You will find a local tie to a recently filed federal lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency. Kewaunee CARES is one of 33 petitioners from 15 states accusing the EPA of ignoring a request to strengthen clean water rules governing large-scale farms. According to Food and Water Watch, the rulemaking petition was filed five years (ago?) and detailed how they feel the EPA’s regulation of farms classified as concentrated animal feeding operations under the Clean Water Act has failed to protect waterways and their neighboring communities. Kewaunee CARES founder Nancy Utesch says the EPA’s delay in response is making a bad situation worse for residents who are dealing with tainted water in rural communities.

Wisconsin mandates CAFOs file a permit with the state dictating how many animal units they will carry, how much manure they produce, and how many acres they plan on spreading that manure on during an average year. Utesch is happy with some of the recent success that has been had in states like Wisconsin and Iowa holding CAFOs accountable, but believes they still have a long way to go.