Minutes (340 KB)

Badger Oversight Management Commission
  Meeting Recap
April 17, 2014

The Badger Oversight Management Commission (BOMC) convened at the Sauk County Law Enforcement Center, for a regular meeting on Thursday, April 17, 2014.

Chair Wenzel called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.  Staff affirmed compliance with Open Meetings Law.

Attendance:

Others present.  Mary Carol Solum, Donna Stehling, Rob Nurre, Gail Lamberty, Orie Eilertson.

Motion by Poelma, seconded by Mullen, to adopt the agenda for the April 17, 2014 meeting.  Motion Carried.   

Motion by Poelma, seconded by Wenzel, to adopt the amended minutes from the March 6, 2014 meeting.  Motion Carried.

Motion by Poelma, seconded by Mullen, to table approval of the minutes from the March 20, 2014 meeting to allow an opportunity for DNR review.  Motion Carried.

Public Comment: 

Rob Nurre stated the importance of getting the DNR at a BOMC meeting to give an explanation of what their process is.  There is the perception that the DNR will do the master plan and then come to interest groups for implementation.  Nurre stated that this, “flies in the face of the National Parks Service (NPS) application.”

Mary Carol-Solum stated that it would behoove the DNR to pay attention and come out well before they put their draft plan up, as a matter of principle.  This is no time for the DNR to start working in secret.

Donna Stehling questioned that if the DNR decides they will not be present at meetings, does the NPS need to know the DNR is not keeping their end of bargain before the master plan comes out.  Stehling suggested that all replies from when the DNR could not attend meetings should be sent to the NPS and accompanying replies should be discussed as part of the agenda.

Lamberty asked Stehling if she is suggesting that this body send a letter to the NPS.

Orie Eilertson, president of Badger History Group, introduced himself.

New Business – Committee Reports:  

1.  Executive and Finance.   No Report.

2.  Planning and Land Use.  No report.

3.  Education and Outreach.  Donna Stehling stated that she will be giving her historical research on Badger to Kaitlyn Taylor of the Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance.  Tremble spoke with Seth Taft and he informed Tremble that due to circumstances that he will be leaving UW-Baraboo.  Tremble did ask if the University was going to select someone new to represent UW- Baraboo.  Robkin suggested that a letter be sent to Tom Pleger to appoint a replacement for Taft.  

4.  Ad Hoc Committees.    No report.

New Business – Commissioner Reports:

1. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Schmelzer submitted the following written report that was read at the meeting.

          I won’t be able to attend the meeting tonight. Here is what I have to report.

1. The opening of the SPRA/Badger last weekend went off without any major problems. Visitation was light.

2. We are trying to get the Hillside Prairie burned today. Hopefully it goes off well.

3. We have met with the Badger History Group and are attempting to work out something for Building 207. We will know more in the next couple of weeks.

4. Master Planning work continues. As mentioned previously, the draft plan will most likely come out during the fall.

2.  Town of Merrimac.   No Report.

3.  Town of Sumpter.  Mullen.  Pete Mullen reported that the Town Board considered the MOU as a stakeholder for the Trail Commission and at this time the town is choosing not to sign it as there is concern that this will require the town to contribute funding to build the trail.  Mullen also reported that the town is working on a new ordinance that will affect Bluffview to address junk issues.  Mullen also reported on bridge damage on Stone’s Pocket Road.  Lamberty asked if there is any discussion on town acquisition of the cemeteries.  Mullen said that hopefully there will be groups that will provide cemetery maintenance.  Lamberty asked when the cemeteries will transfer to Sumpter.  Mullen stated that he is not sure if Sumpter is talking to GSA about the transfer.   Mullen stated that Sumpter is waiting on all other transfers to take place before town action.   It was noted that Rep. Ron Kind stated that GSA made it clear that there will be guaranteed access.  It was noted that Sumpter needs to talk to GSA to guarantee that transfers include the access easements.  Tremble stated that there is an MOA that provides financial assistance to towns to maintain cemeteries.  Olah suggested putting out a public appeal for funding to maintain the cemeteries.  Hammes reminded the group that GSA can put the land out to a public bid if Sumpter does not claim ownership.  Land around the cemeteries could also be included.  Robkin noted that there are two photo groups that may be interested in a photo safari at Badger.   Wenzel suggested that the BOMC help Sumpter solve this problem.  Wenzel stated that Town of Sumpter had concerns about the trail crossing Bluffview Sanitary District property.  Mullen spoke about contamination and the proposed trail.      

