Wisconsin's Air Toxics Program

Welcome to the Web page for Wisconsin DNR's Air Toxics Program. Here you will find information and links related to hazardous air pollutants, also called toxic air pollutants or air toxics.

Hazardous or toxic air pollutants are regulated both for their short term (acute) and long term (chronic) effects. People exposed to toxic air pollutants at sufficient concentrations and durations may have an increased chance of getting cancer or experiencing other serious health effects. These health effects can include damage to the immune system, or neurological, reproductive (e.g., reduced fertility), developmental, respiratory and other health problems. Wisconsin regulates several hundred toxic air pollutants under chapter NR 445, Wis. Adm. Code (PDF, exit DNR).

If you need more information on the health effects associated with air pollutants, please consult your physician, city or county health department, or the State of Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services (DHFS) Division of Public Health (exit DNR) at (608) 266-1251. Our Web page More Information About Health Effects of Air Pollutants contains links to some relevant DHFS programs.

• Modeling Demonstration Method for Non-exempt Potential Emissions from Non-vertical or Obstructed Stacks and Non-exempt Potential Fugitive Emission. To see the supporting modeling memo on this topic, click here.
• Applicability of December 31, 2005 reporting requirement
• Chapter NR 445 revisions took effect July 1, 2004
• Toxics Technical Advisory Group - proceedings of the stakeholder group that advised DNR and helped shape these revisions
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Changes to Wisconsin's Hazardous Air Pollutant Program (137K PDF). Please check back for updates to the list of FAQs (last updated June 22, 2004).

Major air toxics topics

• Chapter NR 445, Wis. Admin. Code
• Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT)
• Mercury

Wisconsin air toxics fact sheets

• Revisions to Wiscosin's Air Toxics Rule NR 445, Effective July 1, 2004 (149K PDF), Publication AM-345 2004, July 2004
• Due Diligence and Safe Harbor (150K PDF), Publication AM-346 2004, July 2004
• Incidental Emitters (122K PDF), Publication AM-347 2004, September 2004
• Requirements for Stationary Diesel Engines (89K PDF), Publication AM-372 2006, June 2006)

DNR presentations on air toxics

Federation of Environmental Technologists, September-October 2006
Wisconsin Air Toxics Rule, NR 445 - What Must Be Completed by June 30, 2007 [PDF, 145KB]

• Overview of Wisconsin's Hazardous Air Pollutant Rule
• PDF version
• Determining Compliance With Wisconsin's Hazardous.Air Pollutant Rule
• PDF version

Other resources concerning hazardous air pollutants

Persistent bioaccumulative toxic substances (PBTs)

EPA Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants [exit DNR]

DHFS toxic chemical fact sheets [exit DNR]