Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announces RESOLUTION OF WELL DRILLING ENFORCEMENT CASE AGAINST BRADLEY WEBSTER

MADISON - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that his office has obtained a $3,300 judgment in a lawsuit against Bradley Webster, doing business as Brad Webster & Sons Drilling, Inc., of Poynette, Columbia County, Wisconsin.

The complaint, filed on December 8, 2005, in Dane County Circuit Court, alleged that the defendant violated Wisconsin law and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) rules by failing to comply with requirements for drilling a school well in Dane County and failing to file required reports on time.

The defendant cooperated with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the DNR to resolve the violations alleged in the complaint. The parties reached an agreement whereby Webster would pay forfeitures and costs of $3,000, and stipulated penalties of $100 for each well construction report or water sample report not provided to the DNR in a timely manner during 2006, for a total judgment of $3,300.

In announcing the judgment, Van Hollen stressed the need for the drillers of water wells in Wisconsin to obey the law. "The Department of Justice will continue to work with the Department of Natural Resources to ensure compliance with environmental laws," Van Hollen said.

DOJ filed the lawsuit at the request of DNR. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Michael Nowakowski approved the parties' settlement. Assistant Attorneys General Jerry Hancock and Diane Milligan represented the State of Wisconsin.