SB177, s. 9 18Section 9. 285.48 of the statutes is created to read:
SB177,4,20 19285.48 Mercury emission limits; major utilities. (1) Definitions. In this
20section:
SB177,4,2221 (a) "Annual mercury emissions" means the number of pounds of mercury
22emissions from all boilers under the ownership or control of a person in a year.
SB177,4,2323 (c) "Boiler" means a fossil fuel-fired boiler.
SB177,4,2424 (d) "Commission" means the public service commission.
SB177,5,3
1(e) "Environmental dispatching" means the operation of the various units
2under the ownership or control of a major utility in a manner that minimizes the
3discharge of mercury emissions rather than minimizing the cost of operation.
SB177,5,84 (f) "Major utility" means a Class A utility, as defined in s. 199.03 (4), that
5generates electricity or an electrical cooperative association organized under ch. 185,
6if the total mercury emissions from all stationary air contaminant sources in this
7state under the ownership or control of the utility or association exceeds 10 pounds
8in 1999.
SB177,5,10 9(1m) Determination of mercury emissions. The department shall establish a
10methodology for determining the annual mercury emissions of major utilities.
SB177,5,14 11(2) Emission limits. (a) Except as provided under sub. (4), in 2001 to 2004, the
12annual mercury emissions of a major utility may not exceed the annual mercury
13emissions of the major utility in the year 1999, as determined by the department
14using the methodology under sub. (1m).
SB177,5,1815 (b) Except as provided under sub. (4), in 2005 to 2009, the annual mercury
16emissions of a major utility may not exceed 85% of the annual mercury emissions of
17the major utility in the year 1999, as determined by the department using the
18methodology under sub. (1m).
SB177,5,2219 (c) Except as provided under sub. (4), in 2010 to 2014, the annual mercury
20emissions of a major utility may not exceed 70% of the annual mercury emissions of
21the major utility in the year 1999, as determined by the department using the
22methodology under sub. (1m).
SB177,6,223 (d) Except as provided under sub. (4), beginning in 2015, the annual mercury
24emissions of a major utility may not exceed 50% of the annual mercury emissions of

1the major utility in the year 1999, as determined by the department using the
2methodology under sub. (1m).
SB177,6,7 3(3) Annual compliance plan required. (a) Submission; contents. On or before
4October 1 of each year beginning with the year 2000, each major utility shall submit
5to the department and the commission a plan for achieving compliance with the
6emission limit under sub. (2). The plan shall include, at a minimum, all of the
7following:
SB177,6,88 1. The major utility's expected electricity demand.
SB177,6,99 2. The major utility's annual operation plan.
SB177,6,1110 3. The expected operation characteristics of each boiler, including all of the
11following:
SB177,6,1212 a. The order to be used in placing the boilers into operational production.
SB177,6,1413 b. The planned maintenance schedule for each boiler and how the maintenance
14is expected to affect the methods of meeting electricity demands.
SB177,6,1715 4. The amount and mercury content of coal, other fossil fuel or other materials
16to be used for each boiler in operational production. The mercury content shall be
17expressed in pounds of mercury per million British thermal units of heat input.
SB177,6,1818 5. The anticipated mercury emissions from each boiler.
SB177,6,2119 6. Contingency plans for unexpected events or increased demand including a
20summary of generation costs and the anticipated additional costs for reducing
21mercury emissions under those circumstances.
SB177,6,2322 7. The methods that will be used to achieve compliance with sub. (2) in the
23following year.
SB177,6,2524 8. The total anticipated annual mercury emissions from all boilers under the
25ownership or control of the major utility for each of the next 3 years.
SB177,7,3
1(b) Review. The department shall review the adequacy of each compliance plan
2and, after consulting with the commission, shall approve or disapprove the plan
3within 90 days after its receipt.
SB177,7,10 4(4) Variance. (a) Request; variance conditions. A major utility may request
5a variance from the emission limit under sub. (2) for a year by submitting the request
6to the commission and the department. No request for a variance may be submitted
7if the department has served the major utility with written notice under s. 285.83
8that the major utility has violated sub. (2). Upon receipt of a request, the commission
9shall, within 45 days, determine if any of the following variance conditions exists and
10shall report its determination to the department:
SB177,7,1111 1. A major electrical supply emergency within or outside this state.
SB177,7,1212 2. A major fuel supply disruption.
SB177,7,1513 3. An extended and unplanned disruption in the operation of a nuclear plant
14or a boiler with low mercury emissions under the ownership or control of the major
15utility.
SB177,7,1716 4. The occurrence of an uncontrollable event not anticipated in the plan
17submitted under sub. (3).
SB177,7,1918 5. A plan by the major utility to install and place into operation new
19technological devices that will enable it to achieve compliance with sub. (2).
SB177,7,2520 (b) Compliance plan required. With the request for a variance, the major utility
21shall submit its plan for achieving compliance with the emission limit. If the request
22is based on a variance condition specified under par. (a) 1. to 4., the request shall
23include an explanation of why the major utility cannot achieve or remain in
24compliance by using fuel with a lower mercury content or by environmental
25dispatching.
