The state is asking the federal government to slow down implementation of tighter restrictions on phosphorus, the chemical element that can cause excessive plant growth in lakes.
The state D-N-R says it would cost $7 billion for sewage plants to reduce phosphorus from their effluent over the next 20 years. The agency said about 600 Wisconsin business-and-municipal sewage treatment plants would be affected.
DNR assistant deputy Secretary Michael Bruhn says they are requesting the variance for economic reasons....
"....so we have to open up what our preliminary finds were that there were widespread and significant social and economic impacts related to the (phosphorus laws) passed in 2010...."
Amber Meyer Smith from the environmental group Clean Wisconsin says the rules in question have started to positively impact Green Bay, Dane county and other places where pollution exists.....
"....we want to make sure that any plan does not undo the work that is already being done...."
Phosphorus is the key contributor to algae blooms. Bruhn says slowing the implementation down won't hurt the progress, but Meyer Smith says algae ruins areas heavily dependent on tourism.
Two state agencies plan to hold a public hearing on the request next Tuesday in Rothschild.,Last year, Governor Scott Walker and legislative Republicans agreed to let plant owners seek extensions of up to 20 years on meeting the standards.
