"Wisconsin citizens have the right to expect electric utilities to comply with our water pollution laws, violations of which can threaten the health and safety of our communities, our clean water and animal habitat," said Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager, in a written statement. <

WPL did have a wastewater treatment plant at the Columbia power plant and it worked "reasonably well" under normal conditions, Schoenherr said. But when Columbia was shut down for maintenance and 200 to 300 contractors came on-site for the work, the treatment plant "did not have the capacity to keep up," he said. <

Schoenherr said Alliant received notice of the violations from the state Department of Natural Resources in February 2003 and from Wisconsin Environmental Law Advocates last fall. Alliant is negotiating with both groups, he said, and expects to negotiate with the attorney general's office, as well. <

"We want to resolve the issue and do it in a cost-effective manner," said Schoenherr. <

Most of the problems can be eliminated with a wastewater treatment facility being installed at the Columbia power plant, he said. It's expected to begin operating this summer. In the meantime, wastewater is being hauled to the city of Portage for treatment, he said. <

Schoenherr did not have estimates available on the cost of transporting the water or of the new water treatment plant. <

The civil complaint asks for a court order requiring compliance with WPL's wastewater discharge permit for the Columbia plant. Wisconsin law provides for forfeitures of up to $10,000 for each violation. <

The allegations against Alliant contrast with the company's conservation efforts in the area. Alliant sponsors Riverland Conservancy, a non-profit land trust founded in 1997, with holdings that include about 2,000 acres of wetlands, prairie, oak savanna and river bluffs in Wisconsin and Iowa. <