Power Plants

The Wisconsin DNR is the state's environmental protection and natural resource management agency, and consequently is vitally concerned with the effects of a potentially major project such as a power plant.

The DNR administers permit programs that control how much pollution can be released to the air, water and land, and how much water can be withdrawn from surface and ground water sources.

The DNR also regulates structures, fills and dredging projects in navigable waters and oversees shoreland and wetland zoning programs. Any combination of these permits may be required for a power plant. The major permitting programs within the DNR pertaining to power plant siting and licensing are:

1. Air Pollution Emission
2. Wastewater Discharge Permitting
3. Drinking Water & Groundwater Permitting
4. Waterway & Wetland Permitting
5. Solid Waste & Landfill Permitting

State statutes set the requirements that must be met to receive a permit, and the DNR's administrative rules provide the details of the permitting process. These include items such as filing deadlines, information requirements, opportunities for public review and appeal, etc.

The major resource protection programs within the DNR are:

• Endangered Resources,
• Fisheries Management,
• Parks & Recreation, and
• Wildlife Management.

Bringing all of these authorities and responsibilities together is the process required by the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA). The DNR works with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) [exit DNR] to develop environmental review documents to comply with WEPA.

In addition, the DNR has put together a power plant pre-filing checklist [PDF 93KB] to help expedite the permitting process relating to wetlands and navigable waters issues.

For more information on DNR's role in power plant permitting please contact:
Steve Ugoretz
(608) 266-6673