EM Insight 2023 Quarter 3: July - September
Quarterly News and Highlights From the Environmental Management (EM) Division
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 July - September 2023.
In This Edition
Headline News
Air Management Announces New Permits And Stationary Source Modeling Section Chief
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Air Management Program hired Ron Binzley as the new Permits and Stationary Source Modeling Section Chief.
Binzley served as a construction permit writer for the DNR’s Air Management Program since 2014. During his time with the program, Ron worked extensively on Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permits and acquired a broad knowledge of the major New Source Review (NSR) policies and regulations. Ron assisted the program in evaluating and developing comments on several proposed rules related to permitting. He also acted in various leadership roles for the program, including co-NSR team leader, acting Permits section chief and acting Air Quality and Planning Section Chief.
Before joining the DNR, Ron earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Columbia University and a PhD in History from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Ron also served as a structural and project engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
A Summer Of Air Quality Events
In the spring and summer of 2023, Wisconsin and many other areas of the United States were impacted by smoke from unprecedented wildfires in Canada. More than 33 million acres of Canadian forests burned – seven times the 10-year average and the worst in recorded Canadian and North American history.
This resulted in the state of Wisconsin experiencing multiple air quality events in May and June 2023 which included some of the highest concentrations of particulate air pollution (PM2.5) the state has seen since electronic monitoring began in 1999. This spring, 10 advisories were issued for PM2.5 and all were a direct result of Canadian wildfire smoke. Prior to this year, a spring PM2.5 advisory had not been issued since 2011.
During the most significant impacts, an air quality advisory was in effect from Monday, June 26 through noon Friday, June 30. The Air Quality Index (AQI) throughout the week ranged from Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) to the Very Unhealthy level. On Tuesday, June 27, Wisconsin experienced “very unhealthy” AQI in Milwaukee; that trend continued into the Waukesha, Madison and Baraboo areas on Wednesday June 28. This was the most extreme, widespread PM2.5 air quality event Wisconsin has experienced since the current PM2.5 NAAQS went into effect in 2012.
Wildfire smoke can be transported from hundreds or even thousands of miles away, making its way across state or national borders. Historically, wildfire smoke has impacted air quality in Wisconsin later in summer, however, in recent years wildfires have started earlier in the year due to a number of factors including ongoing drought conditions.
The Wisconsin DNR responded to this event by issuing multiple air quality advisories, posting news releases and social media posts, giving media interviews and offering tips on how the public could stay safe and what they could do to protect themselves. Additionally, the Air Management program developed a new webpage with information specific to wildfire smoke
The Air Management Program also issued more than 20 ozone air quality advisories throughout the spring and summer. Extended periods of high temperatures conducive to ozone formation, along with wildfire smoke in the atmosphere, resulted in the highest amount of ozone advisories the DNR has issued since 2012.
DNR Releases Statewide Drought Resources Webpage
In August, the DNR launched an online Drought Topic webpage as a new public source for information related to drought conditions experienced by the state.
The new webpage gives viewers access to current drought conditions across Wisconsin, helpful resources from various DNR programs and other state and national resources regarding drought conditions Visitors to the webpage can also find tips for conserving water and information about accessing water during a drought based on their specific water use needs.
This resource came in response to an abnormally hot and dry summer. In the last few years, Wisconsin has transitioned from record-high water levels to one of the driest starts to summer on record in many parts of the state. This dramatic change has resulted in lower water levels and increased the risk and severity of wildfires across the state.
Visit the Drought Resource webpage to learn more about how droughts can affect our natural resources and how you can prepare in case of a drought.
Community Engagement And Assistance
City Of Watertown Receives EPA Region 5 Brownfields Success Award
The DNR nominated the city of Watertown, WI for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Success Award because the Bentzin Family Town Square redevelopment and successful community engagement. Watertown used assistance for the project from the DNR's Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) program and Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant, along with over $2 million in additional funding from other sources.
The award was presented to the city in August during the National Brownfields Training Conference in Detroit, MI, but Watertown officials were unable to travel to receive the award. Therefore, Sarah Gruza, the U.S. EPA Region 5 project officer, presented the award to Watertown city officials on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. Brownfields Outreach and Policy Section Chief Jodie Thistle, Brownfields Policy Specialist Tom Coogan and RR Outreach Coordinator Jody Irland joined Gruza in Watertown, WI for the brief ceremony held at the Bentzin Family Town Square.
New Vapor Intrusion-Focused Subgroup For DNR's Remediation And Redevelopment External Advisory Group
The DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment program External Advisory Group (RR EAG) has added a new subgroup focused on vapor intrusion, after a proposal during the July 2023 EAG meeting. The vapor intrusion subgroup met for the first time on Sept. 7, 2023, to discuss initial ideas for a work plan. These ideas included:
- Awareness of vapor intrusion risks and reduced exposure to humans.
- Long-term stewardship of vapor mitigation systems.
- Increased identification of high-risk vapor intrusion sites.
- Increased coordination with partners/stakeholders at sites with risk of exposure to vapor intrusion.
- More vapor intrusion educational resources and opportunities provided by the DNR.
Annual Awards And Awareness Campaigns
Photo Contest Winners Capture The Natural Beauty Of Wisconsin's Great Waters
The 2023 Great Waters Annual Photo Contest and Writing Project is now complete. The winning entries are featured in the Wisconsin's Great Waters Calendar published by the DNR's Office of Great Waters. Also included in the calendar are poems and short stories from the Great Waters Writing Project - each sharing how people connect with and value our Great Waters. The new calendar is now available and can be viewed online along with all of this year's photo and writing entries.
We appreciate all the contributions from our participating photographers and writers who inspire stewardship of these vast yet vulnerable resources.
The Office of Great Waters is now accepting photos and writings for next year's contest. Learn more on the DNR's website.
To receive a copy of the new calendar, contact Susan Tesarik at Susan.Tesarik@Wisconsin.gov or 608-977-2416. You can also reach out to Susan with questions about the Great Waters Photo Contest and Writing Project.