4.  Sauk County.    Wenzel stated that it is possible that he will not be reassigned to BOMC.  Olah asked if it would be appropriate to contact the County Board Chair.  Olah asked what the time frame is.  Wenzel said within a week.  Tremble stated that if the County Board Chair selects someone else it will be someone with significantly less background knowledge.  It will be a high learning curve.  Discussion ensued regarding a handout suggesting Alt 4.   Motion by Poelma, seconded by Mullen to spend $143.99 on brochure printing.  Donna Stehling reported on the Trail Commission.  All municipalities except Sumpter are on board with the project.  The next step is to find out from DNR what the next step would be to take.  One detail remains before the rail transfer which includes a study of the condition of the Merrimac bridge.

5. Ho-Chunk.  No Report

New Business – Stakeholder Reports: 

Bluffview Sanitary District.   No Report

Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger (CSWAB).  Olah has been reviewing the Army’s recent groundwater test results and has written to the DNR (Mark Aquino) with questions and concerns.  The DNR has sent several replies and will be issuing a fact sheet shortly, in response to our inquiries.

In late 2013, the explosive DNT was detected above the groundwater standard in a monitoring well at the Water’s Edge subdivision.  The DNR said that the exceedance is in a shallow water table well and that there have not been similar exceedances in deeper monitoring wells in this area.  There do not appear to be any shallow (water table) drinking water wells at Water’s Edge.  The DNR said that they will continue to monitor the situation, however, nearby residents have not been informed. Olah will be sending an email to Mark Aquino with the following questions:

• How many private wells are in this area?
• How many of these are regularly tested by the Army?
• How often they are tested?
• What are they being tested for?
• Has DNT been detected in the deeper monitoring wells? (DNR’s email was not clear on this point.)
• Will DNR be sending a letter to residents explaining all of this? (Consensus was that people should be informed of any changes in water quality in their area.)

It is important to note that the Army is required to comply with groundwater standards even if adjacent wells are unaffected.

High levels of ethyl ether have been detected in groundwater at the southern plant boundary adjacent to the settling ponds. The detections reported by the Army are in the C and D level wells. Concentrations of ethyl ether range from 1,900 to 7,690 ug/l.  The health-based Enforcement Standard is 1,000 ug/l.  This is not the first time that high levels of ethyl ether have been detected in this area. Four years ago, in October 2010, the Army detected ethyl ether in groundwater at the settling ponds at 4,610 ug/l.  In a March 13 email to CSWAB, Mark Aquino wrote that the DNR and the Army have been looking for the source of this ethyl ether and that there is no immediate threat to nearby private wells. The source of the ethyl ether is currently unknown, the DNR said.  The DNR also said that nearby residential wells are tested quarterly however this is incorrect.  On September 4, 2013, the DNR approved the Army’s request to reduce private well testing.  The homes on Keller Road are now tested annually and houses on County Z, including those located on top of the southern groundwater contaminant plume, are no longer tested by the Army.

The DNR’s email noted that ethyl ether is an extremely volatile compound; it evaporates readily at room temperature and dissolves easily in water. For these reasons it is the DNR’s opinion that the source of ethyl ether is not the settling ponds. The DNR said it will continue to monitor the situation and investigate potential sources.

Olah stated that it is important to note that over CSWAB’s objections, the DNR did not require the Army to include ethyl ether in its risk analysis for possible vapor intrusion into buildings and homes.

Community members have asked that the impact of irrigation and other high capacity wells be included in the evaluation of Monitored Natural Attenuation as a remedy. The DNR has informed us that they will not be testing these wells as the use of these wells does not pose a known threat to human health or the environment and the data is not comparable to that from groundwater monitoring wells.

Olah has compiled a report on the degradation products of DNT. Altogether, the DNR and WDOPH have identified 24 degradation products of DNT. The village well, for example, is tested by the Army for all six forms of DNT but it is not required to test for any of the 24 degradation products identified by the DNR and state health officials.

Olah expressed that the greatest concern is that there has been no communication with the public or local government about the concerns that are being discussed internally between the Army and the DNR.

Olah has already updated the Town of Prairie du Sac board and representatives of the Village of Prairie du Sac on all these issues.  She will also be updating the BOMC, which includes the Town of Sumpter, and will be attending the next meeting of the Merrimac town board.

Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WWF).   Hammes reported that he was invited by the National Wildlife Federation, Wilderness Society, and Public Land Trust to go to Washington and lobby the Wisconsin delegation for the land and water conservation fund.  Hammes met with Rep. Tammy Baldwin and spoke to her about Badger and the concerns over an ATV Trail, shooting range and the DNR’s apparent desire to have these uses in the master plan. Hammes informed Baldwin about towns and most members of the BOMC opposing these uses because they are not consistent with the Reuse Plan.  Baldwin stated she agrees and is communicating with others about the issue.   Hammes spoke about Baldwin’s involvement in the Ho-Chunk transfer and whether or not the Army is responsible for contaminants.  Poelma stated that this has been a continued point of conversation.  Baldwin said she has written a letter about her concerns about Badger and that she will send a copy to Hammes.   Hammes handed a copy of the NPS agreement to Baldwin.

Hammes reported that he has resigned from the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation effective today.  The WWF Board of Directors decided not to oppose the Gogebic mine and Hammes stated that in good conscience he could not stay with the organization.  WWF feels that additional scientific evidence is needed and that that cannot be obtained until a permit is obtained.

Tremble asked how aware WWF is of the work we are doing here related to Badger.  Hammes has reported at almost every board meeting about what is happening here.  Board members have come up to Hammes to say they are glad to hear about what is going on here.  However, they want to hunt, fish and trap here and there is a large contingent that is interested in dog training.  Before asking the WWF that they send a replacement representative, it needs to be determined if the WWF supports the Reuse Plan.  Hammes stated that everyone at the WWF is in support of Alternative 4.  The problem is that there are not a lot of people who are able to dedicate the time.  Wenzel stated he would contact George Meyer, executive director, or John Wagner, president of the board, about a replacement representative.  

Badger History Group (BHG).   Michael Goc stated that the transfer of Building 207 from the Army to the DNR has changed circumstances.   A meeting was held between the DNR, State Historical Society and BHG to talk about location options for the museum and collection.  Orie Eilertson, BHG president spoke about the transfer of Building 207 from the Army to the DNR.  The DNR gave BHG three choices; find another place, use the building for storage space, or use the building as a museum.  In order to use the building as a museum, the museum must have metered electric at an annual cost of approximately $4200.  Power will be turned off when official transfer to the DNR occurs.  There is concern that if the building is open to the public, it will need to be made handicapped accessible.  This would include adding a new handicapped accessible bathroom.  The DNR says they have no money for this as it was not planned for.  The DNR also said they can’t put any money into the building until the master plan states what they want to use it for.  The NPS would have to approve the lease between the DNR and BHG.  There is risk of putting money into the building only to have the master plan recommend other uses or building removal.  The NPS would like to put in an information center by Devils Lake or at Badger and they would like to have BHG presence in the center.   BHG wants to remain operational between now and when the NPS center is built.

City of Baraboo.   Robkin reported that the Sauk County Development Corporation has been advocating for the economics of place idea.   This idea asks how many things there are to do (place making).  The more things you have for people to do the more they stick around.  Badger is a major attractor.

UW-Baraboo/Sauk County.  No Report

Pheasants Forever.    No report.

Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance.  Tremble reported that prairie restoration workdays are Saturdays through November.  The Alliance is soliciting volunteers who might be interested in doing tours of Badger during the public access period.  Annual meeting is Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at River Arts Center gallery at 6:30 p.m. 

New Business – Liaison Reports: 

1.  Army.   No Report

2.  USDA.  Rick Walgenbach reported that Mark Bogess was hired as the new director and he will start on May 19.   Walgenbach reported on the process to implement a revocable permit with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to allow contractors to haul concrete rubble piles to the Hwy 12 project.  Also working on a revocable permit with the DNR for mutual use of roads to give the DNR and public access through parts of the property.  Someone had dumped 15 old TV tubes on USDA property just outside gate 15.

Other New Business Items

1. Discussion and possible action to amend the Bylaws of the Interim Oversight Management Commission.    Motion by Mullen second by Poelma to change Article IV Meetings Section 2 from seven (7) to three (3) days, to renumber the typo for the second Section 2 to Section 3, to change Article IV Meetings Section 3 from seven (7) to three (3) days, to change Article V Agenda, Rules for Conducting Meetings from seven (7) to three (3) days and to remove the word ‘interim’ anywhere it appears in the bylaws, including the title.  Motion carried.
2. Review and approve strategic plan template.  Not Discussed
3. Review and approve final preamble.  Tremble distributed a draft preamble and stated that it is a work in progress.
4. Review and approve mission and vision.  Not Discussed.
5. Next meeting date:  May 15, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.

Motion to adjourn by Mullen, seconded by Wenzel.  Motion Carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.