Federal Officials Asked To Closely Monitor Water Pollution In Wis.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Clean water advocates are asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to strip Wisconsin of its authority to control water pollution if it doesn't do a better job.

A petition filed by Midwest Environmental Advocates and 16 individuals asks the EPA to more closely monitor water regulation in Wisconsin to ensure the Department of Natural Resources is in compliance with federal rules.

MEA director Kimberlee Wright says the state lacks adequate staffing, rules and laws to protect its waterways from manure, sewage, mercury and other pollutants.

In 2011, the EPA cited 75 deficiencies by the DNR in how it handled water regulation and ordered the agency to fix them. The EPA says the DNR has resolved 40 of those deficiencies.

DNR spokesman Jim Dick says the petition is being reviewed.

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