Current:Home > Contact-usConservation groups sue to stop a transmission line from crossing a Mississippi River refuge-InfoLens
Conservation groups sue to stop a transmission line from crossing a Mississippi River refuge
View Date:2024-12-23 11:01:34
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A coalition of conservation groups filed a last-minute federal lawsuit seeking to stop plans to build the high-voltage Hickory-Cardinal transmission line across a Mississippi River wildlife refuge.
American Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative Inc. want to build a 102-mile (164-kilometer), 345-kilovolt line linking Iowa’s Dubuque County and Wisconsin’s Dane County. The cost of the line is expected to top half a billion dollars but the utilities contend the project would improve electrical reliability across the region.
A portion of the line would run through the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge near Cassville, Wisconsin. The federal wildlife refuge is a haven for fish, wildlife and migratory birds that use it as their breeding grounds within the Mississippi Flyway. Millions of birds fly through the refuge, and it’s the only stopping point left for many migratory birds.
Opponents have been working to stop the project for years. The National Wildlife Federation, the Driftless Area Land Conservancy and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation filed an action in federal court in Madison on Wednesday seeking an injunction to block the refuge crossing.
The groups argue that 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 contend that the FWS and the utilities improperly reached a deal calling for the utilities to transfer about 36 acres (15 hectares) south of Cassville into the refuge in exchange for 19 acres (8 hectares) within the refuge for the line. The groups argue the deal violates the 1997 National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, which establishes a formal process for determining refuge use.
The groups went on to argue in their filing that they need an injunction quickly because the utilities are already creating construction staging areas on both the Iowa and Wisconsin sides of the river to begin work on the crossing.
The lawsuits names the FWS, the refuge’s manager and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as defendants. Online court records showed U.S. Department of Justice attorney Kimberly Anne Cullen is representing them. She referred questions to U.S. DOJ spokesperson Matthew Nies, who didn’t immediately respond to an email message.
Media officials for American Transmission Company and Dairyland Power Cooperative had no immediate comment. No one immediately responded to an email message left in ITC Midwest’s general media inbox.
veryGood! (148)
Related
- Shaun White Reveals How He and Fiancée Nina Dobrev Overcome Struggles in Their Relationship
- Connecticut church pastor accused of selling meth out of rectory
- Listeria recall: More cheese products pulled at Walmart, Costco, Safeway, other stores
- Hundreds of protesters opposed to bill allowing same-sex marriage rally in Greek capital
- She's a trans actress and 'a warrior.' Now, this 'Emilia Pérez' star could make history.
- Proof Dwayne The Rock Johnson's Kids Are Already Following in His Footsteps
- The San Francisco 49ers lost Super Bowl 58. What happens to the championship shirts, hats?
- North Carolina voter ID trial rescheduled again for spring in federal court
- Smithfield agrees to pay $2 million to resolve child labor allegations at Minnesota meat plant
- Hailey Bieber Debuts Hair Transformation at the 2024 Super Bowl
Ranking
- RHOBH's Kyle Richards Shares Reaction to BFF Teddi Mellencamp's Divorce
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Bask in Afterglow of Chiefs' Super Bowl Win With On-Field Kiss
- Nor'easter, snow and storms forecast across New England through Tuesday
- Tiger Woods starts a new year with a new look now that his Nike deal has ended
- Blake Snell free agent rumors: Best fits for two-time Cy Young winner
- 2024 NFL draft order: All 32 first-round selections set after Super Bowl 58
- Virginia’s Youngkin aims to bolster mental health care, part of national focus after the pandemic
- Still looking for a valentine? One of these 8 most popular dating platforms could help
Recommendation
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Take the Day Off
-
2024 NFL draft order: All 32 first-round selections set after Super Bowl 58
-
Chiefs' Travis Kelce packs drama into Super Bowl, from blowup with coach to late heroics
-
New Mexico officer killed in stabbing before suspect is shot and killed by witness, police say
-
California Gov. Gavin Newsom will spend part of week in DC as he tries to Trump-proof state policies
-
We knew what was coming from Mahomes, Chiefs. How did San Francisco 49ers not?
-
Axe-wielding man is killed by police after seizing 15 hostages on Swiss train
-
Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, who was set to be a superstar, has died in a car crash