Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 108.04

Current through October 28, 2024
Section NR 108.04 - Plans for reviewable projects
(1) PRELIMINARY PLANS. Prior to preparation of final plans and specifications for a water supply facility, an industrial wastewater facility or industrial pretreatment facility, a conceptual design report of the proposed system may be submitted. Upon request the department will provide written comments on the acceptability of the concept and advice regarding design requirements.
(2) SUBMISSION OF FINAL PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) All final plans and specifications submitted to the department pursuant to s. 281.41, Stats., and s. NR 108.03, shall be accompanied by a request for approval and by information pertinent to the design of the system, including general plans, construction details, specifications and an engineering report. The facility owner, on whose behalf the submittal was made, shall be notified by the department of any submittal deficiencies. Plans submitted without necessary design data may be rejected by the department. The plans and specifications and pertinent information shall be submitted at least 90 days prior to the date upon which the construction of the reviewable project is planned to commence, except in emergency situations when it is desired to commence construction in less than 90 days, in which case the plans and specifications shall be submitted as many days as possible prior to the desired construction date.

Note: The necessary accompanying design data for sewerage systems and waterworks can be found in Chs. NR 110 and 811, respectively.

(b) Three sets of final plans and specifications shall be submitted for all reviewable projects except water main and sanitary sewer extensions in which case only 2 sets need to be submitted. One of the plan sets shall be submitted electronically and the remainder as paper unless the department determines an alternate submittal is acceptable for its review and records retention purposes. Additional sets of plans and specifications may be required for sewerage improvements that are eligible for state or federal grants-in-aid.

Note: Section 59.74(2), Stats., requires that the county surveyor be notified if it is necessary to obliterate any landmark, monument, or corner post during construction. It is recommended that a copy of the construction plans be submitted to the county surveyor for review.

(c) The final plans and specifications shall be submitted under the signature and the seal of a professional engineer registered in Wisconsin.
1. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the department for certain industrial wastewater and industrial pretreatment facilities not affecting public health and for groundwater monitoring systems. Factors which shall be considered by the department when granting a waiver include nature and size of the facilities, evidence of the individual's qualifications to design such specialized facilities as may be proposed, and the absence of public health and safety concerns.
2. This requirement is waived for community water systems which are not municipal water systems, as defined in s. NR 108.02(9), and which are not systems serving subdivisions, as defined in s. 236.02(8), Stats. For community water systems covered by this waiver, plans and specifications for proposed wells may be submitted by a well driller registered in Wisconsin, and for proposed pump installations, including the pump, piping and other appurtenances up to and including the pressure tank, by a pump installer registered in Wisconsin.
(d) If construction is not commenced within 4 years from the date of approval for water main and sanitary sewer extensions or within 2 years from the date of approval for other systems, the approval is void. If approval lapses by passage of time, a new department approval of plans submitted in accordance with the requirements of s. NR 108.04(2) must be received before construction can commence.
(e) If modifications in the approved plans or specifications are necessary, revised plans or specifications shall be submitted to the department for its approval prior to commencement of construction of the project modifications. Revised plans or specifications need not be submitted in the event the modifications in the approved plans or specifications will not affect the public health, the capacity, flow or operation of the proposed facilities or devices to determine permit compliance.
(f) Plans shall be made on a high grade paper that will not crack when folded nor tear with reasonable usage. The maximum plan size should be 24" x 36"; and sheets in the same set of plans shall be numbered. The scale in feet to which the plans are drawn, the north point, the date and the name of the designer and owner shall, in all cases, be indicated. Drawings obtained from the manufacturer or supplier containing proprietary names or symbols will not be accepted for approval. All plans shall be drawn to a suitable scale not smaller than one inch equaling 40 feet for detailed plans and, whenever practicable, not smaller than one inch equaling 100 feet for general plans. Reductions of full-scale plans with an appropriate scale for the reduced plans not smaller than one inch equaling 100 feet may be accepted by the department provided that the plans are clear and legible. Plans for modifications of or extensions to existing waterworks, sewerage systems, industrial wastewater facilities or industrial pretreatment facilities shall clearly indicate the connections or relations thereto, and, if not already on file with the department, shall include plans of the existing system or facility.
(3) PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS REVIEW.
(a) The department shall examine and approve, conditionally approve, or reject the plans and specifications. The conditions of approval or reason for rejection shall be stated in writing.
(b) Approval of plans and specifications is not to be construed as a department determination on the issuance of a Wisconsin pollutant discharge elimination system permit, an opinion as to the ability of the proposed system to comply with effluent limitations in such permit, an approval of the environmental analysis that may be prepared for this project or an approval for any activities requiring a permit under ch. 30, 31, or 281, Stats. Approval of plans and specifications is also not to be construed as department certification of the ability of a proposed industrial pretreatment facility to comply with applicable pretreatment standards.
(4) REVIEW DELEGATION.
(a) The department may delegate plans and specification review and/or approval authority for industrial pretreatment facilities to the governing body which controls the sewerage system to which the discharge is or will be directed. This delegation may be authorized upon written request and demonstration by the governing body of its capability to perform an adequate technical review.
(b) Review delegation shall be rescinded immediately, without a hearing, under any of the following circumstances:
1. The body receiving delegation requests that delegation be rescinded;
2. The department determines through an audit procedure that adequate and timely reviews and/or approvals have not been performed.
(c) If the department has delegated approval authority, copy of plans and specifications, the review notes and correspondence, and a copy of the letter which approves, conditionally approves or rejects the plans and specifications shall be submitted to the department by the body receiving delegation at the time that final action occurs.
(d) If the department has delegated review authority, a copy of plans and specifications, the review notes and appropriate correspondence shall be submitted to the department by the body receiving delegation following the review activity.
(5) POST START OF CONSTRUCTION SUBMITTALS. The department may not approve plans and specifications for any project for which construction has commenced. The department may review the plans and specifications and require changes to components which may adversely affect public health, the operation of the proposed or existing facility and the determination of permit compliance. This review does not prohibit the department from taking enforcement action under s. NR 108.03.

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 108.04

Cr. Register, November, 1974, No. 227, eff. 12-1-74; am. (2) (c), Register, April, 1982, No. 316, eff. 5-1-82; r. and recr. (1), am. (2), cr. (3) to (5), Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87; am. (1), (2) (b) and (f), Register, December, 2000, No. 540, eff. 1-1-01; corrections in (2) (a) and (3) (b) made under s. 13.93(2m) (b) 7, Stats., Register, December, 2000, No. 540; CR 09-123: am. (2) (b) and (5) Register July 2010 No. 655, eff. 8-1-10; CR 13-022: am. (3) (b) Register March 2014 No. 699, eff. 4-1-14.