Advocates sue DNR over water records for Foxconn diversion

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An environmental-law center is suing the state Department of Natural Resources over the agency’s refusal to hand over records related to diverting Lake Michigan water for the plant Foxconn Technology Group is building in southeast Wisconsin.

Midwest Environmental Advocates challenged the DNR’s approval in May of the city of Racine’s request to pull millions of gallons from the lake daily for the plant.

Midwest Environmental Advocates then filed a lawsuit on Dec. 3 alleging the DNR hadn’t fully complied with a request, submitted in August, for records relating to the diversion. The DNR supplied some records in October but withheld others, saying the documents were protected under attorney-client privilege or were drafts.

The lawsuit demands a judge either order the records be released or confirm they’re drafts or are subject to attorney-client privilege.

Jim Dick, a spokesman for the DNR, declined to comment on the dispute.