EM Insight 2023 Quarter 4: October - December

Quarterly News and Highlights From the Environmental Management (EM) Division

"Waving Goodbye to Summer" photo by Nathan Schleuder. 2015 Great Waters Photo Contest entry. The photo shows a red and yellow leaf on a sandy beach with a wave coming into shore in the distance. The leaf is bent upward toward the water as it if were waving goodbye to the summer. — "Waving Goodbye to Summer" by Nathan Schleuder. 2015 Great Waters Photo Contest. Photo Credit: Nathan Schleuder

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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 October - December 2023.

PFAS Updates

Results Of Statewide PFAS Sampling In Private Wells Published

In Nov. 2023, the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology published results from the DNR's study into the occurrence of PFAS in Wisconsin's shallow groundwater. Over 95% of Wisconsin's communities and about 70% of Wisconsin residents rely on groundwater for their drinking water supply. For this study, the DNR's Drinking Water and Groundwater Program partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) and the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) to collect 450 water samples from shallow private wells across Wisconsin. The samples were tested for 44 PFAS and other organic and inorganic compounds. PFAS have been detected in groundwater in some areas of the state, but the overall prevalence in groundwater before this study was unknown.

REINS Act Requires DNR To Stop Rulemaking For PFAS In Groundwater

In Dec. 2023, the DNR announced that rulemaking to set enforceable standards for PFAS in groundwater had stopped. During analysis of the proposed rule's economic impact, the DNR estimated that costs related to implementation of the rule would exceed $10 million for a 2-year period. As required by state statutes, the DNR stopped work on the proposed rule and notified the state legislature of the estimated costs. The state legislature will need to grant the DNR authority to continue the rulemaking process for setting PFAS standards in groundwater. This was the DNR's second attempt to set standards for PFAS in groundwater in recent years. Information about these rulemaking attempts is available on the DNR's NR 140 Groundwater Quality Standards Update webpage.

Headline News

Air Quality Trends Report And StoryMap

The DNR released the annual Air Quality Trends Report in October. The report includes state monitoring data through 2022. While concentrations of the pollutants measured (i.e., ozone, fine particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and lead) have decreased over the last two decades, in recent years, the report shows two of the most harmful pollutants - ozone and fine particulates - have decreased only modestly.

"Wisconsin has implemented many programs that have reduced emissions of ozone-causing pollutants from power plants, industry and transportation in the state,” said Gail Good, DNR Air Management Program Director. “However, these emission reductions have not resulted in attainment because most sources of ozone-causing emissions are outside of the state's control."

As part of a massive air quality research campaign, the DNR partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several universities to better understand ozone formation chemistry and emission sources driving ozone formation.

To better illustrate the latest air quality trends, the DNR updated the interactive StoryMap, which shows Wisconsin's air quality trends for each pollutant over the last 20 years. This tool, launched with last year's trends report, provides a more user-friendly visual way to convey complex air quality data.

Largest Ever Cleanup Under Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Announced For Milwaukee Area Of Concern

On Oct. 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), public officials and state and local partners announced funding for the largest cleanup project ever to be implemented under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Legacy Act.

Under a new project agreement between EPA and five non-federal sponsors, an estimated investment of $450 million will go toward the cleanup of nearly two million cubic yards of contaminated sediments from the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern (AOC). The new project agreement reflects a partnership between EPA, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, We Energies, the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County Parks and the DNR.

These five partners will contribute over $170 million to implement the project — the largest non-federal sponsor contribution to a Great Lakes Legacy Act cleanup. EPA will contribute an estimated $275 million in funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Historical industrial activity caused significant pollution accumulation in the sediments at the bottom of Milwaukee Harbor and the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers. This long-awaited cleanup will lead to improved public health and safety, better water quality, healthy fish and wildlife, improved recreational opportunities and community revitalization.

