Environmental Week in Preview – Week of June 24th, 2013
June 25th, 2013 – The Wastewater Operator Certification Workgroup will hold a public meeting regarding its continuing work on the revisions to the Ponds, Lagoons & Natural Systems study guide and certification exam for waterwater treatment plant operators.
June 26th, 2013 – The Natural Resources Board will hold a meeting in Wausau. The agenda includes request for hearing authorization for two rule revision proposals: certification requirements of wastewater treatment works operators (ch. NR 114) and proposed changes to shoreland zoning standards (ch. NR 115). There are also a number of requests for approval of scope statements including: revisions to the Safe Drinking Loan Program (ch. NR 166), the Clean Water Fund Program (ch. NR 162), the Safe Drinking Water Act (ch. NR 809) and geothermal licensing (ch. NR 280).
June 26th, 2013 – The DNR will hold a public open house on the final determination on the U.S. Army’s proposal of alternative clean-up strategies for contaminated soil found in the Final Creek, settling ponds and the spoils disposal areas of the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant. The DNR’s final determination selects the Army’s plan to excavate the contaminated soil and dispose of the soil in an approved landfill.
What to look for in the coming weeks:
June 30th, 2013: The DNR is accepting comments on the updates to the Wisconsin Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methods (WisCALM) guidance for assessing water quality and listing impaired waters for surface waters of the state.
July 1, 2013: On June 17th, 2013, Gogebic Taconite, LLC submitted to the DNR a plan that outlines five sites where the company is proposing to excavate and sample rock to assess the quality and quantity of the mineral deposit. The DNR has until July 1, 2013 to review the plan and provide comments to Gogebic Taconite and notify the company of the necessary approvals needed to proceed with the bulk sampling. The DNR has stated that it will provide an opportunity for input during a public comment period and at a public informational meeting planned for later this summer. The meeting is intended to focus on the company’s bulk sampling and the pre-application project description.
July 5, 2013: The DNR is accepting comments on its proposed revisions to the guidance for implementation of the thermal water quality standards.
