♪ ♪
- WELCOME TO "IN WISCONSIN." I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK, COME ALONG ON THE BADGER HONOR FLIGHT TO SALUTE
THESE VETERANS AND THE GREATEST GENERATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU GUYS. THANK YOU.
WE'LL ALSO TAKE YOU TO BARREN COUNTY FOR GROUNDBREAKING IDEA
TO TURN GARBAGE INTO ENERGY.
- THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO HANDLE TRASH
AND THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO MAKE ELECTRICITY.
- PLUS A YOUNG SPOKEN WORD ARTIST DISCRIBES THE SUMMER SWELTER IN MILWAUKEE.
♪ AS THE TEMPERATURE RISES, WE REACH BOILING POINTS ♪
♪ ATTITUDES OF THOSE AROUND US RISE QUICKER THAN MERCURY ♪
THOSE NEW REPORTS NEXT ON THIS SEASON'S FINAL EPISODE OF "IN WISCONSIN."
- MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY
THE PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
T0 KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
AND ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS
OF MILWAUKEE, OSHKOSH AND MINNEAPOLIS.
A VETERINAIRY TEAM WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY VETERINARIANS
PROVIDING CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.
(crowd cheering)
- A HEROES' WELCOME HOME FOR THESE WISCONSIN VETERANS.
- I WAS WONDERING A WHILE AGO
IF I WAS THE ONLY GUY THAT HAD TEARS IN MY EYES THERE.
- THEY ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE SO-CALLED BADGER HONOR FLIGHT.
A CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT FLYS
THOUSANDS OF VETS TO WASHINGTON, D.C. FREE OF CHARGE
TO SEE THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL AND OTHER SITES.
"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER FREDERICA FRIEBURG,
ALONG WITH VIDEOGRAPHER AND VETERAN BUTCH SOETENGA,
TAKE YOU ALONG FOR AN EMOTIONAL DAY-LONG JOURNEY
TO OUR NATION'S CAPITOL AND BACK HOME AGAIN.
(Reveille played on bugle)
- GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR SERVING. - THANK YOU.
- ROLL CALL MIGHT BE EARLY FOR THIS HONOR FLIGHT.
BUT FOR MANY OF THESE VETS, IT WAS HARD TO SLEEP ANYWAY.
- COULDN'T EVEN SLEEP. WE GOT IN AT 1:00.
HE'S JUST BEEN SO EXCITED TO HAVE THIS DAY.
- LOOKING FORWARD TO A CELEBRATION WITH THEIR NAME ON IT.
- SACRIFICE FOR THIS COUNTRY WAS EXTRAORDINARY AND YOU ARE
THE GREATEST GENERATION THIS WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.
THANK YOU. (applause)
- EVERY STEP FOR THE DAY IS ABOUT HONORING
AND THANKING THEM FOR WHAT THEY DID.
AND IT JUST KEEPS BUILDING.
- OH, YOU BETCHA! ALL RIGHT! (chuckles)
(applause and cheers)
- SO, WELCOME TO THE NATION'S CAPITOL. WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU GUYS.
- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING! WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU GUYS.
THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. - AND THANK YOU, YOU GUYS, TOO.
- A MILITARY RECEIVING LINE GREETS MEMBERS OF WISCONSIN'S GREATEST GENERATION.
ONE AIR FORCE SERGEANT VISIBLY MOVED BY THE MOMENT.
- TO BE ABLE TO THANK THEM PERSONALLY FOR THEIR SERVICE
AND FOR MAKING A WAY FOR US,
FOR THIS GENERATION, IT'S JUST VERY, VERY ENDEARING.
(applause and cheers)
- AND IT JUST KEEPS BUILDING.
- THIS IS A TIME FOR YOU!
♪ ♪
- NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
- IT'S WONDERFUL.
(siren announces escort)
- UPON ARRIVAL, A FULL LIGHTS AND SIREN POLICE ESCORT
WISKS THE 100 OR SO VETERANS THROUGH WASHINGTON, D.C.
