RCT:med:rs
2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE
October 21, 2011 - Introduced by Senator Galloway, cosponsored by
Representatives Petrowski, Mursau and Seidel. Referred to Committee on
Natural Resources and Environment.
SB253,1,5 1An Act to repeal 292.15 (4); to amend 20.370 (2) (dh), 292.15 (2) (a) 2., 292.15
2(5), 292.15 (7) (d) and 292.15 (7) (e); and to create 289.31 (10) and 292.15 (2)
3(av) of the statutes; relating to: the liability of certain persons for
4environmental contamination on property on which a cleanup has been
5conducted.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law generally requires a person who possesses or controls a hazardous
substance that is discharged or who causes the discharge of a hazardous substance
to restore the environment to the extent practicable. Under current law, a person,
called a voluntary party, who applies for a liability exemption may be exempt from
absolute liability to restore the environment, and from the requirements of other
laws relating to hazardous substances, even if a cleanup of the discharge is not
completely successful. To qualify for this exemption, an environmental investigation
of the contaminated property must be conducted, a cleanup performed, and a
certificate obtained from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stating that
the cleanup has restored the environment. In addition, if the voluntary party owns
or controls the property, the voluntary party must maintain and monitor the
property as required by DNR.
Under current law, the voluntary party liability exemption is not available for
a landfill that was licensed by DNR. This bill expands the voluntary party liability
exemption so that the exemption is available for a landfill unless the landfill was

licensed by DNR and had a plan of operation approved by DNR under current law
or was initially licensed on or after May 21, 1975, and DNR determined that the
landfill's design and plan of operation complied substantially with the requirements
for approval under current law.
This bill also authorizes DNR to remove a voluntary party from the process of
obtaining the voluntary party liability exemption if the voluntary party fails to make
reasonable progress toward completing the environmental investigation and the
cleanup or if the voluntary party fails to provide DNR with information that DNR
requests.
Under current law, in limited circumstances, DNR may agree to limit the
monetary amount that a voluntary party may be required to spend on a cleanup if
the voluntary party ceases the cleanup after the cost exceeds 125 percent of the
anticipated cost of the cleanup and the voluntary party makes reasonable efforts to
sell the property. The bill eliminates this provision.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB253, s. 1 1Section 1. 20.370 (2) (dh) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB253,2,72 20.370 (2) (dh) Solid waste management — remediated property. All moneys
3received under ss. 292.11 (7) (d) 2., 292.13 (3), 292.15 (5), 292.21 (1) (c) 1. d., 292.35
4(13), 292.55 (2), 292.57 (2), and 292.94 for the department's activities related to the
5issuance of determinations under s. 292.13 (2), remedial action cost recovery under
6s. 292.35, remediation of property under ss. 292.11 (7) (d), 292.15 (2) and (4), 292.55
7(1), and 292.57 and conducting reviews described in s. 292.94.
SB253, s. 2 8Section 2. 289.31 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
SB253,2,139 289.31 (10) Voluntary party certificate of completion. When the
10department issues a certificate of completion under s. 292.15 (2) (a) 3., (ae) 3., or (ag)
112. for all or a portion of a solid waste facility with an operating license under this
12section, the operating license for the solid waste facility or the portion of the solid
13waste facility covered by the certificate of completion is terminated.
SB253, s. 3
1Section 3. 292.15 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB253,3,52 292.15 (2) (a) 2. Except as provided in sub. (4), the The environment is restored
3to the extent practicable with respect to the discharges and the harmful effects from
4the discharges are minimized in accordance with rules promulgated by the
5department and any contract entered into under those rules.
SB253, s. 4 6Section 4. 292.15 (2) (av) of the statutes is created to read:
SB253,3,127 292.15 (2) (av) Withdrawal by department. 1. If at any time after a voluntary
8party submits an application to obtain an exemption under this section the voluntary
9party fails to make reasonable progress toward completion of an environmental
10investigation and environmental restoration of the property identified in the
11application, the department may withdraw the voluntary party from the process of
12obtaining an exemption under this section.
SB253,3,2013 2. If a voluntary party fails to provide to the department requested reports or
14updates on the status of an environmental investigation and environmental
15restoration of the property identified in the voluntary party's application for one year
16or longer, the department may request a written status update from the applicant.
17If the voluntary party does not submit the status update within 60 days or submits
18a status update that does not show that reasonable progress is being made, the
19department may withdraw the voluntary party from the process of obtaining an
20exemption under this section.
SB253,3,2421 3. If the department decides to withdraw a voluntary party under this
22paragraph, the department shall provide a written notice of its decision to the
23voluntary party and shall return any unused portion of any advance deposit made
24by the voluntary party, unless otherwise directed by the voluntary party.
SB253,4,6
14. A voluntary party may not reenter the process of obtaining an exemption
2under this section after being withdrawn under this paragraph unless the voluntary
3party pays the fees under sub. (5) and enters into an agreement with the department
4containing a schedule for conducting the environmental investigation and
5environmental restoration of the property identified in the voluntary party's
6application.
SB253, s. 5 7Section 5. 292.15 (4) of the statutes is repealed.
SB253, s. 6 8Section 6. 292.15 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB253,4,139 292.15 (5) Fees. The department may, in accordance with rules that it
10promulgates, assess and collect fees from a voluntary party to offset the cost of the
11department's activities under subs. sub. (2) and (4). The fees may include an advance
12deposit, from which the department shall return the amount in excess of the cost of
13the department's activities under subs. sub. (2) and (4).
SB253, s. 7 14Section 7. 292.15 (7) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB253,4,1615 292.15 (7) (d) A solid waste facility that was licensed under s. 144.44, 1993
16stats., or s. 289.31
is an approved facility.
SB253, s. 8 17Section 8. 292.15 (7) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB253,4,2118 292.15 (7) (e) A solid waste facility or waste site at which active remedial
19operation or treatment is required, including a site or facility where methane or
20groundwater monitoring or gas,; leachate , or groundwater collection or treatment;
21or active gas extraction
is required as all or part of the remedial action.
SB253,4,2222 (End)
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