THE ISSUE
The paper-making industry historically has been an important contributor to the Wisconsin economy. Developing from local paper mills into an established and important industry, the paper mills in Wisconsin have also developed into an environmental concern. These environmental concerns are due to the high chemical pollution paper mills release into surrounding rivers and a large measure of air pollution from the industry.

WATER POLLUTION
The paper-making industry generates large amounts of chemical waste that is often released into nearby rivers. Traditionally, the paper mills were built along rivers to take advantage of the available water power. These rivers then became an easy way to dispose of the chemicals used in the paper-making process. Many toxins are used to make paper, particularly solvents and chlorine compounds used to bleach the final product. Other toxins are used to combat bacterial growth in the pulp and the finished paper products. Many of these toxic chemicals have traditionally been released into the rivers.

The release of PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyl – an organic compound) have proven perhaps most damaging to local rivers. The accumulation of PCBs released by the paper industry has made many rivers unclean. The rivers are not safe to swim in, and any fish or other products retrieved from the river are unsafe to consume. Recent efforts have centered on cleaning these accumulated PCB’s from local rivers.

AIR POLLUTION
The paper making process also releases many standard air pollutants, including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxides, carbon monoxides, and particulates. In addition, some paper making mills have turned to coal as an energy source, and their emissions are also degrading to the air quality.

FOX RIVER VALLEY
The first paper mill in the Fox River Valley was started in 1853 in Appleton.
Since then, the industry has continued to use the Fox River Valley as an important paper-making center. Paper mills were established notably in Beloit, Sparta, and Fond du Lac, but have continually sprung up elsewhere along the river.

The Fox River Valley is a naturally appealing site for the paper-making industry. The Fox River flows from Lake Winnebago down to Green Bay, leaving many dam sites along the way to power the mills. Unfortunately, the river has also been a prime dumping ground for the many chemicals used and produced in the paper-making process. As paper-making expanded from the local mills into a vast industry, these chemicals, particularly PCBs, have become a major environmental problem.

Communities along the contaminated Fox River Valley organized and formed groups who voiced concern about the continued pollution of the Fox River. These groups, perhaps most notably the Clean Water Action Council, achieved a level of success in the early 2000’s.

WHAT IS BEING DONE?
The Clean Water Action Council has made great strides in cleaning up the Wisconsin Rivers, particularly the Fox River. New regulations are now in place for the paper industry along the river, and efforts have been and continue to be underway to clean the PCB accumulation from the Fox River.

In November of 2007, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an order requiring six paper mills along the Fox River to locate and plan for a sediment disposal site. In addition, these companies are being forced to begin dredging the last seven miles of the Fox River in 2009 for PCB-contaminated sediment.

These enforcements unfortunately come 35 years after an initial report on Fox River PCBs in 1972. This delay has allowed for many thousands of pounds of PCBs to accumulate in Wisconsin’s Rivers. The cleanup of these rivers and the continued enforcement of new environmental policies is necessary to preserve Wisconsin’s rivers.