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Republican lawmakers want Wisconsin’s attorney general to help break a legal impasse that has frustrated businesses and brought permitting of controversial high-capacity wells to a standstill.

Since taking over state government in 2011, Republicans have made significant changes to natural resources laws, but they have failed to remove obstacles for frac sand mines, farms and food processors that want to dig more wells able to draw 100,000 gallons of water a day.

Opponents say the wells deplete groundwater, lower lakes and streams, and cause other environmental problems.

At issue is whether the state Department of Natural Resources has authority to consider the impact of all wells drawing groundwater from a given area instead of just the new well being proposed.

Another point of contention is whether the DNR can require installation of monitoring wells to see how high-capacity wells affect others, according to the request approved in a 5-3 party line vote Tuesday by the committee on assembly organization.

Democrats complained that the vote was taken by paper ballot, avoiding a public debate on the vote.