Section 820.32. Projects with high water loss.

 

(1)  For any application for approval of a high capacity well under s. 281.34 , Stats., the applicant shall identify and the department shall verify whether the proposed use of the well will result in an annual water loss of greater than 95%. The department may require submittal of a detailed water balance as part of the application in order to determine the approximate water loss.

(2)  If the department determines that a proposed high capacity well will result in an annual water loss of greater than 95%, the department shall notify the applicant that the proposed well may result in a water loss of greater than 95%. Within 65 business days of receipt of a complete application, the department shall identify additional informational requirements necessary to evaluate the proposed well and may determine that the applicant shall develop and submit an environmental impact report in accordance with ch. NR 150 .

(3)  Following receipt of all requested information, the department shall follow the environmental analysis procedures of ch. NR 150 .

(4)  If the department determines that construction and operation of the proposed high capacity well will not result in significant environmental impact to surface and groundwater resources, the department shall approve the well and include in any approval issued using the standards under s. 281.34 , Stats., conditions to ensure that operation of the proposed well will not cause significant adverse environmental impact to surface water or groundwater resources. The conditions may include but are not limited to conditions as to location, depth of casing, depth of lower drillhole, depth interval of well screen, pumping capacity, pumpage schedule, months of operation, rate of flow, ultimate use, and conservation measures.

(5)  As part of an approval issued using the standards under s. 281.34 , Stats., the department may require the owner of the high capacity well to develop and implement a water conservation and management plan that minimizes, to the extent technically and economically feasible, the degree of water loss related to operation of the high capacity well system.

(6)  As part of an approval issued using the standards under s. 281.34 , Stats., the department may require the owner of the high capacity well system to implement a monitoring plan to evaluate environmental impacts caused by operation of the high capacity well system and based on results of the monitoring program may revise the approval.

History: CR 06-121 : cr. Register August 2007 No. 620 , eff. 9-1-2007; CR 13-022 : am. (2), (3) Register March 2014 No. 699 , eff. 4-1-14; correction in (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register March 2014 No. 699 , eff. 4-1-14.