Walker’s budget would eliminate the new statewide numeric phosphorus standard for municipalities and businesses and replace it with standards no more stringent than neighboring states. According to Bruce Baker, the current director of the DNR’s water division, Walker would replace numeric standards with so-called narrative standards, which are basically descriptions of what a particular body of water looks like.

Baker said Walker’s intent is to set standards that do not put Wisconsin at an economic disadvantage with nearby states.

Cullen Werwie, a Walker spokesman, said the changes being sought by the Governor would not put the state in violation of any federal clean water laws. Werwie did not elaborate. Officials with the EPA also refused comment.

Ambs, while at the DNR, helped write the new phosphorus rule and was deeply involved in negotiations with the EPA on setting Wisconsin’s new standards. He said the federal agency is requiring all states to set such standards to meet requirements of the federal Clean Water Act. When the EPA approved Wisconsin’s new rule last year, the standards in essence became federal standards.