SB177: Bill Text

LRB-0989/3

RCT:jlg:hmh

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Senate BILL 177

May 25, 1999 - Introduced by Senators Burke, Clausing, Darling, Risser, Robson and Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives Kaufert, Johnsrud, J. Lehman, Handrick, Bock, Goetsch, Black, Gunderson, Plale, Miller, Boyle, Hasenohrl, Gronemus, Schooff and La Fave. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Environmental Resources and Campaign Finance Reform.

SB177,1,7 An Act to amend subchapter V (title) of chapter 285 [precedes 285.41]; and to create 20.370 (2) (bh), 29.024 (9m), 29.409, 196.854, 281.12 (4), 285.11 (18), 285.48, 285.483, 285.49, 285.495, 285.497 and 287.07 (8) (a) 2m. of the statutes; relating to: mercury emissions from certain sources, reporting mercury emissions, mercury in medical waste sent to incinerators, fish advisories, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill limits the amount of mercury that may be emitted into the air by major utilities beginning in 2001. Under the bill, in each year from 2001 to 2004 a major utility generally may not emit more than the amount of mercury that it emitted in the year 1999. For 2005 to 2009, the limit is 85% of the amount of mercury emitted in the year 1999, for 2010 to 2014, the limit is 70% of the amount of mercury emitted in the year 1999 and for 2015 and thereafter, the limit is 50% of the amount of mercury emitted in the year 1999. Under certain circumstances, the department of natural resources (DNR) may grant a variance from the mercury emission limits for a year, but DNR may not grant a major utility more than two variances in ten years.

This bill limits the amount of mercury that may be emitted into the air by certain incinerators and plants that use mercury to produce specified products (chlor-alkali plants) beginning in 2001. Under the bill, in each year from 2001 to 2004 these incinerators and chlor-alkali plants generally may not emit more than the amount of mercury that it emitted in the year 1999. For 2005 to 2009, the limit is 85% of the amount of mercury emitted in the year 1999, for 2010 to 2014, the limit is 70% of the amount of mercury emitted in the year 1999 and for 2015 and thereafter, the limit is 50% of the amount of mercury emitted in the year 1999. The bill requires DNR to promulgate rules under which it may grant a variance from the mercury emission limits for incinerators and chlor-alkali plants.

The bill imposes an assessment on major utilities for the costs of DNR's activities related to mercury emissions. The bill also requires persons who generate electricity to annually report the amount of mercury emitted in generating electricity, with certain exceptions.

This bill allows a person to sue DNR if the person believes that DNR is not performing an act under the mercury emission provisions created by the bill and the act is not discretionary with DNR. The bill also allows a person to sue another person who is alleged to be in violation of the mercury emission provisions created by the bill unless DNR has commenced a civil or criminal action concerning the alleged violation.

This bill requires DNR to ensure that a copy of a fish advisory is distributed to each person obtaining a sport fishing license. The fish advisory describes the risks to human health of eating sport fish that contain mercury. The bill also requires DNR to post signs about the fish advisory at public boat landings.

Finally, this bill requires persons who generate medical waste that is sent to a medical waste facility to develop policies to reduce the amount of mercury in medical waste.

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:

SB177, s. 1 Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

SB177, s. 2 Section 2. 20.370 (2) (bh) of the statutes is created to read:

SB177,3,5 20.370 (2) (bh) Air management — mercury deposition activities. The amounts in the schedule for mercury deposition studies and evaluation and monitoring activities. All moneys received under s. 196.854 shall be credited to this appropriation.

SB177, s. 3 Section 3. 29.024 (9m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB177,3,9 29.024 (9m) Information with certain approvals. The department shall ensure that a copy of the fish advisory issued under s. 281.12 (4) is distributed to each person being issued, under this chapter, an approval that authorizes sport fishing.

SB177, s. 4 Section 4. 29.409 of the statutes is created to read:

SB177,3,14 29.409 Notice of fish advisory. The department shall place a sign at each public boat landing on a body of water if fish in that body of water are included in the fish advisory issued under s. 281.12 (4). The sign shall describe the species and sizes of fish included in the fish advisory.

