About_Content Page_EM Insight 2022 Q2

EM Insight 2022 Quarter 2: April - June

Quarterly news and highlights from the Environmental Management (EM) Division

"Breaking Dawn" by Matt Bourke. Algoma, WI.
"Sailing at Sunset" by Sue Mangan

The EM Insight is a quarterly report from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Environmental Management (EM) Division that profiles some of the great results that our staff, teams and partnerships have achieved. The division is pleased to present the following highlights of our work from April - June 2022.

If you'd like to learn more about any item you read about below, feel free to reach out to the contact listed under each item.

In this edition

 PFAS Updates

PFAS-Containing Firefighting Foam

The DNR's Office of Emerging Contaminants added a new resource to the PFAS-containing Firefighting Foam website to help firefighters minimize occupational exposure to PFAS. A video produced by Michigan’s PFAS Action Response Team provides an overview of risks associated with PFAS-containing firefighting foam and best practices to minimize risk to the firefighter and the environment. Some portions of this video are specific to Michigan’s laws or incident reporting procedures, but the background information about PFAS-containing firefighting foam applies to firefighters in Wisconsin.  

PFAS External Advisory Group and Technical Group

This quarter, the Office of Emerging Contaminants hosted two virtual meetings each for the PFAS Technical Group and PFAS External Advisory Group. In April, industry representatives joined the PFAS Technical Group to share information about innovative treatment and remediation technologies for PFAS-contaminated drinking water, groundwater and wastewater. The PFAS External Advisory Group met in an ad hoc meeting to collaborate on ideas for implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Wisconsin.

In June, representatives from Clean Production and NSF met with the PFAS Technical Group to discuss third-party certification for products including firefighting foam and water filtration. This discussion included the process for setting certification standards and steps companies must take to acquire certification. The PFAS External Advisory Group built off that information by discussing the DNR’s role in approving or certifying products.  

 Headline News

The DNR Makes it Easier for the Public to Weigh in on Air Quality Issues

The DNR’s Air Management Program recently rolled out a new Air Permit public involvement webpage to help citizens engage in the air permit process. The webpage assists the public in finding recent air permit actions and air permit input opportunities. The page maintains critical information the public needs to follow air permit applications through final permit decisions and is enhanced with more background information and resources. When users visit the webpage, they have the option to review any of the resources posted on the page or visit the three permit tables highlighting different steps of the permit process:  

Visit the DNR’s new Public Involvement webpage for links to resources and more information.

DNR Receives First Infrastructure Funds

In May, the DNR received funding from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). This was the first BIL funding that the EPA had awarded to any Region 5 state, which includes Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and 35 Tribes.

Funds will be used to continue conducting cleanup at the former Penta Wood Products Superfund site in Burnett County, near Siren, Wisconsin. Christine Haag, Director of the DNR Remediation and Redevelopment Program, states “This funding will be critical…to achieving our ultimate goal, cleanup and closure of this Superfund site.” Penta Wood Products was designated by the EPA as a federal Superfund site in 1996. The DNR has been working in partnership with the EPA through two phases of cleanup that have spanned several decades. With this significant injection of federal funding, the first phase of this latest cleanup effort was started this summer and will continue into the winter.

DNR Awards Grants to Rural Communities for Recycling Electronics

In June, the DNR announced more than $85,000 in E-Cycle Wisconsin Electronics Collection Grants for 15 projects in 13 counties that will host an electronics collection site or event in 2022 or the first half of 2023. The grants will help fund three permanent electronics collection sites and up to 16 one-day collection events.

The grant program created by 2021 Wisconsin Act 79 gives priority to projects in counties that do not have any permanent collection sites registered under E-Cycle Wisconsin. Money for the grants comes from fees electronics manufacturers pay under E-Cycle Wisconsin to ensure the proper collection and recycling of used electronics.

DNR Survey Finds More Households Recycling or Reusing Unwanted Electronics

A DNR survey of state households conducted in 2021 highlights how many electronics are in Wisconsin households, trends in consumer awareness, electronics recycling behavior and barriers that prevent residents from recycling electronics. Although recycling or reusing unwanted electronics increased since 2018, the last time this survey was conducted, many residents still face barriers to recycling electronics.

Of the estimated 25.2 million devices in Wisconsin households, 7.6 million devices were not in use – about 17% of TVs, 26% of computers and 44% of cellphones. This was an 18% decrease from the estimated 9.3 million unused devices in the DNR’s 2018 survey. Among households that had stopped using a device during the previous year, more chose to recycle or reuse, rather than store, the devices compared with 2018.

