A July 18 letter from EPA Region 5 highlighted 75 “apparent omissions and deviations” from the federal Clean Water Act in Wisconsin’s discharge permitting program. Highlighted deficiencies range from public comment procedures to controls on sewer overflows and the authority of the Wisconsin DNR to enforce certain regulations.

The EPA has given the state two years to fix the problems or explain why existing Wisconsin laws are sufficient, and the state agency is reportedly already drafting revised regulations.  The challenged measures include some recently approved changes meant to increase efficiency in environmental reviews.