Contact: Jane Larson (608) 224-5005
Madison—Bud Rusch, Menasha, was recently honored for 10 years of service on the Agricultural Chemical Cleanup Program Council. The six-member council meets quarterly to advise staff with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Agricultural Chemical Cleanup program.
The ACCP reimburses eligible costs associated with the environmental cleanup of fertilizer or pesticide spills or long-term remediation of contaminated sites. The council reviews the department’s decisions to ensure consistency when costs are proposed as ineligible for reimbursement. The council is also consulted on proposed ACCP policy changes, including revisions to fees and surcharges that fund the program.
Rusch’s own experience with an environmental cleanup is what eventually led him to be a member of the council.
“Back in 1994 I became the general manager of an agricultural cooperative in northeast Wisconsin. The coop was involved in a large cleanup project,” Rusch recalled. “I worked closely with some of the department staff to come up with a better, less expensive remediation plan and we were able to lower the levels of pesticides in the soil and water.”
After leaving the coop, Rusch (ROOSH) was asked to join the Agricultural Chemical Cleanup Council. “I was asked to be one of two farmer representatives on the council since I cash crop 360 acres. Based on my past experiences with industry, I felt I had something to contribute and that I could make things better.”
Over the past 10 years, Rusch and his fellow council members reviewed more than 800 applications requesting reimbursement for costs associated with environmental cleanups. As of June 2011, the ACCP has issued reimbursement payments of more than $38.5 million.
“The reimbursement funds have done much more than protect Wisconsin’s groundwater quality,” said Stan Senger, DATCP environmental quality section chief. “The money has also helped to protect vital agricultural business interests. You can’t find insurance that will underwrite these types of cleanups and provide the environmental benefits this program offers.”
The council reviews costs that the department proposes as ineligible for reimbursement. “Some of the decisions are tough to make. A decision that has been supported by a panel of independent industry peers is more likely to be correct, fair and consistent,” Senger said. “We’ve been very fortunate to have a number of long-standing members on the council including Bud. We are going to miss his broad knowledge and sense of humor.”
Council members include Bruce Barganz, Frontier FS Cooperative, Jefferson; Judy Fassbender, Bloom Companies, LLC, Milwaukee; Ferron Havens, Wisconsin AgriBusiness Council, Madison; Frank Masters, Twin-State Engineering and Chemical Co., Janesville, and Chuck Stanhope, a farmer from Beloit. Dan Karlen, a farmer from Monticello will replace Rusch on the council. Each member is appointed by the DATCP Board for a two-year term.
“This is important work that the council does. It’s important to leave a better environment for our kids and grandkids,” Rusch said.
