When a permit for which a fact sheet is required to be prepared under s. 283.45 is issued, reissued or modified, if the permittee submits, during the public comment period afforded under s. 283.39, to the department a written request for information on the background levels in the receiving water of substances for which a water quality based effluent limitation under s. 283.13 (5) is included in the proposed permit, the department shall, to the extent the information is available, provide to the permittee no later than the time that the permit is issued, reissued or modified such information or list of documents which present such information. Nothing in this section limits rights under ss. 19.31 to 19.37.