Summer Issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine Available Now

The Natural Resources Magazine dedicated eight pages and the cover art to the topic of food waste in the summer issue. The DNR's 2020-2021 Statewide Waste Characterization Study showed that wasted food was the top waste thrown away, with food scraps the third top waste, in municipal solid waste landfills in 2020. The articles discuss these results, why food waste in landfills is an issue and what we can do to prevent waste from occurring or how to divert it from landfills. The summer issue was promoted heavily on social media and was handed out at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Aesthetics Impairment Lifted in Lower Green Bay and Fox River Area of Concern

The DNR lifted the Degradation of Aesthetics Beneficial Use Impairment from the Lower Green Bay and Fox River Area of Concern. This is the third impairment removed for this Area of Concern, marking progress in cleaning up historical pollution and restoring waterways. Once all impairments meet their targets and are removed, the Lower Green Bay and Fox River can be removed from the list of most polluted sites on the Great Lakes.

Actions included remediating contaminated sediment; increasing public green space and recreational opportunities; restoring fish and wildlife habitats, and implementing watershed management plans for the Lower Fox River Basin to reduce sources of phosphorus and sediment pollution in runoff flowing to the river and bay.

Local partners conducted an aesthetics monitoring program over several years to collect water quality data and gauge public perceptions of aesthetic values through surveys. Results showed that the aesthetics in the Lower Green Bay and Fox River Area of Concern have improved. To learn more about the decision to lift this impairment, see the Impairment Removal Package.

 Focus on Science

Drinking water and Groundwater Study Group Updates

The Drinking Water and Groundwater Study Group met on May 26, 2022 via Zoom for their second quarterly meeting of the year. The topics presented and discussed at the meeting included updates related to PFAS and internal updates from the Drinking Water and Groundwater program. A recording of the meeting can be found on the study group webpage.

The study group meets quarterly and meetings are open to the public. Subscribe to receive Study Group updates if you are interested in attending future meetings.

A site tour of the proposed Dredged Material Management Facility for the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern

A site tour of the proposed Dredged Material Management Facility for the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern was held at Port Milwaukee on June 13. This in-person event was an opportunity for people to learn more about:

  • Efforts to clean up pollution and restore the health of Milwaukee’s waterways.
  • The existing facility where contaminated material is placed.  
  • Where the contaminated material from Milwaukee’s rivers and harbor will be placed after the new structure is built.
  • Next steps for the ongoing cleanup efforts.

People also shared their comments and ideas with the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern Community Advisory Committee. A virtual tour was recorded and is available online for those unable to attend in person. The public event was sponsored by the Waterway Restoration Partnership; the DNR is one of 23 partners in this group.

Wisconsin Safety Conference - Is Your Facility on the Right Path to Environmental Compliance?  

Staff from the Small Business Environmental Assistance program recently presented at the Wisconsin Safety Conference, The Wisconsin Safety Council’s annual conference for industrial safety professionals. Industrial safety staff are often tasked with environmental compliance as well and may not have an environmental background in their education. The goal of the presentation was to explain the thresholds for different environmental permits and requirements, including air pollution, waste and wastewater. It also provided reminders on the DNR’s and the EPA’s reporting requirements and deadlines, including EPCRA reports due to Wisconsin Emergency Management.

Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expo (MOHEE)

Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expo, MOHEE, held at the McKenzie Center, is an event that consistently draws over two thousand students, primarily in grades 4-8. Staff from Waste and Materials Management hosted a display and game about recycling, e-cycling, solid waste and food waste trivia. Students enthusiastically waited in line to answer trivia questions about waste and received a small prize for playing. The questions emphasize waste reduction and reuse, the benefits of recycling and waste terminology. Over 1,100 students visited this booth over the course of the two-day event.

DNR Helps Shine Light on Water Protection at Lakes and Rivers Convention

The DNR was the lead sponsor for the 2022 Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention, an annual event held during Wisconsin Water Week in April. Nine staff from the DNR participated in the planning committee for this year’s conference, working with partners to develop an engaging conference with the theme “Protecting What We Love for the Future.” The DNR staff members joined water resources partners from around the Midwest to discuss a range of water science and conservation issues at the event, with hands-on workshops and presentations about protecting and restoring our water resources.

The Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention is hosted by the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership, which joins science, education and citizens to empower people to work together to care for our lakes. The Partnership has three core partners: the DNR, which supplies scientific research, technical expertise, funding and regulatory authority; the Extension Lakes Program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, which provides supporting educational materials and programs; and the statewide non-profit Wisconsin Lakes, which mobilizes citizens to be advocates for lakes. The Wisconsin Lakes & Rivers Convention is the partnership’s annual event. Its purpose is to celebrate the work of volunteer monitors and community partners while continuing to grow collaborative programs that ensure healthy lakes, rivers and shorelines.

DNR Staff Hold Interactive Workshop for Surface Water Grants Applicants

The Surface Water Grant program provides over $6 million annually to local governments and grass-roots organizations to support their lake, river and wetland projects. The program is large and competitive, so project development and grant writing can make or break the success of a grant application.

At an annual event held during Wisconsin Water Week in April, four Water Quality employees, alongside representatives from the Bureau of Community Financial Assistance held an interactive program orientation and grant writing workshop to help local applicants navigate the coming grant cycle, design impactful projects, and successfully compete for Surface Water Grant funding.

