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Eligibility

Statewide phosphorus multi-discharger variance

Not all point sources are eligible for the multi-discharger variance (MDV) for phosphorus. The following questionnaire may help applicants assess their potential eligibility for this program. The questionnaire does not provide final eligibility determinations.

Determine potential eligibility

This is a text link version of our phosphorus interactive question and answer module. If you are seeing this message, you currently have JavaScript disabled or are in compatibility mode while using Internet Explorer. This text version is here to help you understand if you need a permit from the Department of Natural Resources for your phosphorus related project, and if so, which one. Please go through and answer each question. This will help you determine which permit you will need.

Question 1

Are you an existing discharge?

If your answer is "Yes,” go to Question 2.

If your answer is "No,” :

You've answered No:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 2

What discharge category best reflects you?

If your answer is "Municipal,” go to Question 3.

If your answer is "Cheese,” go to Question 7.

If your answer is "Food Processor,” go to Question 10.

If your answer is "Paper,” go to Question 13.

If your answer is "Aquaculture,” go to Question 16.

If your answer is "Noncontact cooling water (NCCW),” go to Question 19.

If your answer is "Other,” go to Question 22.

If your answer is "Power,” :

You've answered Power:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

If your answer is "Unsure,” :

You've answered Unsure:

Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF].

Question 3

Are you located in a potentially eligible area for the MDV?

Please review the municipal eligibility map [PDF].

If your answer is "Yes,” go to Question 4.

If your answer is "No,” :

You've answered No:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 4

What is the projected household user charge, expressed as a percent of MHI, once phosphorus compliance costs are factored in?

If your answer is ">2%,” go to Question 5.

If your answer is "1-2%,” go to Question 6.

If your answer is "<1%,” :

You've answered <1%:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 5

(>2%) What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the Municipal Secondary Score Values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 2,” :

You've answered At or above 2:

Potentially eligible. This questionnaire does not provide final eligibility determinations. Municipal and industrial application forms are available under "Application resources."

If your answer is "Less than 2,” :

You've answered Less than 2:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 6

(1-2%) What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the Municipal Secondary Score Values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Potentially eligible. This questionnaire does not provide final eligibility determinations. Municipal and industrial application forms are available under "Application resources."

If your answer is "Less than 3,” :

You've answered Less than 3:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 7

Does your projected phosphorus compliance cost exceed $1,510,000?

If your answer is "Yes,” go to Question 8.

If your answer is "No,” go to Question 9.

Question 8

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the cheese manufacturers secondary score values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Potentially eligible. This questionnaire does not provide final eligibility determinations. Municipal and industrial application forms are available under "Application resources."

If your answer is "2,” :

You've answered 2:

Only eligible if you are located in Calumet, Clark, Grant, Green, Lafayette, Marathon, Oconto, Richland, Sheboygan, Taylor, Washington or Wood counties

If your answer is "Less than 2,” :

You've answered Less than 2:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 9

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the cheese manufacturers secondary score values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Only eligible if you are located in Calumet, Clark, Grant, Green, Lafayette, Marathon, Oconto, Richland, Sheboygan, Taylor, Washington or Wood counties.

If your answer is "Less than 3,” :

You've answered Less than 3:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 10

Does your projected phosphorus compliance cost exceed $1,890,000?

If your answer is "Yes,” go to Question 11.

If your answer is "No,” go to Question 12.

Question 11

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the food processors secondary score values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Potentially eligible. This questionnaire does not provide final eligibility determinations. Municipal and industrial application forms are available under "Application resources."

If your answer is "2,” :

You've answered 2:

Only eligible if you are located in Barron, Columbia, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kenosha, Monroe, Outagamie, Sauk or Sheboygan counties

If your answer is "Less than 2,” :

You've answered Less than 2:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 12

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the food processors secondary score values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Only eligible if you are located in Barron, Columbia, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kenosha, Monroe, Outagamie, Sauk or Sheboygan counties.

