Dear Mr. Dan Baumann:

As you are aware, Jim Wysocki and the Family of Companies have proposed to build CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) in the areas of Saratoga and Richfield, Wisconsin, with at least 3,500 cows in Saratoga, resulting in the deforestation of over 6,000 acres of land. As the regional WDNR director representing these areas in Adams County, we, a group of concerned citizens in the Stevens Point area, demand you to uphold the Wisconsin DNR's mission statement, as is your duty, and "protect and enhance Wisconsin's natural resources." Please take these points into consideration in evaluating the Environmental Impact Study, as you decide (to hopefully deny altogether) the proposal of the Golden Sands Dairy in Saratoga, Wisconsin:


1. There is major public opposition to the construction of CAFOS in Adams County, with a petition circulating that has already received over 3,000 signatures (*Refer to: 'Stop yet another factory farm and turn the tide against big business' at www.change.org).

2. The Wysocki enterprise has submitted ten proposals for 49 high capacity wells in an area with dangerously low creek levels, such as 14 Mile Creek, and Springbranch Creek; this is especially disconcerting during an era when the Governor has declared an emergency drought across major portions of Wisconsin. How will this affect the water health and water levels of these areas?

3. The Wysockis currently have no binding mitigation plan or investments set aside for reparations to those that could potentially incur damages from this proposed operation, i.e. residential well pollution from cow manure run-off.

4. George Kraft, a water scientist, who spoke at the public hearing on Thur., July 19th, 2012, stated that one of Wysocki's farms failed to meet the standards set for safe nitrate levels, exceeding 10 parts per million.  Within the runoff waters of their operation, the threshold was doubled to 20 parts per million; a toxic concentration to humans.

5. The location of the Saratoga CAFO appears to only be approximately 120 acres from the Wisconsin River. With 3,500 milking cows, and an estimated 6,130 total cows on one parcel of land initially, how will this alter the Wisconsin River? How can we as a community safeguard our resources if we cannot trust that large amounts of high nitrate loaded manure will not leach into the ground water, as well as ensure that 49 high capacity wells do not drastically lower the levels of the the local watersheds aforementioned?

6. What kind of odors and fly-breeding habitat might these CAFOs produce, and how will these disturbances jeopardize the livelihoods and health of the nearby property owners? You mentioned that there is no policies in Wisconsin protecting citizens from these corporate transgressions, so how can we trust a large enterprise to respect the safety of area residents?

Lastly, it is imperative that this plan of action is stopped regardless of the circumstances and that the permits involved be rejected due to the extreme environmental, human health, and animal welfare implications of this hazardous proposal.

Sincerely,

Citizens Concerned for the health of Wisconsin Humans, non-human animals, and environment