MADISON – You, too, can join the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in celebrating Clean Air Month as it highlights in May ongoing air quality improvements across the state.

The Air Program has worked on many projects this past year targeted at interacting with the public and ensuring businesses have better options available that provide quality interactions with the department. Those projects include:

  • The operation permit renewal backlog has decreased significantly in the last several months, while the construction permit issuance timelines have remained steady. The peer review process, implemented in 2017 continues to improve consistency and permit quality.
  • Compliance inspectors are using a new, streamlined report format in a pilot project designed to improve consistency statewide and allow inspectors to be in the field more often.
  • The launch of the Air Program’s Wisconsin Air Monitoring Data Acquisition System (WAMDAS). The system includes a new air quality mapping tool for the public to get up-to-date air quality information, new air quality report options and specific monitor information. In association with the new WAMDAS system, the Air Program has also launched the WisconsinAQM mobile app for android devices (the Apple version will be available early this summer). The app, available now in the Google Play Store, allows the public to receive air quality updates from anywhere using their mobile device.
  • The launch of the department’s first e-Signature reporting option for facilities in Wisconsin. E-Signature gives facilities the option of reporting, submitting and signing Air Program compliance and monitoring reports electronically to DNR, removing the time-consuming mail-in option.
  • The 2018 Air Quality Trends Report, released in October 2018, showed positive trends in air quality throughout the state in the past year.
  • The Air, Air Everywhere Poetry Contest made its annual return in March. The contest encourages third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students across the state to learn about Wisconsin’s air quality and create poems about the air. Winners will be announced May 20.

To learn more about Clean Air Month and how to reduce air emissions, search the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for Clean Air Month or contact Craig Czarnecki at 608-267-3137.