If your answer is "Less than 3,” :

You've answered Less than 3:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 13

Does your projected phosphorus compliance cost exceed $11,200,000?

If your answer is "Yes,” go to Question 14.

If your answer is "No,” go to Question 15.

Question 14

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the paper secondary score values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Potentially eligible. This questionnaire does not provide final eligibility determinations. Municipal and industrial application forms are available under "Application resources."

If your answer is "2,” :

You've answered 2:

Only eligible if you are located in Brown, Marathon, Oneida, Outagamie, Portage, Winnebago or Wood counties

If your answer is "Less than 2,” :

You've answered Less than 2:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 15

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the paper secondary score values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Only eligible if you are located in Brown, Marathon, Oneida, Outagamie, Portage, Winnebago or Wood counties.

If your answer is "Less than 3,” :

You've answered Less than 3:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 16

Does your projected phosphorus compliance cost exceed $2,600,000?

If your answer is "Yes,” go to Question 17.

If your answer is "No,” go to Question 18.

Question 17

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the aquaculture secondary score values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Potentially eligible. This questionnaire does not provide final eligibility determinations. Municipal and industrial application forms are available under "Application resources."

If your answer is "2,” :

You've answered 2:

Only eligible if you are located in Douglas, Jefferson, Marinette, Oneida, Sheboygan or Waushara counties

If your answer is "Less than 2,” :

You've answered Less than 2:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 18:

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the aquaculture secondary score values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Only eligible if you are located in Douglas, Jefferson, Marinette, Oneida, Sheboygan or Waushara counties.

If your answer is "Less than 3,” :

You've answered Less than 3:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 19:

Does your projected phosphorus compliance cost exceed $1,350,000?

If your answer is "Yes,” go to Question 20.

If your answer is "No,” go to Question 21.

Question 20

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the NCCW secondary score values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Potentially eligible. This questionnaire does not provide final eligibility determinations. Municipal and industrial application forms are available under "Application resources."

If your answer is "2,” :

You've answered 2:

Only eligible if you are located in Brown, Chippewa, Columbia, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Jefferson, La Crosse, Langlade, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Polk, Richland, Sauk, Sheboygan, Trempealeau or Waupaca counties.

If your answer is "Less than 2,” :

You've answered Less than 2:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 21

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the NCCW secondary score values [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Only eligible if you are located in Brown, Chippewa, Columbia, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Jefferson, La Crosse, Langlade, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Polk, Richland, Sauk, Sheboygan, Trempealeau or Waupaca counties.

If your answer is "Less than 3,” :

You've answered Less than 3:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 22

Does your projected phosphorus compliance cost exceed $943,000?

If your answer is "Yes,” go to Question 23.

If your answer is "No,” go to Question 24.

Question 23

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the secondary score values for industrial discharges in the “other” category [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Potentially eligible. This questionnaire does not provide final eligibility determinations. Municipal and industrial application forms are available under "Application resources."

If your answer is "2,” :

You've answered 2:

Only eligible if you are located in Calumet, Chippewa, Douglas, Jefferson, La Crosse, Marinette, Milwaukee, Sauk or Washington counties.

If your answer is "Less than 2,” :

You've answered Less than 2:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.

Question 24

What is the secondary score of the county in which your discharge is located?

Please review the secondary score values for industrial discharges in the “other” category [PDF].

If your answer is "At or above 3,” :

You've answered At or above 3:

Only eligible if you are located in Brown, Chippewa, Columbia, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Jefferson, La Crosse, Langlade, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Polk, Richland, Sauk, Sheboygan, Trempealeau or Waupaca counties.

If your answer is "Less than 3,” :

You've answered Less than 3:

Not eligible. Contact your regional AM/WQT Coordinator [PDF] coordinator if you would like more information.


Applicants are responsible to complete the Municipal MDV Application [PDF] or Industrial MDV Application [PDF] and submit the completed form to:

Department of Natural Resources
Permits Section - WQ/3
Attn: MDV Point Source Coordinator
101 S Webster St
Madison, WI 53703

Application resources