Wis. Senate to vote on scaling back air permits

MADISON, Wis. — The state Senate is poised to adopt a pair of bills that would relax portions of Wisconsin’s air pollution regulations.

One bill would prohibit the state Department of Natural Resources from requiring permits for fixed, indirect sources of pollution such as parking lots and highways that attract motor vehicles.

The other bill would prohibit the DNR from imposing standards that exceed federal regulations on hazardous air pollution from manure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has yet to implement any such regulations, but the DNR had planned to require farmers adopt best practices for controlling emissions ahead of the federal agency. The bill essentially would halt that effort.

The Senate is scheduled to take up both measures Tuesday.