ON THEIR WAY TO THE SITES THEY CAME TO SEE.
THE IMPRESSIVE ICONIC LOCATIONS IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL
AND THE WAR MEMORIALS ERECTED IN THEIR HONOR.
(trumpet blaring "Taps")
(Marine Corps hymn played)
- NEVER SEEN THIS MEMORIAL BEFORE.
IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST DAYS TO GET TO SEE THIS MEMORIAL.
- I WAS THERE WHEN THE FLAG WAS RAISED.
IT WAS ON THE ISLAND FOR 30 SOME DAYS.
PROBABLY 35.
OUR COMPANY, THE COMPANY THAT I WAS WITH,
WE CAME OFF OF THE FRONT LINE WITH SEVEN MEN
OUT OF THE WHOLE COMPANY THAT WAS LEFT.
THERE'S STORIES THAT I COULD TELL.
- SO MANY DECADES LATER, THE MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK.
- HE'S REALLY EMOTIONAL. HE WAS IN IWO JIMA AND WOUNDED.
- ANOTHER GREAT AMERICAN! THANK YOU!
- DEEP EMOTION OVERLAID WITH THE DEEP
AND VOCAL APPRECIATION OF OTHERS.
AT EVERY STOP, CITIZENS TURN OUT TO WELCOME AND THANK VETERANS
COMING IN ON HONOR FLIGHTS
LIKE THESE WISCONSIN VETERANS WHO COME TO SEE THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL.
(applause)
- HOW ARE YOU SIR? WELCOME TO D.C.
I'M LOOKING FOR KILL ROY. HE RAN OFF WITH MY WIFE.
I WANTED TO THANK HIM. -(laughter)
- FOR ME, IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO BE WITH HIM TO SHARE THIS MOMENT.
- HERE WE GO GUYS.
(overlapping conversations)
- AND IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO BE HERE WITH HIM.
- HEY, DAD, DIDN'T GET IT YET.
(overlapping conversations)
- IS IT EMOTIONAL?
- HMM, I SUPPOSE IT IS.
IT'S GETTING TO ME A LITTLE BIT.
- I MEAN, BEAUTIFUL.
- IS IT MEANINGFUL TO YOU?
- IT SURE IS. - WHY?
- WELL, JUST BEING RIGHT THERE AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS AND SO FORTH.
IT MEANT A LOT TO ME.
- OF COURSE THE MEMORIAL MEANS A LOT TO HIM.
MEL JACOBS SURVIVED THE SINKING OF THE U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS.
A WARTIME TRAGEDY THAT REPRESENTED THE GREATEST LOSS
OF LIFE AT SEA IN THE U.S. NAVY.
OF THE NEARLY TWELVE HUNDRED ON BOARD, JUST 316 SURVIVED
AFTER FOUR DAYS FENDING OFF SHARK ATTACKS,
EXPOSURE AND DEHYDRATION
WAITING FOR RESCUE ON THE HIGH SEA.
- I GOT A LOT OF MEMORIES COMING BACK TO ME
FROM VISITING A PLACE LIKE THIS.
- 64 YEARS. OH, FOR GOD SAKE.
THIS IS MY WIFE, IRENE. - HI, GOOD MORNING.
GOOD TO MEET YOU. - GOOD TO MEET YOU.
BY GOSH, I KNEW THIS GUY FROM 100 YEARS AGO.
- FOR ONE FAMILY, THE PAST BUMPED INTO THE PRESENT.
A SURPRISE REUNION AS MEDAL HONOR RECIPIENT
U.S. SENATOR DANIEL INOUYE STEPS OUT OF HIS SEDAN
TO GREET AN OLD FRIEND AND FELLOW INFANTRYMAN
FROM BARABOO, JOHN GAGAN.
- JOHN'S AN OLD BUDDY OF MINE.
WE WERE IN THE HOSPITAL TOGETHER,
BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.
