Statement of Scope
Department of Natural Resources
Relating to: | Creation of ch. NR 854 for statewide water supply service area planning for municipalities serving populations greater than 10,000 people |
1. Finding/nature of emergency (Emergency Rule only):
The rule will be proposed as a permanent rule.
2. Detailed description of the objective of the proposed rule:
The objective is to create a new rule (ch. NR 854, Wis. Adm. Code) as required by s. 281.348, Wis. Stats. The rule would establish a continuing water supply service area planning process for persons operating public water supply systems in Wisconsin that serve a population of 10,000 or more, most persons proposing a new or increased diversion, and persons proposing certain new or increased withdrawal from the Great Lakes basin. Section 281.348, Wis. Stats. requires certain public water systems to prepare water supply service area plans by December 31, 2025, and the process outlined in this rule would aid those public water systems in meeting this statutory deadline. The rule would reflect 2021 Wisconsin Act 126, enacted February 4, 2022, which amended s. 281.348, Wis. Stats. A water supply service area plan shall document long-term planning to demonstrate that a public water supply system can supply an adequate and sustainable amount of water in a manner that meets the requirements of s. 281.348, Wis. Stats., and where applicable, the requirements of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. Persons operating a public water supply system shall ensure that the plans are consistent with applicable comprehensive plans and include an analysis of public water supply infrastructure and options for supplying water for the period covered by the plan. 3. Description of the existing policies relevant to the rule, new policies proposed to be included in the rule, and an analysis of policy alternatives:
This is the first rulemaking effort establishing a procedure for water supply service area plans for public water systems. Section 281.346(4), (4s), and (5), Wis. Stats., require department-approved water supply service area plans for purposes of completing certain applications for diversions and withdrawal permits. Chapter NR 860, Wis. Adm. Code, currently requires certain water use permits to comply with approved water supply service area plans, however, it does not address the process for developing a water supply service area plan. Amendments to Chapter NR 860, Wis. Adm. Code may be included in this rule to ensure consistency between the administrative code chapters. The proposed rule would establish a continuing water supply service area planning process for persons that operate water supply systems that serve a population of 10,000 or more. Communities requiring a new or increased diversions of Great Lakes water, or a new or increased withdrawal from the Great Lakes basin, are required to obtain prior department approval of a water supply service area plan. Section 281.348, Wis. Stats., requires all other communities serving a population of 10,000 or more to prepare a plan, however, department approval is not required. The purpose of water supply service area planning is to systematically evaluate water supply alternatives and to identify water supply options for a 20-year planning period. The proposed rule would contain the same water supply service area plan requirements as the criteria in s. 281.348(3), Wis. Stats.: —Delineation of the area for which the plan is being prepared.
—Inventory of the sources and quantity of water supply in the area.
—Forecast of water demands, including population projections.
—Identification of water supply options.
—Assessment of environmental and economic impacts of carrying out the water supply service area plan.
—Demonstration that the plan will utilize existing water supply and wastewater infrastructure to the extent practicable.
—Procedures for implementing and updating the plan.
—Consistency with applicable comprehensive and areawide water quality management plans.
—Other information specified by the department.
In addition, water supply service area plans that require department approval need to include:
—Delineation of the proposed water supply service areas for each public water supply system making a withdrawal covered by the plan.
—A cost-effective analysis of regional and individual water supply and water conservation alternatives.
Section 281.348(3)(b), Wis. Stats., also requires that the rule include procedures for the following: —Public review and comment on the proposed water supply service area plan.
—Submission of the plan to governing body(s) of municipalities whose water supply is addressed by the plan.
—Submission and approval of the plan to the department, if required.
—Reopening a previously approved plan.
—Ensuring the plan remains current.
Other department approval processes for certain specific public water system projects are governed by chs. NR 108, 810, and 811, Wis. Adm. Code, and would not be impacted by this proposed rule. Specifically, public water systems are required to obtain prior department approval when making improvements, extensions or alterations that may affect the quality or quantity of water delivered. This includes changes to water mains, storage/pressure facilities, water treatment, and wells. Approval is also required for wellhead protection plans for new wells servicing municipal water systems. The alternative to the proposed rule is to not proceed with rule promulgation and rely on the existing statutory language to implement water supply service area planning requirements.
4. Detailed explanation of statutory authority for the rule (including the statutory citation and language):
Section 281.348, Wis. Stats., directs the department to promulgate and administer rules to develop a continuing water supply service area planning process for persons operating public water supply systems. Specifically, s. 281.348(3)(a)1., Wis. Stats., states: “The department shall establish, by rule, and administer a continuing water supply planning process for the preparation of water supply plans for persons operating public water systems.” Section 281.348(3)(b), Wis. Stats. directs the department to include certain specific procedures in the rulemaking explicitly authorized under s. 281.348(3)(a)(1). Section 281.348(3)(c)9. authorizes the department to require other information in a public water system’s water supply service area plan. Section 281.346(4), (4s), and (5), Wis. Stats., require department-approved water supply service area plans for purposes of completing certain applications for diversions and withdrawal permits. 5. Estimate of amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
The department estimates that approximately 800 hours of staff time will be required to complete the proposed rule.
