Environmental Loans June 2024 Newsletter
The Environmental Loans programs provide affordable financial assistance to Wisconsin communities for water infrastructure projects that protect and improve public health and water quality for current and future generations.
New Market Rate Effective July 1
The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) will increase the market rate for assistance agreements approved by a borrower’s governing body on or after July 1, 2024, that have a final maturity of 20 years or less to 4.300%, and of 21-30 years to 4.500%. Learn about the market and interest rates for the Clean Water Fund Program and the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program on the DNR’s Interest Rates webpage.
Note that the DOA has not increased the market rates since July 2022. Please direct any questions or concerns to DOA staff at DOAEIF@wisconsin.gov.
Upcoming Deadlines And Events
The notice of intent to apply, application, and loan closing deadlines are set in the corresponding program's annual intended use plan and are available on DNR's Project Lists and Intended Use Plans webpage.
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July 1*: Application deadline if competing for principal forgiveness for the state fiscal year 2025 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program funding cycle. The DNR recommends that all applicants (including those not competing for principal forgiveness) submit an application by the July 1 deadline due to potential limitations on loan capacity. See the Loan Capacity webpage for more information. Note the following reminders:
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Submit plans and specifications to the DNR Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater in addition to submitting them with the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program application.
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The priority score and initial eligibility determination reevaluation request period opens up a day after the application deadline and runs for thirty days.
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July 1*: Readiness-to-proceed deadline for the state fiscal year 2024 Clean Water Fund Program principal forgiveness projects. All required bid documentation, including executed construction contracts, are due.
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Sept. 25: Final loan closing date for the state fiscal year 2024 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program projects.
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Sept. 30: Application deadline if competing for principal forgiveness for the state fiscal year 2025 Clean Water Fund Program funding cycle. The DNR recommends that all applicants (including those not competing for principal forgiveness) submit an application by the Sept. 30 deadline due to potential limitations on loan capacity. See the Loan Capacity webpage for more information. Note the following reminders:
- Submit the plans and specifications to the DNR Bureau of Water Quality and with the Clean Water Fund Program application.
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Priority score reevaluation requests are due within 30 days of the Clean Water Fund Program application deadline date.
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Sept. 30: Last recommended date for submitting rate applications to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for the state fiscal year 2025 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program projects.
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September 2024: DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2025 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program draft funding list.
- Oct. 31: Notice of intent to apply deadline for the state fiscal year 2026 Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program funding cycles.
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November 2024: DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2025 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program final funding list.
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December 2024: DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2025 Clean Water Fund Program funding list.
*If a deadline falls on a weekend or legal holiday, that deadline is extended to the next business day, per s. 990.001(4), Wis. Stats.
2023 Financial Audit Reminder
This is a friendly reminder regarding your municipality's executed Clean Water Fund Program or Safe Drinking Water Loan Program financial assistant agreement (loan).
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Submit a copy of your municipality's audited 2023 financial statements to DOAEIF@wisconsin.gov by June 30, 2024.
Additionally, please advise your auditor to include the Environmental Improvement Fund in their e-distribution list upon finalization of the audit. For municipalities that do not engage in an audit, submit a copy of your municipality's 2023 sewer/water utility financial statements (including the balance sheet and income/expense statements).
If only a hard copy is available, please mail it to:
State of Wisconsin-Environmental Improvement Fund, 10th Floor
PO BOX 7864
Madison, WI 53707-7864
Thank you for your cooperation and prompt attention to this matter.
Background: In accordance with the requirements, terms and conditions of your municipality's Clean Water Fund Program or Safe Drinking Water Loan Program loan and s. Adm 35.07, Wis. Stats., it is imperative that you promptly submit to the Wisconsin Department of Administration a copy of your municipality's audited financial statements. An audit must be completed within 180 days following the end of each fiscal year (December 31) that the loan is outstanding.
Revised Land Ownership And Easements Documentation Requirements
The DNR Environmental Loans Section is streamlining its land ownership and easements documentation requirements to better align the process with customer needs. Effective with the state fiscal year 2025 financing, all Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program applicants must submit to DNR a Land Ownership and Easement Rights Certification (Form 8700-033) rather than a legal opinion written by the municipality's attorney.
However, the DNR may require the applicant to submit a legal opinion in addition to or in lieu of a certification when it is necessary, as determined by the DNR, to establish land ownership or easement rights, or both, of the project site. Examples of when the DNR may require a legal opinion in addition to or in lieu of a certification include:
- Projects for which new land is being purchased by the applicant.
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Or, when the applicant is extending its facilities onto land on which no municipally owned infrastructure was previously located.
Exception: An applicant is not required to submit a land ownership and easement rights certification form or legal opinion for portions of a project that include removal of lead service lines or galvanized pipe on private property.
Additional information and instructions are available on the DNR's Land Ownership and Easement Rights webpage.
Recording And Slides Available For SFY 2025 SDWLP Draft IUP Webinar
On June 5, 2024, the Wisconsin DNR held a webinar to discuss the State Fiscal Year 2025 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Draft Intended Use Plan. The webinar was recorded:
On June 6, 2024, the Wisconsin DNR held a webinar about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded Lead Service Line Replacement Program to discuss program details and tips that were not covered in the webinar above and to take questions. The webinar was recorded:
- BIL-funded LSL Program [VIDEO Length 1:26:23]
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Slide show handout (Updated June 12, 2024: Please note that slide 21 in the pdf of the LSL presentation has been corrected [Manitowoc example]. The corresponding slide used in the webinar presentation utilized the wrong calculation.)
Welcome Two New Loan Project Managers
We are pleased to announce that two new project managers have joined the Environmental Loans Section. Please give a warm welcome to Cameron Batchelor and Dan Noreika!
Currently, they are learning about project manager and loan disbursement responsibilities and will eventually work towards developing their own specialty areas as well. Both are working out of the Bureau of Community Financial Assistance in the DNR's Central Office in downtown Madison. Cameron and Dan started their positions on April 22, 2024. The following are short bios to help you get to know them better.
Cameron Batchelor
Originally from North Carolina, I am a Geologist with a background in paleoclimatology. In my research, I use cave deposits, or stalagmites, to reconstruct past climate to better understand the future effects of climate change on our environment. For my Ph.D., I studied a local Wisconsin cave: Cave of the Mounds. Then, I spent the last two years studying subarctic Canadian caves while a Postdoc at MIT in Boston.
I am excited to be back in Wisconsin and start my first professional position outside of academia in state government! When not at work, I am hiking through Wisconsin prairies, biking to a Cidery or running along a lake path. I also am an avid reality TV watcher (especially Survivor). I look forward to meeting everyone!
Contact Cameron at 608-228-1025 or Cameron.Batchelor@wisconsin.gov.
Cameron Batchelor smiles while standing in front of a small stream with lush, green banks at Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Wisconsin on May 24, 2021. / Photo Credit: Ethan Parrish.
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Dan Noreika
I am originally from Green Bay and received my undergraduate degree from UW-Madison, majoring in personal finance. I recently moved back to Madison after living in California for eight years. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, hiking (currently working on the Ice Age Trail), watching sports and going on family trips with my wife and daughter.
This is my first time working for the state, and most recently, I was a project manager with JPMorgan. I look forward to getting ramped up and getting to know everyone!
Contact Dan at 608-228-4114 or Daniel.Noreika@wisconsin.gov.
Dan Noreika smiling while standing on a rock overlooking a lake, coniferous forest and Mount Shasta in California on July 2, 2022. / Photo Credit: Vanessa Noreika.
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Contact Information
Program-related questions can be sent to the appropriate coordinator:
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