MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is restoring the state Department of Natural Resources’ power to consider high-capacity wells’ impact on surrounding water bodies. Kaul has withdrawn former Attorney General Brad Schimel’s opinion that the department couldn’t consider wells’ impact on surrounding water bodies when granting a permit. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce has cried foul, saying Kaul can’t withdraw the opinion because high-capacity wells’ impact is at the center of a case pending before the state Supreme Court. Environmental advocacy group Clean Wisconsin is arguing the DNR does have authority to consider wells’ cumulative impact.