AND I WANTED THE FOLKS TO KNOW THAT HE BEHAVED HIMSELF.
(laughter)
- SO MY FATHER DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE SENATOR WAS COMING.
- HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT MY BROTHER AND I WERE COMING.
SO, IT'S A WONDERFUL DAY. HE JUST SAID,
"THIS IS THE BEST DAY THAT I HAD FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS."
AND HE'S HAD A LOT OF GOOD DAYS.
- IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL AND A COMPLETE SURPRISE.
OF COURSE, THE WHOLE DAY HAS BEEN. AND, IT'S AMAZING.
(joyful laughter)
- THERE IT IS. (man chuckles)
- YOU CAN TELL BY THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES
AND YOU TALK TO FAMILY MEMBERS
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST DAYS OF THEIR LIFE.
THIS IS LIKE A FINALTY FOR A LOT OF THEM
AS FAR A CLOSURE FOR WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED IN THE WAR.
- AND IT JUST KEEPS BUILDING.
(Big Band music plays)
AS THE DEPARTURE GATE AT REAGAN NATIONAL
TURNS INTO A DANCE FLOOR FOR THE VETERANS
WHOSE WARTIME TUNES TENDED TO BIG BANDS.
♪ ♪
AND IF ANYONE THOUGHT THE FLIGHT HOME WOULD RESULT IN A LETDOWN,
THEN COMES ANOTHER BLAST FROM THE PAST.
- ROBERT ACTON, MICHAEL ELS, MELVIN JACOBS.
- SOMETHING REEMBERED BY VETS
AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF ANY DAY.
MAIL CALL.
TWO HOURS IN THE AIR MEANS SAVORING PACKETS
OF LETTERS AND CARDS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
- HAZEL REMLEY. THOMAS RUNKEL, JR.
ERNEST SLOVAC. ROBERT CHEMERY.
EDWARD WALLETS. RAYMOND WILLIAMS, JR.
MARVIN SEVERSEN.
(Big Band music continues)
(groups chattering)
- ONCE WHEELS DOWN IN MADISON,
TRIP REVIEWS.
- THE HIGHLIGHT WAS EVERYTHING.
JUST WONDERFUL FROM BEGINNING TO END.
JUST TERRIFIC.
- THE RIDE WE HAD IN WASHINGTON.
THE BAND. THE PEOPLE. TERRIFIC.
- BUT PERHAPS THE BEST IS STILL YET TO COME.
AS THEY RIDE DOWN THE AIRPORT ESCALATOR
TOWARD PARKING AND HOME,
THE CROWD AND MUSIC ERUPT.
THE BIGGEST WELCOME OF THE DAY COMES AS A WELCOME HOME.
(music fanfare playing)
MORE THAN 4,000 PEOPLE
AND A 25-PIECE BAND PACKED THE AIRPORT
IN ONE FINAL THANK YOU FOR THESE BARGER HONOR FLIGHT VETERANS
WHOSE SMILES, SURPRISE AND GRATITUDE SAY IT ALL.
(band music plays)
(cheers and applause)
- A FITTING TRIBUTE FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
THERE ARE FIVE HUB CITIES ACROSS WISCONSIN
THAT HOST THE HONOR FLIGHTS.
THE NEXT BADGER FLIGHT OUT OF MADISON IS EXPECTED THIS FALL
AND 300 VETS ARE ON THE WAITING LIST.
THE FLIGHTS, THAT COST ABOUT $100,000 EACH
ARE PRIMARILY MADE POSSIBLE BY DONATIONS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NATIONWIDE HONOR FLIGHT PROGRAM
AND THE FLIGHTS ORGANIZED HERE IN WISCONSIN,
JUST GO OUR WEB PAGE AT wpt.org
THEN CLICK ON "IN WISCONSIN."
JUST GOING TO THE STORE OR RUNNING THE KIDS TO PRACTICE
HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THINKING OF GASOLINE PRICES.