SB177,8,2
1(c) Grant of variance. The department shall grant a request for a variance if
2all of the following apply:
SB177,8,33 1. The commission determines that a variance condition exists.
SB177,8,54 2. The department determines that the major utility's compliance plan under
5par. (b) is adequate.
SB177,8,76 3. The major utility has not received more than one variance in the 9 years
7preceding the year for which the major utility requests the variance.
SB177,8,98 (d) Denial of variance. The department shall deny a request for a variance if
9the conditions in par. (c) 1. to 3. do not all apply.
SB177,8,1210 (e) Time limit for response. The department shall grant or deny a request for
11a variance within 90 days after its receipt of the request or the request is considered
12to be denied.
SB177,8,15 13(5) No impact on other provisions. Nothing in this section exempts a major
14utility from any provision of ss. 285.01 to 285.39 or 285.51 to 285.87. Compliance
15with this section is not a defense to a violation of any of those provisions.
SB177,8,19 16(6) Determination of compliance. The department shall determine
17compliance with sub. (2) using data submitted by the major utilities. Each major
18utility shall provide the department with any information needed to determine
19compliance.
SB177,8,22 20(7) Penalty. Notwithstanding s. 285.87, any major utility that exceeds the
21annual emission limit under sub. (2) in violation of this section shall forfeit not less
22than $100,000 nor more than $500,000 for each year of violation.
SB177, s. 10 23Section 10. 285.483 of the statutes is created to read:
SB177,8,25 24285.483 Mercury emission limits; incinerators and chlor-alkali plants.
25(1) Definitions. In this section:
SB177,9,2
1(a) "Annual mercury emissions" means the number of pounds of mercury
2emissions from a source.
SB177,9,53 (b) "Chlor-alkali plant" means a plant that uses mercury to produce chlorine
4gas, hydrogen gas, sodium hydroxide or alkali metal hydroxide and that has annual
5mercury emissions that exceed 10 pounds in 1999.
SB177,9,96 (c) "Solid waste incinerator" means a device that maintains a controlled process
7by which solid waste is thermally altered into gases and residue containing little or
8no combustible material and that has annual mercury emissions that exceed 10
9pounds in 1999.
SB177,9,12 10(2) Determination of mercury emissions. The department shall establish a
11methodology for determining the annual mercury emissions of solid waste
12incinerators and chlor-alkali plants.
SB177,9,17 13(3) Emission limits. (a) Except as provided in rules promulgated under sub.
14(4), in 2001 to 2004, the annual mercury emissions from a solid waste incinerator or
15chlor-alkali plant may not exceed the annual mercury emissions from the solid
16waste incinerator or chlor-alkali plant in the year 1999, as determined by the
17department using the methodology under sub. (2).
SB177,9,2218 (b) Except as provided in rules promulgated under sub. (4), in 2005 to 2009, the
19annual mercury emissions from a solid waste incinerator or chlor-alkali plant may
20not exceed 85% of the annual mercury emissions from the solid waste incinerator or
21chlor-alkali plant in the year 1999, as determined by the department using the
22methodology under sub. (2).
SB177,9,2523 (c) Except as provided in rules promulgated under sub. (4), in 2010 to 2014, the
24annual mercury emissions from a solid waste incinerator or chlor-alkali plant may
25not exceed 70% of the annual mercury emissions from the solid waste incinerator or

1chlor-alkali plant in the year 1999, as determined by the department using the
2methodology under sub. (2).
SB177,10,73 (d) Except as provided under sub. (4), beginning in 2015, the annual mercury
4emissions from a solid waste incinerator or chlor-alkali plant may not exceed 50%
5of the annual mercury emissions from the solid waste incinerator or chlor-alkali
6plant in the year 1999, as determined by the department using the methodology
7under sub. (2).
SB177,10,12 8(4) Rule making. The department shall promulgate rules for the submission
9of annual compliance plans by persons operating sources subject to sub. (3), for
10review and approval or disapproval of compliance plans, for granting variances from
11emission limits under sub. (3) and for reporting by persons operating sources subject
12to sub. (3).
SB177,10,15 13(5) No impact on other provisions. Nothing in this section exempts a person
14from any provision of ss. 285.01 to 285.39 or 285.51 to 285.87. Compliance with this
15section is not a defense to a violation of any of those provisions.
SB177,10,19 16(6) Determination of compliance. The department shall determine
17compliance with sub. (3) using data submitted by persons operating sources subject
18to sub. (3). Each person operating a source subject to sub. (3) shall provide the
19department with any information needed to determine compliance.
SB177,10,23 20(7) Penalty. Notwithstanding s. 285.87, any person operating a source subject
21to sub. (3) that exceeds the annual emission limit under sub. (3) in violation of this
22section shall forfeit not less than $100,000 nor more than $500,000 for each year of
23violation.