EPA Approves TMDL Study For Northeast Lakeshore Of Wisconsin

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the Northeast Lakeshore Total Maximum Daily Loads for Total Phosphorus and Total Suspended Solids study in Dec. 2023

A total maximum daily load (TMDL) summarizes the amount of phosphorus run-off from agricultural sources that a watershed can handle without negative impacts. Following Wis. Stats. 281.145, the DNR was directed to develop a watershed study to reduce the amount of nutrients entering waters within the Lake Michigan watershed from just south of Sturgeon Bay to Port Washington and reaching west toward Lake Winnebago.

The multi-year study received state funding and EPA contractor support to develop a detailed watershed model that allows the DNR to evaluate nutrient dynamics and create a plan to move forward. With the EPA's approval, the DNR will collaborate with partners throughout the basin to implement efforts toward meeting the goals outlined in the study.

The DNR's website contains copies of the total maximum daily load study and supporting information.

Resources And Website Spotlight

Air Reporting System Updates

The DNR updated the Air Reporting System (ARS), a web-based program used by facilities to submit Emissions Inventory (EI), EI Certification or an Under-Thresholds-Notification (UTN). Learn more about Air Reporting on the EI webpage.

The 2024 reporting season ARS updates include:

A refreshed EI report format, including the ability to export select EI report tables from ARS to Microsoft Excel to allow for easier data quality assurance (QA).
New QA checks with respect to s. NR 445.07, Wis. Adm. Code and associated data entry requirements for stack height, exhaust gas discharge direction and whether stacks are obstructed.
Information bubbles for clarification purposes.

The updates improve the user experience and allow the DNR to offer more user-friendly tools to their customers. All updates were available for the 2024 reporting season and for reporting calendar year 2023 data.

The DNR also hosted a webinar on Wednesday, Dec. 6 and walked users through the new system, highlighted the updates and answered questions from attendees. The second annual webinar had over 500 attendees.

Municipalities Have A New Tool For Fighting Vapor Intrusion

The recently launched Vapor Intrusion for Local Governments webpage provides municipal stakeholders with content on vapor intrusion prevention and planning resources, health information, ways of locating contaminated sites, and considerations for development or redevelopment.

Designed with the unique needs of local municipalities in mind, the site gives government decision-makers readily available information about this health risk and information on how to incorporate it into their daily work on items such as permitting, redevelopment, road work and planning.

Additionally, a new landing page was created to organize vapor intrusion resources into three main categories and provide a streamlined path to the vapor intrusion information each group needs. These groups are local governments, environmental professionals and property owners, occupants and the public.

The vapor intrusion webpage project aims to provide support and guidance for local governments and encourage partnership with the DNR's Remediation and Redevelopment Program to protect Wisconsin's residents.

Annual Awards And Awareness Campaigns

Imagine A Day Without Water

On Oct. 19, 2023, the DNR recognized Imagine a Day Without Water, a national day of education and action to unite how communities and policymakers view, manage and protect water.

The DNR highlighted the importance of supporting water infrastructure updates. Wisconsin will receive over $900 million through 2026 to improve the state's drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, focusing on equitable investment in water systems, particularly for small and disadvantaged communities.

Additionally, most Wisconsinites don't have to think about where their water comes from daily, but in 2023, many regions in Wisconsin experienced drought, prompting residents to think about water-related questions. The DNR created a new Drought webpage to help answer questions about managing water during drought.

Water is necessary for daily life, irreplaceable and in need of continuous investment. Imagine a Day Without Water is a call for investment in water systems and education about water's critical role in human survival.

DNR Celebrates Wisconsin Recycling Excellence

In November, the DNR recognized several communities and organizations for their recycling and waste reduction work.

The 2023 award winners formed partnerships, engaged community members and implemented systems and equipment to achieve their waste reduction and recycling goals. Their efforts resulted in many tons of materials diverted from the landfill, cost-savings for residents, businesses and communities, and increased access to donation, recycling and disposal services. Find profiles of the winners on the Wisconsin Recycling Excellence Awards webpage.