The workshop introduced prospective grantees to the DNR’s Surface Water Grant program, explained its funding opportunities, and gave tips on project development and project management. The workshop included a section on grant writing and ranking that featured interactive exercises for participants to learn and practice grant writing skills. Regional biologists and grant program staff provided information, feedback and assistance to workshop attendees. Hopefully, the educational opportunity provided will help new and developing organizations.

Air Management Study Group

The Air Management Study Group is a stakeholder advisory group formed in 2013 by DNR’s Air Management Program. The group meets quarterly and serves as a forum for the program to receive input from and provide information to stakeholder organizations. The goal of the study group is to provide Air Management with constructive feedback on policy and technical issues and to work collaboratively with DNR staff to find workable solutions. Topics and discussion at the May meeting included a summary of the latest proposed guidance, rules and legislative updates, NR428, public involvement web updates, the annual network monitoring plan, bipartisan infrastructure, Clean Energy Plan, an electric vehicle study, ozone topics, updates from AMSG members and Clean Air Month. The public can sign up to receive notifications of meetings by visiting the Air Quality News and Subscription webpage and selecting Air Management Study Group.

 Annual Awards and Awareness Campaigns

Clean Air Month

Each May, the Air Management Program reflects on the accomplishments of the last year to celebrate Clean Air Month and the clean air we breathe. Wisconsin's air quality has been improving since the implementation of the Clean Air Act in 1970 and continues to improve as noted in the most recent Air Quality Trends Report. Also, this year, the DNR opened a new air quality display at the Sanderling Nature Center in Kohler-Andrea State Park. The display focuses on the air quality monitor and state-of-the-art equipment onsite at the nature center which is viewable from the center or the beach. Air Management also held its 11th annual Air, Air Everywhere poetry contest. Air Management received dozens of great submissions, with 5th grader Naomi Tost from Maple Park Charter School in Lake Geneva being selected as the winner.

Drinking Water Week

In celebration of National Drinking Water Week, May 1-7, 2022, the DNR highlighted the importance of drinking water management for the safety, quality, and availability of drinking water. Through social media posts, the DNR recognized the tireless work that water professionals in the Drinking Water and Groundwater Program do to ensure that we all can enjoy nature’s most precious resource. Learn more about National Drinking Water Week.

 Website Spotlight

Guidance documents (RR-060 and RR-502)

The Remediation and Redevelopment Program recently published two documents of note: RR-060 and RR-502.

RR-060, Guidance for Management of Contaminated Soil and Other Solid Wastes (Wis. Admin Code §§ NR 718.12, NR 718.15), is intended for use by responsible parties when excavating contaminated soil and other solid waste that may not warrant disposal at an operating, licensed landfill. The guidance describes several approvals that may be available in such situations.

RR-502, Selecting a Qualified Environmental Consultant FAQs, is intended to help responsible parties and others understand how to select a qualified environmental consultant to investigate and clean up soil, groundwater, sediment and other contaminated environmental media per Wis. Stat. Ch. 292 and Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 700-799. Hiring a qualified environmental consultant is needed to investigate and remediate any property in accordance with local, state and federal rules.  

Three Spanish-language guidance documents

The DNR published Spanish versions of three recycling and hazardous waste-related documents.

El DNR publicó versiónes en español de tres documentos de reciclaje y residuos peligrosos.

Wisconsin Plant Recovery Initiative (WPRI) web page redesign

Wisconsin Plant Recovery Initiative (WPRI) is an effort by the DNR to help businesses and communities expedite the cleanup and reuse of industrial and/or commercial facilities that have or are planning to shut their doors.

The web page has been redesigned to organize and spotlight important information, contacts and databases helpful in the cleanup and redevelopment process.

New Online Resources Available for Printing Facilities

The DNR and printing industry, represented by state and national associations, have been working together since 2015 to implement the Wisconsin Printing Industry Superior Environmental Performance Charter under Green Tier.  The Charter was a natural outcome of a long-standing partnership between the DNR and industry representatives working to help Wisconsin printing facilities improve their environmental compliance.

To support the efforts of small printing operations to comply with environmental requirements, industry representatives have often stated that owners and operators need a straightforward guide to explain which permits, reports and notifications to file and when they are due.  The DNR’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) compiled resources from multiple DNR programs with reports, notifications and permit actions that likely apply to printers and added them to the “Permits and Reports” tab on the Printer Portal webpage. The Permits and Reports tab also includes information on reports to Wisconsin Emergency Management and the EPA, as well as brief instructions on how to gain access to the online reporting/notification and permit systems from each agency.

 Social Media Spotlight

April 15: Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant (3,084 engagements, 341 reactions, 243 likes)

May 3: Drinking Water Week (155 engagements, 53 reactions, 51 likes)

May 9: How many electronics are stored in homes, how to recycle them (1,199 engagements, 108 reactions, 106 likes)

June 27: Wisconsin Clean Sweep events in July (1,852 engagements, 220 reactions, 217 likes)