WITH ENERGY COSTS NEAR RECORD HIGHS,
A SMALL COUNTY IN WESTERN WISCONSIN
IS DOING WHAT IT CAN TO HELP ITS RESIDENTS.
25 YEARS AGO AFTER THE LAST MAJOR ENERGY CRISIS,
BARREN COUNTY DECIDED TO TURN ITS TRASH INTO ENERGY.
"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER, ADAM SCHRAGER,
SHOWS YOU HOW THEY ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY
POWERING THE COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO SAVE EARTH.
(truck roars)
- EVERY TUESDAY MORNING...
- THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
- ...HOMEOWNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF BARRON...
...PUT OUT THEIR TRASH
JUST LIKE MILLIONS OF OTHERS STATEWIDE.
- WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE.
- BUT WHERE IT GOES IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER PLACE IN WISCONSIN.
- "UNIQUE" IS A WORD THAT IS OFTEN OVERUSED.
BUT THIS FACILITY, IN A LOT OF WAYS, IS UNIQUE.
- BARREN'S COUNTY TRASH FACILITY...
- IT'S A MASSIVE BURNER.
...LEADS TO 450 DEGREES SEPARATION
FROM THE WORST POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FOR GARBAGE.
- DO YOU WANT TO SIT IN THE LANDFILL FOREVER?
- AL ZELTNER RUNS THE PLANT.
- THIS FACILITY WAS BUILT IN 1986.
BASICALLY BEEN IN OPERATION FOR 25 YEARS.
- THE ASH TAKES ABOUT 10% OF THE SPACE
THE TRASH WOULD REQUIRE IN THE LANDFILL.
- ALL OF THIS WASTE WOULD NORMALLY GET BURIED IN THE GROUND.
- AT THE BARREN PLANT, RECYCLING MATERIAL IS SEPARATED
WHEN IT COMES IN.
- ANYTHING AND EVERYTHINGS THAT PEOPLE THROW OUT WINDS UP COMING HERE.
- AND THEN A MAGNET MAKES SURE METAL DOESN'T GET INTO THE ASH.
- THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY.
- A LOT OF MONEY IN RECYCLING, FOR SURE.
BUT NOT WHERE BARREN COUNTY'S BIGGEST SAVINGS ARE COMING FROM
AS IT BURNS ITS TRASH.
- WE TAKE EVERYTHING THAT'S LEFT OVER
AND MAKE ELECTRICITY OUT OF IT, BASICALLY.
- IT IS TECHNICALLY CALLED A WASTE TO ENERGY PLANT.
- THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF A WASTE TO ENERGY FACILITY,
IT'S ONE OF THE CLEANEST FORMS OF ELECTRICITY THERE IS.
- THE STEAM ENERGY GENERATED FROM THE BURNING
GOES BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
- THAT ELECTRICITY THAT WE'RE NOT USING IN-HOUSE
SIMPLY GOES OUT ONTO THE ELECTRICAL LINES
AND IS USED AT THE FIRST AVAILABLE ENERGY USER
WHETHER THAT'S THE CHEESE PLANT ACROSS THE STREET
OR A HOUSE UP THE ROAD.
- WHERE YOU SEE NEGATIVE KILOWATTS
SENDING ENERGY OUT TO THE GRID,
BARREN COUNTY SEES POSITIVE RESUTS
AS ENERGY PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE.
- SO, ANYONE SAYS IT'S ALWAYS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN LANDFILLING,
THAT WOULD NOT BE TRUE.
- THE PLANT'S KEEPING DUMPING FEES
ON AVERAGE EQUAL TO LANDFILL'S.
AND MAYBE EVEN MORE TIMELY, IT'S CREATING POWER FOR ROUGHLY
HALF OF THE PRICE ITS NEIGHBORS ARE TYPICALLY PAYING.
- THE POSSIBILITY IS THERE FOR US TO HAVE HUGE BENEFITS
IN BARREN COUNTY BECAUSE OF THIS PROJECT.
