[press release from Midwest Environmental Advocates

via WisPolitics]

Once again, factory farms get a pass from a major environmental law 2/27/2008

If you live downwind from a mega-farm, don't put away those gas masks just yet.

The Natural Resources Board voted today to approve a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) rule that grants "sources of hazardous air pollution associated with agricultural waste" (read: manure) yet another exemption from state requirements concerning toxic air emissions. Now, these sources of pollution won't have to meet state requirements until July 31, 2011.

At long last, the new downtown Milwaukee state park, an island in Lake Michigan, is opening to the public. It gets generally good reviews from Whitney Gould. [UPDATE: And from Jim Rowen, too.]

A couple of quibbles, however: It's already cost $17-million, and there no money to put in any benches? And it's porta-potties for a few years until a visitors center and rest rooms will be provided? Those omissions do not make it sound very visitor-friendly, especially for the aging and families with young kids.

A park with no trees and no shade?

No trash barrels?

Those problems are minor quibbles, and relatively easy to fix. But there's a bigger concern, too.

Gould says the park "[laid] the groundwork for resolution of a long-running battle with Summerfest over public access to that stretch of lakefront."