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Milton wants plant tests

MILTON — Milton's frustration with United Ethanol has spilled over to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

City council members expressed displeasure Tuesday night with the DNR and its response to their recent requests.

"The DNR is passing the buck here, and I think they need to do their jobs, the jobs that they led us to believe they were going to do," council member Lynda Clark said.

In July, the city sent a letter to the DNR asking it to, among other things, conduct air- and water-quality tests around the plant to determine what is in plant emissions and how emissions could affect residents' health.

Eileen Pierce, DNR regional air and waste leader, sent a response last week declining the city's request. She noted a recent permit change allowing the plant to install a new piece of equipment also requires the plant to monitor air quality if the department requests it.

It's unknown if the DNR will request such a test.

The Janesville Gazette was not able to reach DNR officials for comment this morning.

"They (DNR officials) are expecting United Ethanol to do testing and report to them," council member David Adams said. "It's like asking a fox to go down and report the number of hens in the henhouse."

The council's debate was the latest shot in a battle started before the ethanol plant was built. Several neighbors opposed the plant's construction. Since the plant started operations in Milton's industrial park, neighbors have complained of noise, odor and emissions that they say literally make them sick in some cases.

In June, the DNR released a report listing more than 170 permit items the plant has allegedly violated.

United Ethanol has said a new regenerative thermal oxidizer, approved by the DNR in August, will address odor and emissions issues. The plant already has started the installation process and expects the equipment to be up and running in two months.

But city officials and residents said Tuesday they don't trust the plant's promises. Council member Tom Chesmore said he believes plant officials only wanted the new equipment to increase its production capacity.

The city council debated its options Tuesday and considered going above the DNR's head to Gov. Jim Doyle or the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

"We've been going baby steps, one step at a time," Adams said. "I think we ought to go to the governor, find out what's going on ... We ought to be able to find somebody to tell us what's in the air at these properties."

But for now, the council decided to write a strongly worded letter to the regional director and secretary of the DNR again requesting testing and implying it is willing to take its case higher if not satisfied.

Meanwhile, plant neighbors wait and wonder what's in the air they breathe, said Ginny Goodman, who lives a half mile north of the plant.

"I feel like a guinea pig," she said. "There isn't a lot of documentation of what's happening when we're breathing their emissions."

DNR INVESTIGATION

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources continues to investigate more than 170 alleged permit violations United Ethanol committed in its first year of operation, according to a DNR spokeswoman.

The department issued a "notice of violations" to the plant Aug. 21 and is requesting a meeting with plant officials, Eileen Pierce, DNR regional air and waste leader, wrote in a letter to the city of Milton.

The DNR plans to meet with United Ethanol for an "enforcement conference" to discuss the circumstances of the alleged violations and what United Ethanol has done to resolve them.

If not satisfied, the DNR can seek forfeitures from the plant of up to $25,000 per violation per day through the state Department of Justice.

STORYLINE

The issue: In June, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued a report saying United Ethanol, 1250 Chicago St., Milton, had violated more than 170 permit items during its first year of operation.

The plant disputed the DNR's characterization, saying many of the permit items didn't apply to the plant and others already had been addressed.

It also requested a permit to install a larger regenerative thermal oxidizer. Plant officials said the equipment would address odor and emissions issues at the plant. The DNR granted the permit in August.

What's new: In July, the city requested the DNR perform air- and water-quality tests around the plant. Last week, the DNR sent a response letter declining the city's request.

What's next: The city council directed city staff to write a letter to the regional director and secretary of the DNR, strongly urging the department to conduct the tests. It also considered appealing to Gov. Jim Doyle or the federal Environmental Protection Agency.