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WE ENERGIES FIGHTS WITH DNR ON BLUFF COLLAPSE
WPR News - We energies fights with DNR on bluff collapse
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Thursday March 08, 2012
by Chuck Quirmbach
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(UNDATED) The battle continues between the state's largest electric company and the Wisconsin DNR, over whether a bluff collapse along Lake Michigan could have been prevented.
The bluff collapse at the WE Energies power plant in Oak Creek caused no injuries. But, tons of debris and pollutants slid into Lake Michigan, and video of the scene made national news. DNR leaders haven't wanted to highlight it, but department staff have issued a notice of violation to the power company. The DNR says the firm violated solid waste laws when it didn't install a liner in a storm water pond near an old coal-ash landfill near the bluff. After an enforcement conference covered by four news reporters yesterday, DNR Southeast Region Director Eric Nitschke maintained that the lack of a liner may have been a significant factor in the bluff collapse.
WE Energies spokesman Brian Manthey says the utility is contesting the DNR's allegations. Manthey says when the storm water pond was built about three years ago, the company was exempted from including the liner.
WE Energies says it will provide more information to the DNR later this month. The utility could face fines of up to 5000 dollars a day since the pond was built. Manthey says company ratepayers would not foot any bill.
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