Wisconsin scales back manure rules after industry complaints

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has scaled back proposed rules regulating factory farms’ manure spreading amid complaints from the dairy industry.  The DNR last month completed scope statements to update manure spreading regulations for factory farms statewide, the Wisconsin State Journal reported Monday. Scope statements are broad summaries of agency proposals for regulations. Under a 2011 state law, the governor must sign off on the scope statements before the agency can start drawing up the rules.  The manure scope statements were designed to update spreading rules in light of widespread drinking water contamination in Kewaunee County, research on the hazards of airborne manure spraying and complying with other related state and federal regulations. The plans laid out reasons for changing standards on factory farm manure spreading.  They called for defining sensitive areas where shallow soil and porous bedrock leave groundwater especially vulnerable to manure contamination and setting up extra precautions for such areas. Public notification would have been required when manure-spreading plans significantly change.