For most minor and all major air permits, the DNR must provide notice and allow public comment on the draft permit. But without an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement, that permitting process no longer includes information on cumulative impacts, water quality and quantity impacts, impacts to infrastructure and quality of life.

Williams said the organization is not aware of an environmental assessment being conducted for an air permit attached to any frac sand mine in Wisconsin.

“That’s one reason we are asking for the strategic analysis of frac sand mining (through the petition),” she said.

The environmental assessment also provided a channel for residents to comment on projects that don’t themselves require public notice and comment. High capacity well applications are an example of this.

Williams said the owner of a CAFO would still have to apply for high capacity well permits, for example, from the DNR. But because of the changes to the permitting process, the DNR will no longer conduct an environmental assessment, meaning there will not be public notice of the permit request and no opportunity for citizens to comment.