DNR Seeking Public Comment For Environmental Review Of The Village Of Mattoon And City Of New Holstein Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Projects

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the city of New Holstein and the village of Mattoon are applicants for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) to improve their respective public drinking water systems.

New Holstein is planning to replace watermains on Wisconsin Avenue, and Mattoon is planning to improve the efficiency of the watermains along the east side of the village.

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 Dec. 4, 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 these projects’ impacts and reasonable alternatives.