Environmental Week in Preview – Week of January 13, 2014
January 13, 2014: Comments are due on the proposed DNR guidance on exempting low-hazard wastes from solid waste regulations. Examples of wastes that have in the past been granted low-hazard waste exemptions include: wood wastes from manufacturing process (as livestock bedding); high-salt wastewaters from food plants (as highway deicers); contaminated sediments (as fill material) and screened street sweepings (as fill).
January 14, 2014: The DNR will hold a public hearing on the air pollution control permit application for the proposed facility modification at the Nekoosa Mill. The permit application includes plans and specifications for the modification of three existing solid fuel burners to combust natural gas only, construction and operation of a wood waste storage silo and handling process and operation of an existing paper mill. In addition the permittee has requested an alternate sulfur dioxide emission limit as allowed under s. NR 417.07(5), Wis. Admin. Code for the boilers after modification.
January 14, 2014: The Division of Hearings and Appeals will hold a contested case public hearing in the matter whether land located in the Town of Lac du Flambeau, Vilas County, owned by the Fence Lake Lodge Properties, Inc. and enrolled under Forest Crop Law should be withdraw from the program.
January 16, 2014: The Division of Hearings and Appeals will hold a contested case public hearing in the matter of a conditional high capacity well approval for two potable wells to be located in the Town of New Chester, Adams County issued to New Chester Dairy, Inc. and Milk Source Holdings, LLC.
January 16, 2014: Comments are due on the proposed DNR guidance document regarding unauthorized dams.
What to look for in coming weeks:
January 22, 2014: The agenda for the Natural Resources Board meeting includes the adoption of two rule packages relating to air pollution. The first rule package affects chapter NR 446 related to the control of mercury emitted by coal-fired electric generating units (EGUs). The current rule requires coal-fired EGUs to comply with a second, more stringent control requirement beginning on January 1, 2015. The proposed rule will change the initial compliance date to April 16, 2016. The second rule package relates to chapters NR 400, 405, 408 and 410. The proposed rules are necessary to correct deficiencies identified by U.S. EPA and to ensure that the DNR implements its major new source review permit programs consistent with the Clean Air Act. The rule package also includes revisions relating to chapters NR 400 and NR 410 relating to the former indirect source permit program.