- IN FACT, THE COUNTY JUST SPENT $3 MILLION
TO UPGRADE THE PLANT AND MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.
- WE HAD EXCESS ENERGY THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO USE.
WE WERE SELLING AS MUCH AS WE COULD.
SO, WE HAS THIS EXCESS ENERGY THAT WAS SITTING THERE,
WITH BASICALLY NO USE.
SO WE'VE TAKEN THAT AND TURNED IT INTO ELECTRICITY.
- THE TECHNOLOGY HAS GOTTEN BETTER,
SPECIFICALLY IN CONTAINING EMISSIONS,
SINCE BARREN COUNTY BEGAN THIS PROJECT
AFTER THE LAST ENERGY CRISIS.
- IT WORKED HERE, AND I THINK IT CAN WORK OTHER PLACES.
- THE REALITY, ZELTNER SAYS, IS THAT
THE ALTERNATE IS FAR LESS APPEALING.
- THE VAST MATERIAL OUT THERE IS NOT PRACTICAL TO RECYCLE,
SO YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
YOU HAVE TO EITHER PUT IT IN A LANDFILL
OR YOU HAVE TO CONVERT IT INTO ENERGY.
- BARREN COUNTY HAS CHOSEN TO DO THE LATTER,
A CHOICE DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY IN WISCONSIN.
- THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO HANDLE TRASH
AND THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO MAKE ELECTRICITY.
AND WITH A WASTE TO ENERGY FACILITY,
YOU TAKE CARE OF BOTH ISSUES.
YOU CAN-- IT CAN BE DONE
IN A VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WAY.
- THE FRENCH ISLAND PLANT IN LA CROSSE
IS THE ONLY OTHER FACILITY IN WISCONSIN TO BURN GARBAGE.
BUT THAT TREATS PROCESSED WASTE,
NOT THE RAW MATERIAL BURNED IN BARRON COUNTY.
EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STATE ARE UNDERWAY AGAIN.
IN APRIL, DREDGING CREWS GOT BACK TO WORK ON THE FOX RIVER.
FOR YEARS, WISCONSIN PAPER COMPANIES AND THE GOVERNMENT
HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN A LEGAL BATTLE
OVER THE CLEANUP OF CANCER-CAUSING PCBs.
"IN WISCONSON" REPORTER, ART HACKETT, DISCOVERED
EVEN THOUGH THE LAWSUITS REMAIN,
THE CLEANUP IS ONTRACK IN DE PERE.
- I'VE WATCHED THE DREDGING OUTSIDE OF MY DOOR DOWN HERE.
- BUD HARRIS LIVES JUST UP THE HILL FROM THE FOX RIVER.
THE DREDGES ARE PART OF THE EFFORT TO RID THE FOX OF PCBs.
HARRIS HAS BEEN WATCHING PCBs
FOR MOST OF HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER.
- PCBs, WE KNEW THEY WERE THERE.
BUT THE ISSUE WAS, OKAY, SO WHAT ARE THE REAL EFFECTS?
- FOR A 30-YEAR PERIOD, BEGINNING AROUND 1954,
PCBs WERE AN INGREDIENT A FEW OF THE MILLS USED TO COAT PAPER.
MANY OTHER MILLS RECYCLED SCRAPS
OF THAT ORIGINALS PAPER TO MAKE OTHER PRODUCTS.
PCBs WASHED OUT OF THE MILLS, INTO THE WATER
AND SETTLED INTO THE SEDIMENT.
10 YEARS AGO, WHILE ATTORNEYS FOR PAPER COMPANIES BATTLED
OVER WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE BILLS,
THE DNR STUDIED WHETHER IT WAS POSSIBLE
TO DREDGE SEDIMENTS FROM THE RIVER
WITHOUT MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE.
THE ANSWER WAS YES.
