Groups File Legal Challenge To GREAT LAKES Water Diversion Plan For Foxconn Facility

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Lake Michigan shoreline in Milwaukee

Thomas Hawk (CC-BY-NC)
Groups File Legal Challenge To Water Diversion Plan For Foxconn Facility

https://www.wpr.org/groups-file-legal-challenge-water-diversion-plan-foxconn-facility

Groups Hope Judge Will Hear Case

Friday, May 25, 2018, 6:40pm
By Chuck Quirmbach


Great Lakes groups have filed a legal challenge to Wisconsin's approval of a water diversion plan to help the Foxconn liquid crystal display factory that is being built in Racine County.

The state Department of Natural Resources approved a proposal last month that would allow Racine to take seven million gallons a day from Lake Michigan and pipe the water to the company. Most of the water would go back to the lake after being treated in Racine's wastewater plant.

Attorney Jodi Habush Sinykin of Midwest Environmental Advocates says the legal action filed Friday afternoon argues the DNR made a mistake by disregarding a requirement that diversions be for public water supply purposes, which she says is clearly defined as "serving a group of largely residential customers." She added, "The integrity of the Compact is being tested by this misinterpretation, and we believe the Compact is important enough to fight for."

The petitioners represented include Milwaukee Riverkeeper, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, River Alliance of Wisconsin and Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy..................................................