Politics & Government

Waukesha Water Application Ready for Review, DNR Tells Environmentalist Group

Waukesha's request to obtain Great Lakes water moves to detailed, comprehensive analysis by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The city of Waukesha’s Great Lakes diversion application is now ready for a detailed, comprehensive review, according to a letter written from Ken Johnson, administrator of the water division in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, to members of the Compact Implementation Coalition, an environmentalist group that frequently states it feels Waukesha’s application is not complete.

Facing a June 2018 deadline to reduce radium from its water supply while addressing declining groundwater quality and quantity, the city is applying for Lake Michigan through the Great Lakes Compact. If all necessary approvals are successful, the city would pipe water from either Milwaukee, Oak Creek or Racine and return it to the Wisconsin lake.

The DNR plans to issue a public notice next week about the application’s review and include details about scheduled information sessions and public hearings about the application. The information sessions and public hearings will be scheduled for late July, according to the DNR’s website.

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Johnson, in the letter, says the DNR has reviewed the group’s concerns and discussed the information with the city and its consultants. The DNR also requested more information from the city.

“In short, we believe the diversion application materials and supplemental information that we have received from the city are sufficiently complete to allow us to begin an in-depth analysis of the application, and to prepare a technical review and environmental impact statement,” Johnson said in the letter.

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The DNR’s decision means the process will move on to step two as the diversion application is reviewed before being submitted to the other Great Lakes states for approval.

According to the DNR’s website, the next process includes a “public informational meeting/public hearing on diversion application process, including EIS scoping; and allows a 30-day comment period.”

The letter from Johnson states that although the DNR is beginning the review process, it does not prevent the DNR from asking for additional information and data from Waukesha officials.

“The city is well aware that it will have to provide additional information and analysis, should the DNR encounter the need for it as a result of our more detailed review of all aspect of the diversion application,” Johnson said. “I would like to reiterate what the DNR has consistently stated with regard to the City of Waukesha’s application, that is, we are committed to ensuring that our technical review is thorough and unbiased, and that our review process will be transparent with ample opportunity for public involvement.”


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