MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The authors of a bill that would re-work Wisconsin’s high-capacity well rules are telling a legislative committee the proposal balances regulatory certainty and science. Sen. Rob Cowles and Rep. Scott Krug’s bill would allow the Department of Natural Resources to generally impose conditions on well permits only to ensure the well won’t cause a significant adverse impact on navigable waters. If agency officials believe wells could be harming an area’s water, it could ask the Legislature to declare the area a sensitive resource area. Such a designation would allow the DNR to impose stricter permit conditions. Cowles and Krug told the Senate’s natural resources committee during a hearing Tuesday that the bill delivers regulatory certainty for the DNR and provides a means to protect areas with depleted water levels.
