Newsroom_News Release_2023-11-10 DNR Seeking Public Comment For Environmental Review Of Blair, Granton, La Farge And New Auburn Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2023-11-10

Contact: Michelle Brietzman, DNR Community Financial Assistance Specialist
MichelleE.Brietzman@wisconsin.gov or 608-490-0187

DNR Seeking Public Comment For Environmental Review Of Blair, Granton, La Farge And New Auburn Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Projects

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the villages of Granton, La Farge and New Auburn and the city of Blair are applicants for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) to make improvements to their public drinking water systems.

These projects are all located in the west central region and include:

  • The city of Blair is replacing watermains on Broadway and Pearl Streets.
  • The village of Granton is replacing watermains on Main Street.
  • The village of La Farge is replacing watermains on East Main Street and West North Street, as well as connecting existing watermains to improve efficiency.
  • The village of New Auburn is replacing watermains on North and Elm streets.

Activities related to these projects are minor actions under Chapter NR 150, Wis. Admin. Code, for which no environmental analysis is required; however, following the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program federal requirement 40 C.F.R. §35.3580, an environmental review must be conducted before funding these projects.

The Safe Drinking Water Loan Program has determined that these projects will not result in significant adverse environmental effects, and no further environmental review or analysis is needed before proceeding with funding these projects.

The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding this decision and the potential environmental impacts of these projects. Submit comments by Nov. 24, 2023 to:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
C/O Michelle Brietzman, Community Financial Assistance, CF/2
101 S. Webster St.
P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707
DNRCFELEnvironmentalReview@wisconsin.gov

Based on the comments received, the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the funding process. The analysis would summarize the DNR’s consideration of the projects’ impacts and reasonable alternatives.