THE DREDGING OF PCBs FROM THE FOX RIVER
HAS NOW REACHED INDUSTRIAL SCALE.
AT TIMES THE TWO DREDGES HAVE OPERATED AT THE END OF PIPELINES
STRETCHING FOR TEN MILES.
- WHAT IS THAT BROWN STUFF ON THE TOP?
- THAT'S THE SEDIMENT.
- JUST AS THE PAPER MACHINES OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY,
TURNING FIBERS INTO PAPER,
THE SEDIMENT NEVER STOPS BETWEEN THE TIMES
WHEN THE DREDGE PUMPS IT INTO THE PIPELINE
AND THE TIME WHEN IT DROPS IT INTO A PILE
AWAITING A TRUCK RIDE TO A LANDFILL.
- IT'S KIND OF A UNIQUE SITUATION
BECAUSE NOBODY HAS EVER SET A PROCESS UP LIKE THIS
WITHOUT SOME KIND OF BUFFER BETWEEN THE DREDGES AND THE PROCESS UNIT.
IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE VERY PROUD OF.
- THE MATERIAL IS PUMPED INTO HUGE PRESSES
WHICH FORCE OUT THE WATER LEAVING NEARLY DRY WAFERS
OF PCB CONTAMINATED CAKE.
MANGRUM SAYS THE PROJECT WILL ULTIMATELY
REMOVE 3.8 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF MATERIAL FROM THE RIVERBED.
IN ADDITION, 500 ACRES OF CONTAMINATED RIVER BOTTOM WILL BE CAPPED
WITH AN ISOLATING LAYER OF SAND AND CRUSHED ROCK.
- WE ARE ON A SCHEDULE, SEVEN YEARS FOR DREDGING,
TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS FOR CAPPING.
MY GOAL IS TO COMPLETE AT LEAST A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
WE ARE WAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE NOW,
AND WE PROJECT TO STAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
- THE DECISION TO CAP AREAS WHICH WERE TOO DIFFICULT
OR EXPENSIVE TO DREDGE WAS CONTROVERSIAL,
BUT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST BUD HARRIS SAYS
HE ACCEPTS IT AS PART OF A SOLUTION.
- I WAS NEVER A PROPONENT THAT IT SHOULD ONLY BE CAPPED,
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNEW PRETTY EARLY ON IS THAT
EVEN WITH DREDGING, YOU ARE GOING TO GET RESIDUAL.
YOU CANNOT-- YOU WILL NEVER GET IT ALL.
IT'S NOT LIKE VACUUMING UNDER THE RUG, YOU KNOW.
- SO FAR, HARRIS SAYS THE CLEANUP PROCESS
APPEARS TO BE WORKING.
THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
RECENTLY RELEASED A REVIEW OF THE FIRST FIVE YEARS
OF THE FOX PROJECT.
THIS INVOLVED THE LAKE BUTTE DES MORTS NEAR MENASHA.
THE EPA'S MEASUREMENTS SHOWED REMAINING PCBs CONCENTRATIONS
OF .22 PARTS PER MILLION.
THAT IS BELOW EPA STANDARDS.
- IF, IN FACT, THEY GET THE SEDIMENT CONCENTRATIONS
IN THE RIVER TO .2, I BELIEVE IT PROBABLY WILL BE PROTECTIVE
OF MOST OF THE WILDLIFE THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
MY CONCERN IS MORE IN TERMS OF THE LONG-TERM MONITORING.
NOT ONLY MONITORING THE SECURITY OF THOSE CAPS,
I THINK THAT'S TERRIBLY IMPORTANT. THEY NEED TO BE MONITORED.
YOU HAVE TO MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WHOLE PROCESS.
- WE CERTAINLY DON'T ANTICIPATE MAJOR DISTURBANCE IN THE CAPS.
- JAY GROSSKOPF IS WITH BOLDT CONSTRUCTION.
THE WISCONSIN DNR HAS CONTRACTED WITH BOLDT
TO MONITOR THE DREDGING
AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CLEANUP.
