 |
|
From The Chief
Welcome to the Winter 2022 issue of News Bits. This newsletter contains important updates regarding staffing, an emergency code revision, a new well compensation program and important reminders of upcoming deadlines.
-Marty Nessman, Private Water Supply Section Chief
|
From The Field
A New Face & New Roles
In January, the Private Water field team will welcome a new Specialist, Ben Degner. Ben will be covering several counties in the north-east portion of the state (formerly Sara Fry’s coverage area) and will be based in the Green Bay Service Center. Sara Fry is now the Private Water Reporting and Enforcement Coordinator and will be filling the role that was formerly long held by Sandy Hershberger.
Several members of our team have taken on the additional Field Expert roles shown below in addition to their field work:
Steve Janowiak - Private Well Contamination Response and Coordination
Adam Scheunemann - Field Enforcement and Inspections
Greg Roanhouse - Existing Installations and Property Transfer Well Inspections
Jim Kasdorf - Approvals, Variances, and Complex Well/Drillhole Situations
An updated county coverage map will be available in January once Ben Degner is on board and has been assigned a new phone number.
|
|
 |
 |
|
What's New
DNR Now Accepting Applications For ARPA Well Compensation And Well Abandonment Grant Programs
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting applications for the new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Programs. The DNR will accept applications until funding runs out.
The new programs will provide $10 million in financial assistance to well owners to address contamination in their wells by awarding grants for the replacement, reconstruction, treatment or abandonment of their well. The eligibility criteria for both programs have been expanded beyond the previous Well Compensation Grant Program, and many previously ineligible individuals will now be eligible to apply.
More information can be found in the DNR’s news release about the ARPA Well Grant Programs.
Any questions can be sent to DNRARPAWellGrants@wisconsin.gov or sent to Sandy Chancellor, DNR Grants Specialist, at Sandra.Chancellor@wisconsin.gov or 608-720-0122.
Dual Aquifers Fact Sheet Now Available
A new fact sheet about dual aquifers is now available. The fact sheet was created in response to well drillers who requested better guidance on the subject. Well drillers were encouraged via GovDelivery to provide their feedback on the draft of the fact sheet during a public comment period that concluded on Nov. 28, 2022. All feedback received was positive and no changes needed to be made to the draft of the fact sheet.
The fact sheet covers both standard dual aquifer requirements for well drillers, as well as specific requirements for the Niagara Dolomite/Maquoketa Shale formation that is found along the east side of Wisconsin.
The fact sheet can be found on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ website on either the Fact Sheets for Well Drillers and Pump Installers webpage or the Drinking Water, Groundwater and Wells Publications webpage.
If you have any questions about this fact sheet, contact Frank Fetter at Franklin.Fetter@wisconsin.gov or 608-264-6139.
|
Technology
Electronic Submission Of Well Construction Reports Will Be Required Starting Jan. 1, 2023
Starting on Jan. 1, 2023, Well Construction Reports (WCRs) will only be accepted electronically, and paper WCRs will no longer be accepted. This requirement was added in the July 1, 2020 revision to NR 812. The date was chosen to give well constructors who primarily use paper plenty of time to learn how to use and get comfortable with the electronic WCR system. The ability to enter WCRs electronically has been available since before the rule revision.
The electronic system provides several advantages over paper submissions. One advantage is that the online form is programmed to catch many common mistakes that slow down the approval and posting of WCRs on the DNR website. As a result, it cuts down the amount of back-and-forth correspondence required between DNR Private Water staff and well constructors to correct WCRs prior to approval and posting. The other advantage is the WCRs are posted and available to view on the DNR website more quickly than paper copies. Finally, electronic submissions remove the need to print expensive 5-ply forms and for the paper WCRs to be sent to a data entry contractor for keying, saving time and money.
More information, including the link for the Well Construction Report System, “how to” documents and videos on how to use the Well Construction Report System can be found on the DNR’s Information for Drillers and Pump Installers webpage. The link to the Well Construction Report System can be found under the third tab, titled “Well construction report system – drillers/pump installers.” Also included under the third tab is the link to register for a WAMS ID, which is required to access the Well Construction Report System.
Please email questions or requests to DNRWELLREPORT@wisconsin.gov.
Or to Deb Lyons-Roehl at Deborah.LyonsRoehl@wisconsin.gov or 608-267-9350
Code Revisions
Emergency Rule For Type IL Cement Approved At The December 2022 NRB Meeting
The Natural Resources Board (NRB) voted to approve Emergency Rule DG-07-22(E) at their meeting on Dec. 14, 2022. This is the emergency rule that allows the use of Type IL cement for grouting and filling and sealing wells. The emergency rule is expected to receive approval from the Governor and the Legislature and be printed in the register by the end of January 2023. Type I cement is becoming increasingly scarce, and in fact is completely unavailable in some parts of Wisconsin. Cement manufacturers are switching to Type IL cement due in part to its lower carbon footprint. Type IL cement has a higher limestone content; up to 15% as compared to 5% for Type I cement. The mixed weight is similar and its performance is comparable. Work has begun on rule language to make the emergency rule provisions permanent sometime in 2023.
Compliance
License And Registration Renewal For 2023
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends that 2022 calendar year continuing education attendance be reported by Dec. 31, 2022. Full attendance must be reported and processed before renewal eligibility is granted. Renewals processed or postmarked after Dec. 31, 2022 will have a late fee assessed.
The DNR encourages everyone to renew online through the Environmental Licensing and Certification Online Renewal Portal. Online renewals reduce the time, cost and errors associated with handling and processing paper applications that are submitted by mail. The online renewal process ensures correct fee payment, allows for acknowledgment of supervisory roles, reduces charges assessed for late renewals and the processing errors associated with late fee payments.
Renewal by mail is also available. There will be three renewal application mailings by the DNR to eligible applicants. The first mailing was sent the last week in September, the second mailing was sent the first week in November and a final mailing is scheduled for early December. Each mailing will omit those included in a previous mailing and will only be sent to those with attendance on record that fulfills continuing education requirements for the 2022 calendar year.
If you are eligible to renew and do not receive an application by mail, call 920-946-1149 or send an email request to DNRDGLicensing@wisconsin.gov. Note that you will not be included in the application mailing until your full attendance has been reported by your provider and processed by the DNR.
Sampling Requirements For Replacing A Well Cap Or Seal
It may not be obvious, but the simple act of replacing a well cap or seal on a well requires that specific samples be taken. If a well cap is replaced on a well, NR 812.46(1)(c)1 requires that a sample be taken for total coliform, nitrate and arsenic. This is required because replacing the well cap is considered a pump installing activity under the definition of “pump installation” in NR 812.07(80m). In most cases, the need to replace a well cap or seal is due to the original one being damaged or otherwise non-compliant and a sample will ensure public safety and protection of the aquifer from which the well is drawing water.
If you have any questions about this requirement, reach out to your Regional Private Water Supply Specialist, or contact Frank Fetter at 608-264-6139 or via email at Franklin.Fetter@wisconsin.gov.
|
