Current:Home > reviewsFederal judge temporarily blocks plans for a power line in Mississippi River wildlife refuge -Ascend Finance Compass
Federal judge temporarily blocks plans for a power line in Mississippi River wildlife refuge
View
Date:2025-04-12 20:00:43
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked plans to build a high-voltage power line across a Mississippi River wildlife refuge, saying he wants to see documents detailing the lead-up to the project’s approval.
U.S. District Judge William Conley issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday preventing American Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative from beginning construction on a one-mile portion of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line that would cross the refuge. He extended the injunction indefinitely following a hearing in Madison on Friday morning.
The 345-kilovolt power line would run 102 miles (164 kilometers) between Iowa’s Dubuque County and Wisconsin’s Dane County. A section of the line would cross the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge near Cassville, Wisconsin.
The refuge serves as a haven for fish, wildlife and migratory birds that use it as breeding grounds. It is the only stopping point left for many migratory birds that use the Mississippi Flyway. Conservationists fear the transmission line will damage the refuge and have been working for years to stop the project in court.
The National Wildlife Refuge Association, the Driftless Area Land Conservancy and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month. The groups allege the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued final approvals for the refuge crossing in February without giving the public a chance to comment. They also argue that the agency and the utilities improperly reached a deal calling for the utilities to transfer about 36 acres (15 hectares) south of Cassville to the refuge in exchange for 19 acres (8 hectares) within the refuge for the power line.
The conservationists told the judge they needed an injunction quickly because the land deal was set to close Friday and the utilities have already positioned construction equipment on the edges of the refuge.
Attorneys for both sides sparred for about 90 minutes in front of Conley on Friday morning.
The conservationists’ lawyer, Howard Learner, told Conley that FWS released final documents this past February that found the land deal would have no significant impact on the refuge without offering the public a chance to comment on it.
He also argued that FWS never considered whether the power line would be a compatible use for refuge land as required by the 1997 National Wildlife Refuge System Act.
Reade Wilson, a U.S. Department of Justice attorney representing FWS, countered that the conservation groups commented on an environmental assessment of the project released in September and the agency was under no obligation to open up the no-impact finding for public comment. She went on to contend that the compatibility test doesn’t apply to a land exchange. Conley seemed incredulous, saying she was asking him to ignore that a power line would be running across the land.
In the end, Conley said he would extend the injunction until the parties provide him with a more extensive record of what steps were and weren’t taken during the run-up to the final approval in February. He said once the record was made available, the attorneys would have 30 days to submit briefs.
Outside of court, Learner said the conservationists were pleased to see Conley extend the injunction. The Driftless Area Land Conservancy and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation issued a joint statement praising the decision.
“We should not set a precedent that a simple land swap is all it takes to plow through a national treasure,” Driftless Area Land Conservancy Executive Director Jennifer Filipiak said in the statement.
Wilson didn’t immediately respond to an email sent after the hearing requesting comment.
ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power officials released a joint statement after the hearing saying the utilities disagree with the injunction. FWS acted within its legal authority under federal law and the line will help deliver reliable electricity from renewable sources to customers, they said.
The utilities added that they’re striving to minimize the environmental impact within the refuge, in part by avoiding any grading.
ATC media officials didn’t immediately respond to emails sent after the hearing seeking comment.
veryGood! (6978)
Related
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- AP PHOTOS: In Vietnam, vibrant Ho Chi Minh City is a magnet that pulls in millions
- The Excerpt podcast: States can't figure out how to execute inmates
- For 1 in 3 Americans, credit card debt outweighs emergency savings, report shows
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Lauren Boebert to argue her case in first Republican primary debate after hopping districts
- Voters got a call from Joe Biden telling them to skip the New Hampshire primary. It was fake.
- Florida man clocked driving 199 mph in dad's Camaro, cops say
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- For 1 in 3 Americans, credit card debt outweighs emergency savings, report shows
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Canada’s Tar Sands Are a Much Larger Source of Air Pollution Than Previously Thought, Study Says
- Florida board bans use of state, federal dollars for DEI programs at state universities
- Italy’s premier slams Stellantis over reduced Italian footprint since Peugeot-FiatChrysler tie-up
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- France’s constitutional court is ruling on a controversial immigration law. Activists plan protests
- Conservative South Carolina Senate debates a gun bill with an uncertain future
- GOP pressures Biden to release evidence against Maduro ally pardoned as part of prisoner swap
Recommendation
As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
South Carolina GOP governor blasts labor unions while touting economic growth in annual address
Jason Kelce's shirtless antics steal show in Buffalo: 'Tay said she absolutely loved you'
Michigan State Police trooper killed when struck by vehicle during traffic stop
Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
6-legged dog abandoned at grocery successfully undergoes surgery to remove extra limbs
Robitussin's maker recalls cough syrup for possible high levels of yeast
Robitussin cough syrup sold nationwide recalled due to contamination