- WE REALLY LOOKING AT SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS
OF FISH AND THESE WATERFOWL AND OTHER THINGS,
IN TERMS OF, ARE THE PCBs BEING ELIMINATED FROM THE PARENTS?
IT TURNED OUT BEING PASSED ONTO THE OFFSPRING.
- THE QUESTION IS, FOR HOW LONG?
- THERE REALLY IS NOT A DEFINED TIMETABLE, YET.
THERE'S A GOAL TO ELIMINATE THE FISH ADVISORIES
AND THE WATERFOWL ADVISORIES.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO TAKE TEN YEARS,
15 YEARS, 30 YEARS, 50 YEARS.
AND IT'S A HARD THING TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC.
YOU KNOW, UNKNOWNS ARE ALWAYS HARD TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC.
- THE CLEANUP PROCESS STILL HAS AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS TO RUN.
AND THERE WILL BE A WAIT FOR THE FOOD CHAIN TO CLEAR ITSELF.
- THE MODELS SUGGEST THAT THERE'S A HALF LIFE OF FIVE YEARS, SO.
- BUD HARRIS RAN THROUGH A CALCULATION OF HOW LONG
IT WILL TAKE TO CLEAR MICROORGANISMS,
THEN FISH, THEN BIRDS.
- YOU CAN BEGIN TO PROJECT THAT OUT.
SO, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO GET TO, IN THE WATER COLUMN, TO BE PROTECTIVE?
ABOUT TWO PARTS PER TRILLION.
SO, THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER FOUR DECADES.
- TWO PARTS PER TRILLION OF A COMPOUND
WHICH FIRST ENTERED THE FOX RIVER IN 1954.
- BY 2054, THERE SHOULDN'T BE FISH ADVISORIES BY THAT TIME.
- BUT, THAT'S 100 YEARS?
- YES, IT'S 100 YEARS.
- EVEN THOUGH THE PCB CONTAMINATION HAPPENED YEARS AGO,
THE CURRENT CLEANUP IS EXPECTED TO PREVENT
THE REMAINING PCBs FROM ENTERING LAKE MICHIGAN.
THE DREDGING AND CAPPING PROJECT
IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY 2017.
DESPITE OUR COOL SPRING AND NOTORIOUS WINTERS,
DID YOU KNOW EXTREME HEAT KILLS MORE PEOPLE
IN OUR STATE THAN ANY OTHER KIND OF SEVERE WEATHER COMBINED?
HEAT PROBLEMS CAN INCREASE WITH URBANIZATION AND POVERTY.
HOW WE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT OUR CITIES
MAY FURTHER FUEL THE PROBLEM.
SO, AS PART OF OUR QUEST ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING PROJECT,
VIDEO PRODUCER FINN RYAN, ONE OF OUR PARTNERS
WITH THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS BOARD
SHOWS YOU THE IMPACT OF EXTREME HEAT
THROUGH THE VOICE OF SPOKEN WORD ARTIST,
ELIJAH FURQUAN, IN MILWAUKEE.
