Wisconsin Estimates $7 Billion Nutrient Problem

Wisconsin officials are fighting back against federal nutrient regulations because they say complying would put the state out $7 billion.

The state’s Department of Natural Resources and Department of Administration released cost estimates in May. "Using private consultants, they estimated $3.45 billion in capital costs from 2016 to 2035. Factoring in the cost of long-term borrowing, it would raise the price tag to nearly $7 billion, according to estimates," the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

State officials are using these numbers to petition the EPA for more time to implement the regulations, arguing that the costs would be too burdensome for industry. The state says it is simply filing for a delay and that the move will not be permanent.

Regulations took effect five years ago which limited how much phosphorus could be released into waterways. But last year, the legislature extended the deadlines for wastewater plants and factories. "Those standards set a first-ever numeric limit on how much phosphorus could legally be released to waterways," the news report said. "Other expenses for operation and maintenance would increase the costs by hundreds of millions of dollars more, the estimates show."

Environmentalists say the states estimates do not consider the costs of pollution.

"We will be looking at this very closely to make sure it doesn't undermine the important work to reduce phosphorus that is already going on in the state," said Amber Meyer Smith, director of government relations at Clean Wisconsin, per the Journal Sentinel.

A study by the state found nearly $19 million in benefits from Wisconsin's original phosphorus regulations, she said.