Environmentalists rip proposed Foxconn permit rollbacks

Site staff by Site Contributor

Gov. Scott Walker’s administration says a bill that would exempt a potential Foxconn electronics plant from environmental regulations would streamline the construction process.

Walker introduced a $3 billion incentives package for the plant on Friday. The legislation eliminates a number of key environmental compliance requirements for Foxconn, including the need to obtain state permits to fill wetlands and environmental impact statements.

Conservationists lined up Monday to oppose the bill. Walker’s office referred a request for comment to the state Department of Natural Resources, a Walker cabinet agency.

DNR spokesman Jim Dick said in an email that the bill is about streamlining the process and since Foxconn hasn’t said where the plant will be built no one knows if any wetlands will be affected.

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