Dept. of Natural Resources: Seeking public comment for environmental review of Black Earth, Dickeyville, Highland and West Baraboo Safe Drinking Water Loan Program projects

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the villages of Black Earth, Dickeyville, Highland and West Baraboo are applicants for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) to improve their respective public drinking water systems.

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

• The village of Black Earth is replacing watermains on Ray Street, Hillside Road, Webb Street, East Street and Madison Street.
• The village of Dickeyville is replacing watermains on North Center Street.
• The village of Highland is replacing watermains and associated appurtenances on Isabell Street and replacing watermains on Grand Street.
• The village of West Baraboo is reconstructing Linn Street and the surrounding area, including replacing water mains and valves, adding a new valve meter pit and making improvements to the area’s sewer and stormwater infrastructure.

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. 6, 2023 to:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
C/O Brian Boelkow, 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.