Emailed Comments [PDF]

From: Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2015 2:14 PM To: DNR Kohler Proposal Subject: Additional topics for Consideration by the WDNR First, thank you for providing the opportunity to raise additional issues to be considered before you publish your environmental impact statement. I live along the Lake Michigan shoreline and my property lies about ¼ mile south of the mouth of the Black River in the Town of Wilson. Over my 26 years here I have witnessed the degradation of the lake from the phosphorous run‐off from the Black River and can no longer swim in the water in front of my house. I am on the Board of the Wisconsin Great Lakes Coalition and, while I may be supersensitive to the environmental hazards facing the Great Lakes, I believe the construction of the proposed golf course will have a profoundly negative impact on the ecology of a large area of shoreline dunes, wetlands, and wildlife. It will also negatively affect the culture of this small town that has prided itself on being a serene oasis of natural beauty. Although I am obviously opposed to the course on many levels and for many reasons, I am writing you today specifically about the use and monitoring of herbicides and pesticides on the proposed site. Herbicides The Environmental Impact Report states that there is planned use of the herbicides Triclopyr, Glyphosate, and Aminopyralid. I ask that you review their use based upon potential health effects of these and other chemicals. Specifically, Glyphosate has been linked to cancer, endocrine disrupon, reproductive effects, kidney/liver damage and sensitivity and irritation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer recently raised the alert level for Glyphosate to “a probable carcinogen”. Sources: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/lawn/factsheets/30health.pdf, http://gmoinside.org/wp‐ content/uploads/Journal‐of‐Organic‐Systems‐2014‐Vol9‐No2.pdf http://gmoinside.org/wp‐ content/uploads/Journal‐of‐Organic‐Systems‐2014‐Vol9‐No2.pdf Aminopyralid has also been linked with severe eye irritation and “However, the free acid form of aminopyralid produces severe eye irritation. Thus, the technical product is classified in toxicity category I (DANGER), while the formulated end use product (Milestone) is classified as toxicity category IV (CAUTION). Source: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/infoservices/pesticidesandyou/documents/aminopyralid.pdf Nitrogen rich fertilizers, such as those used on turf grass can leach into ground water causing pollution. Sandy soils, like that of the proposed golf course are particularly prone to leaching. Source: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome‐instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF‐ 8#q=Nitrogen+Pollution+of+groundwater+Lee+Haller One of the herbicides Kohler proposes to use is Tryclopyr, which can pollute ground water. Considering that the course is being constructed over a shallow aquafer and on sandy soil, this concerns me. Source: http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/triclogen.pdf The Garden Club of America, in their monograph, “The New American Golf Course”, states, “ It is important that new It is important that new golf courses choose areas that are not wetlands, prime and unique farmland, endangered species habitat, or aquatic habitat that is environmentally sensitive. Degraded sites such as Superfund sites (Old Works Course) or gravel pits (Widow’s Walk Golf Course) can be reclaimed for golf course 1 use. golf courses choose areas that are not wetlands, prime and unique farmland, endangered species habitat, or aquatic habitat that is environment It is important that new golf courses choose areas that are not wetlands, prime and unique farmland, endangered species habitat, or aquatic habitat that is environmentally sensitive.. Degraded sites such as Superfund sites (Old Works Course) or gravel pits (Widow’s Walk Golf Course) can be reclaimed for golf course use.” https://www.gcamerica.org/index.cfm/publications/publicationdetails/pid/83 In The Water Encyclopedia, the authors state. “For many years, people believed that the soil and sediment layers deposited above an aquifer acted as a natural filter that kept many unnatural pollutants from the surface from infiltrating down to groundwater. By the 1970s, however, it became widely understood that those soil layers often did not adequately protect aquifers. Despite this realization, a significant amount of contamination already had been released to the nation's soil and groundwater. Scientists have since realized that once an aquifer becomes polluted, it may become unusable for decades, and is often impossible to clean up quickly and inexpensively.” They go on to say, “Fertilizers and pesticides applied to crops (or, I assume, golf courses) eventually may reach underlying aquifers, particularly if the aquifer is shallow and not "protected" by an overlying layer of low permeability material, such as clay. Drinking‐water wells located close to cropland sometimes are contaminated by these agricultural chemicals.