DNR 1072 Horizontal Directional Drilling

HDD is a common, trenchless utility installation method often used to avoid or minimize impacts to wetlands, waterways, roads and other surface features. The purpose of this technical standard is to implement the performance standards in subchs. III and IV of NR 151, Wis. Adm. Code, limiting the focus to protecting water resources from pollutants transported by runoff.

The standard was created to protect water quality by reducing sediment discharge from work areas, reducing the potential for runoff to carry construction materials into state waters and clarifying expectations for spill prevention and response procedures relevant to HDD construction methods. This includes reducing the risk of runoff-carrying drilling fluid from inadvertent releases (IRs), also known as a frac-out or inadvertent return, to water resources through prevention and response planning. 

This technical standard included input from a work team and a public review process.  It was created using the SOC Full Process; information about the team and the work completed to create the standard are available on the SOC team website.

WI Land+Water, a member of the Standards Oversight Council, is hosting a free DNR webinar on this technical standard at 11 a.m. on Nov. 14.  Please register for the webinar via this WI Land+Water event form.