Hayward residents urge full environmental review of proposed biofuel plant

Several residents urged the Sawyer County Land, Water and Forest Resources Committee on Friday to slow consideration of a proposed wood‑chip biofuel refinery planned for the Johnson Timber property in Hayward and to require a professionally contracted environmental impact study.

"Bringing a biofuel plant into the community brings both benefits and risks," said Nancy Schreyer, who cited a 1,039‑page peer review from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development. Schreyer warned that risks are tied to "forest management intensity and the transitional area of land and vegetation along rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands, especially the Namakagon River," and urged use of county comprehensive plans when evaluating siting.

Ginny Chaback, who said she recently spoke to the county board about the proposal, asked the committee to "urgently request that a full environmental impact analysis be performed professionally contracted by the proposing parties" and to give the community "adequate opportunity for public response." Chaback raised questions about workforce, local housing, power and water consumption, and the storage and international transport of product.

Linda Zilmer, an Edgewater property owner with a background in energy and pollution abatement, said county authority over public health, zoning, and public financing requires more transparency and information. "If Sawyer County has set a moratorium on solar panels, I would ask you also to consider having a moratorium on a biofuels plant if that's moving forward and it needs more transparency," Zilmer said.

Committee members did not take formal action on the biofuel proposal during the meeting; the comments were recorded during the public comment period. Speakers asked the committee to weigh economic development against the county's natural‑resource base and to ensure any siting and permitting include protections for lakeshores, stream banks and wetlands that they said are critical to local tourism.

The committee did not announce next steps on the Johnson Timber proposal during the meeting.