SB177, s. 5 Section 5. 196.854 of the statutes is created to read:

SB177,3,20 196.854 Assessment for mercury deposition activities. (1) The commission shall annually assess against the major utilities, as defined in s. 285.48 (1) (f), the amount appropriated under s. 20.370 (2) (bh) for mercury deposition studies and evaluation and monitoring activities conducted by the department of natural resources.

SB177,3,24 (2) The commission, in consultation with the department of natural resources, shall promulgate rules establishing a method for assessing each major utility an amount that is proportionate to its fraction of the total amount of mercury emissions from major utilities in this state.

SB177, s. 6 Section 6. 281.12 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

SB177,4,5 281.12 (4) The department, in consultation with the department of health and family services, shall annually issue an advisory describing the risks to human health of eating sport fish that contain mercury and that are taken from the various waters of this state. The advisory may also describe the risks to human health of eating sport fish that contain other contaminants.

SB177, s. 7 Section 7. 285.11 (18) of the statutes is created to read:

SB177,4,9 285.11 (18) Conduct, or contract with other persons to conduct, research on the effects of mercury emissions on human health and the environment and research on methods for reducing those emissions.

SB177, s. 8 Section 8. Subchapter V (title) of chapter 285 [precedes 285.41] of the statutes is amended to read:

SB177,4,12 CHAPTER 285

SB177,4,17 SUBCHAPTER V SULFUR DIOXIDE AND NITROGEN OXIDE EMISSION RATES AND GOALS; MERCURY EMISSION LIMITS

SB177, s. 9 Section 9. 285.48 of the statutes is created to read:

SB177,4,20 285.48 Mercury emission limits; major utilities. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB177,4,22 (a) "Annual mercury emissions" means the number of pounds of mercury emissions from all boilers under the ownership or control of a person in a year.

SB177,4,23 (c) "Boiler" means a fossil fuel-fired boiler.

SB177,4,24 (d) "Commission" means the public service commission.

SB177,5,3 (e) "Environmental dispatching" means the operation of the various units under the ownership or control of a major utility in a manner that minimizes the discharge of mercury emissions rather than minimizing the cost of operation.

SB177,5,8 (f) "Major utility" means a Class A utility, as defined in s. 199.03 (4), that generates electricity or an electrical cooperative association organized under ch. 185, if the total mercury emissions from all stationary air contaminant sources in this state under the ownership or control of the utility or association exceeds 10 pounds in 1999.

SB177,5,10 (1m) Determination of mercury emissions. The department shall establish a methodology for determining the annual mercury emissions of major utilities.

SB177,5,14 (2) Emission limits. (a) Except as provided under sub. (4), in 2001 to 2004, the annual mercury emissions of a major utility may not exceed the annual mercury emissions of the major utility in the year 1999, as determined by the department using the methodology under sub. (1m).

SB177,5,18 (b) Except as provided under sub. (4), in 2005 to 2009, the annual mercury emissions of a major utility may not exceed 85% of the annual mercury emissions of the major utility in the year 1999, as determined by the department using the methodology under sub. (1m).

SB177,5,22 (c) Except as provided under sub. (4), in 2010 to 2014, the annual mercury emissions of a major utility may not exceed 70% of the annual mercury emissions of the major utility in the year 1999, as determined by the department using the methodology under sub. (1m).

SB177,6,2 (d) Except as provided under sub. (4), beginning in 2015, the annual mercury emissions of a major utility may not exceed 50% of the annual mercury emissions of the major utility in the year 1999, as determined by the department using the methodology under sub. (1m).

SB177,6,7 (3) Annual compliance plan required. (a) Submission; contents. On or before October 1 of each year beginning with the year 2000, each major utility shall submit to the department and the commission a plan for achieving compliance with the emission limit under sub. (2). The plan shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:

SB177,6,8 1. The major utility's expected electricity demand.

SB177,6,9 2. The major utility's annual operation plan.

SB177,6,11 3. The expected operation characteristics of each boiler, including all of the following:

SB177,6,12 a. The order to be used in placing the boilers into operational production.

SB177,6,14 b. The planned maintenance schedule for each boiler and how the maintenance is expected to affect the methods of meeting electricity demands.

SB177,6,17 4. The amount and mercury content of coal, other fossil fuel or other materials to be used for each boiler in operational production. The mercury content shall be expressed in pounds of mercury per million British thermal units of heat input.