“ Source, The Water Encyclopedia, Science and Issues: The Pollution of Groundwater. Pesticides In their Environmental Impact Report, Kohler states in rather vague terms, that they will follow the latest integrated pest management practices, but they don’t elaborate on the specific pesticides that would be used, should the need arise. I hope that you will ask them for more details. As you are aware, the shoreline area is susceptible to mosquitos and black fly infestations. I’m sure that Kohler does not want their guests troubled by these insects and will probably aggressively spray to rid the area of these pests. I am concerned about what, if any, deleterious effects these chemical will have on the environment, humans living nearby and wildlife. Kohler’s courses in other parts of the county are really not bordering on a densely populated area, such as would be the case with this course. In conclusion, I am not against Kohler; they have done much good for Sheboygan county. But I believe the price we will all pay to have another golf course, a course on this environmentally rich land, is too high. And all of this for a sport that is declining in popularity. Thank you for your attention and the work I knowyou are putting into this investigation. 2 From: Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2015 3:24 PM To: DNR Kohler Proposal Subject: Apologies Attachments: Comments to the DNR.docx I am very sorry. I mistakenly sent you a first draft of a note with my concerns. Attached is the final version, please disregard my previous email. 1 First, thank you for providing the opportunity to raise additional issues to be considered before you publish your environmental impact statement. I live along the Lake Michigan shoreline and my property lies about ¼ mile south of the mouth of the Black River in the Town of Wilson. Over my 26 years here I have witnessed the degradation of the lake from the phosphorous run‐off from the Black River and can no longer swim in the water in front of my house. I am on the Board of the Wisconsin Great Lakes Coalition and, while I may be supersensitive to the environmental hazards facing the Great Lakes, I believe the construction of the proposed golf course will have a profoundly negative impact on the ecology of a large area of shoreline dunes, wetlands, and wildlife. It will also negatively affect the culture of this small town that has prided itself on being a serene oasis of natural beauty. Although I am obviously opposed to the course on many levels and for many reasons, I am writing you today specifically about the use and monitoring of herbicides and pesticides on the proposed site. Herbicides The Environmental Impact Report states that there is planned use of the herbicides Triclopyr, Glyphosate, and Aminopyralid. I ask that you review their use based upon potential health effects of these and other chemicals. Specifically, Glyphosate has been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive effects, kidney/liver damage and sensitivity and irritation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer recently raised the alert level for Glyphosate to “a probable carcinogen”. Sources: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/lawn/factsheets/30health.pdf, http://gmoinside.org/wp‐ content/uploads/Journal‐of‐Organic‐Systems‐2014‐Vol9‐No2.pdf http://gmoinside.org/wp‐ content/uploads/Journal‐of‐Organic‐Systems‐2014‐Vol9‐No2.pdf Aminopyralid has also been linked with severe eye irritation and “Thus, the technical product is classified in toxicity category I (DANGER), while the formulated end use product (Milestone) is classified as toxicity category IV (CAUTION).” Source: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/infoservices/pesticidesandyou/documents/aminopyralid.pdf Nitrogen rich fertilizers, such as those used on turf grass can leach into ground water causing pollution. Sandy soils, like that of the proposed golf course are particularly prone to leaching. Source: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome‐instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF‐ 8#q=Nitrogen+Pollution+of+groundwater+Lee+Haller One of the herbicides Kohler proposes to use is Tryclopyr, which can pollute ground water. Considering that the course is being constructed over a shallow aquafer and on sandy soil, this concerns me. Source: http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/triclogen.pdf The Garden Club of America, in their monograph, “The New American Golf Course”, states, “It is important that new golf courses choose areas that are not wetlands, prime and unique farmland, endangered species habitat, or aquatic habitat that is environmentally sensitive. Degraded sites such as Superfund sites (Old Works Course) or gravel pits (Widow’s Walk Golf From: Sent: Friday, July 10, 2015 8:35 PM To: DNR Kohler Proposal Subject: AS A LOCAL PROPERTY OWNER, I SUPPORT THE KOHLER GOLF COURSE PROPOSAL Jay Schiefelbein, My wife and I own property within a couple of miles of the property that Kohler wants to use for the new golf course. My wife and I support Herb Kohler's effort to build this golf course and the additional economic benefits it will bring to the area.

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