Schimel announces jump in forfeitures in early 2017
Environmental cases have already passed 2016’s record-low total
Attorney General Brad Schimel has released results of environmental enforcement cases during the first six months of 2017, with figures showing forfeitures so far are ahead of last year’s 20-year low.
The information, released Tuesday, is the first time Schimel, a Republican, has issued a news release on his office’s work on environmental cases since he took over the Department of Justice in 2015.
That practice contrasts with past leaders of the Justice Department who frequently publicized their prosecution of such cases.
A spokesman for Schimel declined to comment on the reason for the change. But in a statement, Schimel said his agency “continues to actively enforce the state’s environmental laws” and will work other state agencies “to ensure compliance with the law.”
The Justice Department reported that it had obtained a total of $486,476 in forfeitures and related charges through June 30. That compares to $449,253 for all of 2016, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in March. Last year’s tally was the lowest since at least 1994.
In 2015, Schimel’s office reached settlements totaling $734,127.
Not included in the six-month figures in 2017 was a settlement of $42 million with Northern States Power Co. and state and federal officials for a cleanup of Ashland’s harbor on Lake Superior.
The pollution can be traced to a plant that used coal to produce lighting and electricity in Ashland until 1947. As part of the process, the plant discharged a tar-like substance in the harbor.
In all, Schimel reported 22 enforcement cases in the first half of the year. Seven involved civil prosecutions of asbestos and material handling and three addressed other air pollution violations.
Nine other cases were related to water pollution violations, including three cases involving farms.
Manure contamination has become an increasingly controversial issue in Wisconsin. Earlier on Tuesday, an environmental group independently released records obtained from the Justice Department showing the agency reached a $50,000 settlement with Stahl Brothers Dairy in Kewaunee County for applying manure improperly, polluting surrounding waters and a private well.
After reviewing the records, former Natural Resources Secretary George Meyer said he was pleased by the uptick in penalties during the first half of 2017 — and the fact Schimel publicized them.
“I think that the attorney general is recognizing that the public has a strong interest in these kinds of cases,” said Meyer, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, which tracks environmental enforcement.
Enforcement activity has dropped at the Department of Natural Resources since 2011 and the election of Gov. Scott Walker.
Meyer said one explanation for the drop in cases at the Justice Department in recent years is that the agency has been seeing fewer cases referred from the DNR.