SB177, s. 11 24Section 11. 285.49 of the statutes is created to read:
SB177,11,5
1285.49 Mercury emission reporting; generators of electricity. (1)
2Requirement. Except as provided in sub. (3), each person who generates electricity
3in this state shall provide to the department by April 1, annually, a report of the
4amount of mercury emitted in generating electricity by the person in the previous
5calendar year.
SB177,11,6 6(2) Content of report. A report under sub. (1) shall include all of the following:
SB177,11,87 (a) A list of all generation facilities owned or operated by the person required
8to report under sub. (1).
SB177,11,109 (b) Information about the amount of electricity purchased by the person
10required to report under sub. (1) for use in this state.
SB177,11,1211 (c) All of the following information about each generation facility in this state
12owned or operated by the person required to report under sub. (1):
SB177,11,1313 1. The amount of electricity generated at the facility.
SB177,11,1414 2. The amount of fuel used to generate electricity at the facility.
SB177,11,1715 3. The amount of mercury emitted in generating that electricity, determined
16using emission factors, stack tests, fuel analysis or other methods approved by the
17department.
SB177,11,1918 4. The mercury content of the fuel used to generate electricity if that content
19is determined in conjunction with a stack test.
SB177,11,21 20(3) Exceptions. A person is not required to report under sub. (1) for any of the
21following:
SB177,11,2222 (a) A generation unit that is operated fewer than 240 hours per year.
SB177,11,2423 (b) A generation unit with a fuel capacity input of less than 150,000,000 British
24thermal units per hour.
SB177,11,2525 (c) A generation unit with a maximum output of 15 megawatts or less.
SB177,12,1
1(d) A generation unit with annual mercury emissions of 3 pounds or less.
SB177,12,4 2(4) Report by department. By January 1, 2000, and biennially thereafter, the
3department shall prepare and make available to the public, a report on the amount
4of mercury emitted in the generation of electricity in this state.
SB177, s. 12 5Section 12. 285.495 of the statutes is created to read:
SB177,12,8 6285.495 Mercury emission goal; report. (1) Goal. It is the goal of this state
7that in 2010 total annual mercury emissions in this state do not exceed 50% of the
8total annual mercury emissions in this state in the year 2000.
SB177,12,17 9(2) Excess mercury emissions; department report required. (a) If the
10department determines in 2011 that total annual mercury emissions in this state in
112010 exceeded 50% of the total annual mercury emissions in this state in the year
122000, the department shall, after consulting with the public service commission,
13prepare a report containing recommendations for methods to reduce mercury
14emissions. The department shall hold a public hearing on the report. In preparing
15the report, the department shall consider methods to reduce mercury emissions from
16various sources, including sources that emit 10 pounds or more of mercury per year
17and that are any of the following:
SB177,12,1818 1. Major utilities, as defined in s. 285.48 (1) (f).
SB177,12,1919 2. Coal-fired or oil-fired commercial or industrial boilers.
SB177,12,2020 3. Solid waste incinerators, as defined in s. 285.483 (1) (c).
SB177,12,2121 4. Chlor-alkali plants as defined in s. 285.483 (1) (b).
SB177,12,2422 (b) If the department is required to prepare a report under par. (a), the
23department shall submit the report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature,
24for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3).
SB177, s. 13 25Section 13. 285.497 of the statutes is created to read:
SB177,13,2
1285.497 Citizen suits; mercury emissions. (1) Except as provided in sub.
2(2), any person may commence a civil action on his or her own behalf:
SB177,13,43 (a) Against any person who is alleged to be in violation of s. 285.48, 285.483 or
4285.49.
SB177,13,75 (b) Against the department if there is alleged to be a failure of the department
6to perform any act or duty under ss. 285.48, 285.483 to 285.495 that is not
7discretionary with the department.
SB177,13,12 8(2) (a) No action may be commenced under sub. (1) (a) prior to 30 days after the
9plaintiff has given notice of the alleged violation to the department and to the alleged
10violator or if the department has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil or
11criminal action concerning the alleged violation, but in any such action any person
12may intervene as a matter of right.
SB177,13,1413 (b) No action may be commenced under sub. (1) (b) prior to 30 days after the
14plaintiff has given notice of such action to the department.
SB177,13,22 15(3) The court, in issuing any final order in any action brought under this
16section, shall award costs of litigation including reasonable attorney and expert
17witness fees to the plaintiff if he or she prevails, and the court may do so if it
18determines that the outcome of the controversy is consistent with the relief sought
19by the plaintiff irrespective of the formal disposition of the civil action. In addition,
20the court shall award treble damages to any plaintiff proving damages caused by a
21person mining without a permit or wilfully violating this chapter or any permits or
22orders issued under this chapter.
SB177,13,24 23(4) Nothing in this section restricts any right which any person or class of
24persons may have under any other statute or common law.
SB177, s. 14 25Section 14. 287.07 (8) (a) 2m. of the statutes is created to read:
SB177,14,2
1287.07 (8) (a) 2m. Measures to reduce the amount of mercury in medical waste
2that is sent to a medical waste incinerator.
SB177,14,33 (End)
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