♪ ♪
- ♪ NEIGHBORHOODS ARE OVENS WITH WINDOWS ♪
♪ AND AS THE KNOB ON GLOBAL WARMING INCREASES ♪
♪ LIVES ARE PREHEATED INTO SOUL SOUFFLES ♪
♪ ♪
♪ PANCAKES THAT PROJECTS ARE POURED OVER WITH HUMID AS THICK AS MOLASSES ♪
♪ HEAT AND HUMIDITY ARE THE PERFECT APPETIZER ON DEATH'S PLATE ♪
♪ IT'S AN ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET, FROM MAY TO OCTOBER ♪
♪ WHEN SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT EVERY DAY ♪
♪ ♪
♪ IF THERMOMETERS CAN MEASURE TEMPERATURES ♪
♪ THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEASURE HUMAN ANXIETY ♪
♪ AS THE TEMPERATURES RISES, WE REACH BOILING POINTS ♪
♪ ATTITUDES OF THOSE AROUND US RISE QUICKER THAN MERCURY ♪
♪ AND THE PRESSURE OF STAYING COOL CAUSES US TO EXPLODE ♪
♪ COMPRESSED LIVING COMPLEX, THEY CIRCULATE HEAT ♪
♪ AND CAUSE COMPRESSED FEELINGS TO CONVERGE ♪
♪ UPON OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE HOOD ♪
♪ ♪
♪ SO THAT 90% RELEASE OF EXCESS BODY HEAT ♪
♪ TALKED ABOUT IN SCIENCE CLASS ♪
♪ IS CONTRIBUTED TO OUR LOCAL TEMPERATURE RISING ♪
♪ WE CRACK OPEN FIRE HYDRANTS UNTIL WE HEAR LIGHTS CRYING ♪
♪ RAISING TAXES BY LOWERING OUR BODY TEMPERATURE ♪
♪ ♪
♪ AND IF YOU COULDN'T AFFORD THE WIND REPLACER ♪
♪ FRIDGES AND FREEZERS WERE PROPPED OPEN ♪
♪ UNTIL YOUR TWO BROTHERS' FACES ARE FROZEN ♪
♪ ♪
♪ AUDIENCES APPLAUD THE ICE CREAM MAN ♪
♪ ONCE THAT FAMILIAR JINGLE MINGLES WITH OUR EARS ♪
♪ THE SWEET RELEASE OF FLOODED HEAT IS A GODSEND ♪
♪ WHAT DO YOU KNOW? ♪
♪ THE ICE CREAM VENDOR'S NAME IS NOAH ♪
♪ ♪
♪ AS THE TEMPERATURE RISES, SO DO ATTITUDES ♪
♪ DEATH RATES, BILLS, AND ICE CREAM STOCKS ♪
♪ HEAT EFFECTS THE ELDERLY MORE THAN US ♪
♪ THEIR LUNGS RESEMBLE THE DOW EXCHANGE ♪
♪ RISES AND DROPS UNTIL THEY CRASH ♪
♪ AMBULANCES ARE SUMMONED, RIDING DOWN THE STREETS ♪
♪ FLOODED WITH THE CONTENTS OF THE ONLY FIRE HYDRANT ♪
♪ ♪
♪ WE HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN TO FRY ♪
♪ ♪
- ACCORDING TO RESEARCH, CONDUCTED BY
THE WISCONSIN INITIATIVE ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS,
EXTREME HEAT EVENTS ARE PROJECTED TO BECOME
MORE FREQUENT AND LONGER LASTING.
BY THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY,
WISCONSIN IS EXPECTED TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL FOUR WEEKS
WHERE TEMPERATURES SOAR PAST 90 DEGREES.
FINALLY THIS WEEK, A CLOSER LOOK
AT WISCONSIN'S MOST POPULAR STATE PARK.
DEVIL'S LAKE SEES MORE THAN A MILLION VISITORS A YEAR.
LOCATED JUST TWO MILES SOUTH OF BARABOO,
THE STATE PARK HAS A 360-ACRE SPRING-FED LAKE
AND 29 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS
WITH SPECTACULAR VIEWS IN EVERY DIRECTION.
DESCRIBED AS WISCONSIN'S YELLOWSTONE,
THIS YEAR, DEVIL'S LAKE STATE PARK WILL CELEBRATE
IT'S 100th BIRTHDAY.
ENJOY THE VIEW AND HAVE A GREAT SUMMER "IN WISCONSIN."
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MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY
THE PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY
WHO BRINGS SAFE, RELIABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN,
RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING ENERGY SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
AND ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS
OF MILWAUKEE, OSHKOSH AND MINNEAPOLIS.
A VETERINARY TEAM WORKING WITH PET OWNERS
AND FAMILY VETERINARIANS,
PROVIDING CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.