Waukesha Chamber Letter On Water Is Accurate, But...

The Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce is trying through an email to members to drum up support for the city's Lake Michigan diversion plan, and takes the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to task for suspending its review of the application.

I can understand the Chamber's disappointment, but:

The email to Chamber members fails to mention that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, while citing in its tabling of Waukesha's Lake Michigan application the continuing debate within Waukesha government about water supply options, also cited deficiencies in cost data and return flow information in the application, as well.

Here is a portion of the DNR's notification to Waukesha (full text at the end of this posting) a couple of weeks ago, and I thought it was important enough to put out on the front of my blog in bold and colored type:

"...the application lacks sufficient detail, as required by the Compact, regarding the costs for the diversion. We would expect the cost analysis for each of the requested options to be based upon information received from the potential withdrawal sources indicating what they would be charging for providing Great Lakes water. The City must provide to the Department detailed cost estimates for each of the withdrawal and corresponding return flow options."

In other words, the DNR cited multiple factors in its decision to delay its initial review and the water utility has said it will comply with the DNR's requests.

So let's not create a narrative that says that the delay is all about the statements by new Mayor Jeff Scrima that there may yet be alternatives to Lake Michigan that have not been fully explored.

And remember - - these are issues that the Great Lakes Compact spells out, and which, if the DNR does bring them up the other states certainly will.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010

Exactly What The DNR Said To Waukesha About The Lake Michigan Diversion Application

In the DNR's words, and what it asks for from Waukesha, at a minimum:

June 8, 2010

Jeff Scrima, Mayor City Hall – Room 208 201 Delafield Street Waukesha, WI 53188

Dear Mayor Scrima:

Jim Doyle, Governor Matthew J. Frank, Secretary

101 S. Webster St. Box 7921 Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7921 Telephone 608-266-2621 FAX 608-267-3579 TTY Access via relay - 711

The Department received Waukesha’s application for a diversion of Great Lakes water on May 20, 2010.

After receiving the Waukesha application we conducted an initial completeness review.

That review identified some deficiencies in the application.

Through preliminary discussions with representatives for the City it was suggested to us that Great Lakes water was the only viable option for a sustainable water supply, however, subsequent to the submittal of the application, it has been publically discussed that the City is continuing to examine alternatives to Great Lakes water and is actively considering other sources of Great Lakes water.

We understand these additional considerations may be important to Waukesha’s ultimate decision to seek Great Lakes water. One of the key requirements of the Compact for approving an application for a diversion is demonstrating that there is no reasonable water supply alternative.

Through Discussions with representatives with the city we were told that Great Lakes water was the only viable option for a sustainable water supply. Due to the fact that it has been publically discussed that the City is examining alternatives to Great Lakes water and is actively considering other sources the Department cannot move forward on reviewing the application and the City must confirm that Great Lakes water is in fact the only long term sustainable water option.

The Great Lakes Compact requires the return flow to be as close as possible to the withdrawal source.

The submitted proposal identifies three possible withdrawal source options to obtain Great Lakes water. However, without providing a corresponding return flow option for each withdrawal source it is not possible to determine whether the proposal will comply with this requirement. The City must provide to the Department both the point of withdrawal and with the proposed return flow location.

In addition, the application lacks sufficient detail, as required by the Compact, regarding the costs for the diversion. We would expect the cost analysis for each of the requested options to be based upon information received from the potential withdrawal sources indicating what they would be charging for providing Great Lakes water. The City must provide to the Department detailed cost estimates for each of the withdrawal and corresponding return flow options.

There have been press reports where you have questioned whether this application had gone through the appropriate local approvals. Additionally, the City failed to pay the statutorily (s.281.346 (12)(d), Wis. Stats.) required review fee of $5,000. Before moving forward with the application the City will be required to pay this fee and attest that the application has received all the appropriate city approvals necessary for submittal under the Compact.

At a minimum, resolution of the outlined items above is necessary before the Department can move forward with the acceptance and review of your application. If you have specific questions, please contact Bruce Baker at (608) 266-1902.

Sincerely,

{signed by DNr Secretary Matt Frank: signature did not copy]