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 : Clean Water

Updating Wisconsin's Livestock Facility Siting Law

A one-size-fits-all approach to licensing large livestock facilities isn’t working for rural communities, especially those facing real health threats of decreasing air quality, contamination of drinking wells, degraded streams from manure runoff, and increased truck traffic hauling manure to fields.

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.

“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.

City of Racine Diversion Challenge

MEA challenge of DNR approval of City of Racine’s Great Lakes Diversion on behalf of League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, and River Alliance of Wisconsin.

Kewaunee County - Five CAFO Permits

Kewaunee county residents get one hearing in response to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approval of five CAFO permits at once.

Petition for Corrective Action to the EPA

Sixteen petitioners ask the EPA for help to bring Wisconsin into compliance with the Clean Water Act.

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.

Safe Drinking Water Act Petition to EPA

Kewaunee County citizens formally request federal action on groundwater contamination problems for people who live near the state's highest concentration of industrial livestock facilities.

Appleton Coated water pollution permit challenge

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

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Domtar Corporation water pollution permit challenge

Petenwell and Castle Rock Stewards (PACRS) challenge to the Department of Natural Resources’ renewal of the Domtar Corporation’s permit to discharge phosphorus and wastewater into the Wisconsin River.

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