Environment Groups Laid Groundwork For DNR Rejection Of Waukesha Water Plan

As I've noted here often, environmental groups have been saying repeatedly that Waukesha's application for Great Lakes water was insufficient and incomplete.

The groups find now that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources agree:

DNR Returns Waukesha’s Diversion Application As Incomplete

Conservation groups support DNR’s action

WAUKESHA—Today the Department of Natural Resources returned the City of Waukesha ’s application for a diversion of Lake Michigan water. The Department identified a number of deficiencies in the application relating to key requirements under the Great Lakes Compact. According to the Department, Waukesha ’s application did not include an adequate assessment of the other reasonable water supply alternatives available to the City, nor did the application provide sufficient cost estimates relating to the corresponding withdrawal and return flow options. A coalition of conservation and environmental groups— whose main interest is ensuring an effective implementation of the Great Lakes Compact—praised the Department’s action.

“The Wisconsin DNR is clearly taking its responsibilities under the Great Lakes Compact seriously and committing to a meaningful review process,” states Jodi Habush Sinykin, Of Counsel for Midwest Environmental Advocates. “Given what is at stake and the precedent that the application will set for the entire Great Lakes region, we commend the Department for ensuring that the City of Waukesha takes the time needed to do it right, which must include a comprehensive analysis of Waukesha’s manifold water supply options as well as the detailed cost estimates, city approvals and return flow information found missing from the application.”

The Department’s letter to City of Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima identified the following deficiencies in the application:

· The application failed to confirm that there is no reasonable water supply alternative available to the City of Waukesha other than Great Lakes water;

· The application failed to provide the return flow locations corresponding to the three withdrawal source options identified in the application;

· The application’s cost estimates lacked sufficient detail, as required by the Compact, for each of the withdrawal and return flow options for the diversion;

· The application lacked confirmation that it had received all appropriate local city approvals necessary for submittal under the Compact; and

· The City of Waukesha failed to pay the statutorily required review fee of $5,000 prior to submission of the application.

“It is in our long term economic and environmental interest to be great stewards of this world class resource,” said Peter McAvoy, Vice President of Environmental Health for Sixteenth Street Community Health Center . “Before agreeing to advance what would be the first major diversion to a community entirely out of the Great Lakes basin, we need to make sure all reasonable alternatives have been carefully explored. The Wisconsin DNR understands this.”

Waukesha County Environmental Action League President Steve Schmuki added, “While today’s action may seem to be a set-back for the City, we hope that Wisconsin DNR’s decision will give the City time to explore all of the reasonable alternatives in depth, and to involve the public in decision-making and problem-solving. WEAL reiterates its offer to work with the City and Mayor to strengthen and implement water conservation measures, to better utilize our water resources, and to protect local, regional and global resourceswhile meeting the needs of our citizens.”