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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a new grant program that will help Other-Than-Municipal Community and nonprofit, Non-Transient Non-Community public water systems address PFAS and manganese contamination. The Emerging Contaminants for Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program for these public water systems began accepting applications on Jan. 16.
Other-Than-Municipal Community public water systems are not owned by a government or municipality and serve groups of 25 or more year-round residents. Common examples include mobile home parks, apartment buildings, and condominium associations.
Non-Transient Non-Community public water systems are non-residential and regularly serve groups of at least 25 of the same people over six months of the year. Common examples include schools and day care centers.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of human-made chemicals used for decades in numerous products, including non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays and certain types of firefighting foam. These contaminants have made their way into the environment in a variety of ways, including spills of PFAS-containing materials, discharges of wastewater that contain PFAS from treatment plants and use of certain types of firefighting foams. PFAS are known to bioaccumulate in fish and wildlife tissues and accumulate in the human body, posing several risks to human health.
Manganese is a naturally occurring metal that can cause significant health impacts if consumed in high concentrations.
This grant funding comes at an opportune time, as Other-Than-Municipal Community and non-profit, Non-Transient Non-Community public water systems around Wisconsin are actively finishing initial PFAS testing required under § NR 809, Wis. Adm. Code.
Wisconsin is one of few states regulating two PFAS chemicals in drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, which, when finalized, would regulate six PFAS chemicals and include lower maximum contaminant levels than Wisconsin currently enforces.
The new grant program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will allow Other-Than-Municipal Community and non-profit, Non-Transient Non-Community public water systems to address and decrease their PFAS levels to meet the proposed EPA levels.
The DNR recommends that interested applicants review the Emerging Contaminants for Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant announcement for detailed information on eligibility and how to prepare an application. Questions may be emailed to DNRECSDCGrants@wisconsin.gov.
Learn more about the Emerging Contaminants for Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program for Other-Than-Municipal Community and non-profit, Non-Transient Non-Community public water systems on the program’s webpage.
DNR’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) is here to help your small business understand environmental regulations. Did you know that there are also resources available to help you go beyond compliance and improve your environmental footprint?
Businesses of all sizes are learning the importance of sustainability in the success of their organizations. It’s becoming increasingly important to consider your environmental impact to meet the needs of customers, employees, supply chains, investors, and lenders. Demonstrating that your business is environmentally responsible can have a major impact on your bottom line, helping to mitigate risks, identifying opportunities for efficiency, and increasing your customer base.
Sustainability can take a lot of different forms, so it can be hard to know which direction to go. Fortunately, there are a lot of resources available to help identify projects that are right for you. Check out the Sustainability webpage for basic information on how to get started. When you’re ready to begin making changes, Environmental Project Ideas | What's next? Going beyond the low-hanging fruit to improve your environmental footprint contains an assortment of articles, case studies, best management practices and tools to inspire your next sustainability project. The page is organized into several categories including air emissions, energy, habitat conservation and restoration, transportation, waste reduction and materials management, as well as water quality and conservation. No matter what aspect of your business you’re looking to improve, the webpage likely includes resources that can help.
The Environmental Project Ideas page was developed to help participants in DNR’s Green Tier program meet their commitment to superior environmental performance, but you don’t have to be in Green Tier to benefit from this information. The webpage is updated frequently, so check back periodically to see what’s new.
The new year is the perfect time to set new goals for your small business. Whatever your business objectives, improving your environmental impact can help you get there.
Waterways Program Seeks Comments On Proposed General Permits
The DNR Waterways Program seeks comments on five general permits related to activities in navigable waterways. The program is proposing to reissue three statewide general permits that have expired. No significant changes to eligibility standards are proposed: GP6 for fish and wildlife habitat structures; GP14 for US Forest Service projects; GP19 for permanent boat shelters.
The program also proposes to issue two new statewide general permits. Statewide GP22 would cover hydrologic restoration activities in waterways and wetlands with a net environmental benefit. Statewide GP25 would cover contaminated sediment removal projects in Areas of Concern (AOC).
To view the draft general permits and related application checklists, see Waterways Permitting Process.
There will be a public hearing for these proposed general permits, where the DNR will provide a short overview of covered activities for each permit and provide time for verbal public comments.
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What: GP6, GP14, GP19, GP22 and GP25 Public Hearing
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When: Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, 3-4:30 p.m.
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Where: Virtual: Join this meeting on Microsoft Teams; Join by phone: 1-608-571-2209; Phone Conference ID: 479 935 560#
The DNR is inviting written comments on these proposed permits. Please send comments via email by the end of the business day on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 to Tom Pearce.
Webinar On EPA's Proposed Rule: Clarifying The Scope Of “Applicable Requirements” Under State And Federal Operating Permit Programs
The EPA has proposed to update its regulations to more clearly reflect the EPA’s existing interpretations and policies concerning when and whether “applicable requirements” established in certain Clean Air Act (CAA) programs should be reviewed, modified, and/or implemented through the CAA’s title V operating permits program. Specifically, this action would clarify EPA’s position on the limited situations in which requirements under the New Source Review (NSR) preconstruction permitting program would be reviewed using the EPA’s unique title V oversight authorities. Additionally, this action would clarify that requirements related to the general duty to prevent accidental releases of hazardous substances are not “applicable requirements” for title V purposes. EPA will accept comment on this proposed action through Mar. 11, 2024.
The informational webinar for regulated community members is on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 2:00-3:30 pm Central.
Join ZoomGov Meeting: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1619460652
Issues & Trends Webinar Jan. 31, 2024: When Should A Site Investigation Enter Surface Water
The Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program’s next webinar in the Issues & Trends series will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, from noon-1 p.m.
The scheduled presentation is titled When Should a Site Investigation Enter Surface Water and will be followed by time for questions. Site investigation scoping is the first step to developing a site investigation work plan. This webinar will highlight what information to evaluate at sediment sites during site investigation scoping. It will also cover potential pathways for contamination to enter surface water.
The Zoom web conferencing registration link is on the RR Program’s Conferences and Training webpage.
Recordings of previous Issues & Trends webinars are in the RR Program’s Training Library.
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