Judge says Racine can divert water for Foxconn

RACINE, Wis. (AP) — A judge has ruled in favor of Racine’s plans to divert millions of gallons of water from Lake Michigan for Foxconn Technology Group.

State administrative law Judge Brian Hayes decided that Racine’s plans to sell water to the village of Mount Pleasant for the Foxconn manufacturing complex meets the requirements of the Great Lakes Compact.

Environmental groups argued the diversion wasn’t for “public water supply purposes” and therefore violated the terms of the compact which was created to protect the Great Lakes from those outside the basin.

The Journal Sentinel reports Hayes said the compact also allows for diversions for industrial and commercial users. The state Department of Natural Resources had earlier approved Racine’s bid for the water.