenge

Residents of Arcadia, WI are challenging FML Sand, LLC's frac sand company’s air pollution permit in order to protect air quality and their community’s health from silica dust.