AB322: Bill Text

AB322,6,6 1. Any discharges of dredged or fill material into the wetland are determined not to be subject to regulation under 33 USC 1344 due to the decision in Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, No. 99-1178 (U.S. Jan. 9, 2001) or any subsequent interpretations of that decision by a federal agency or by a federal district or federal appellate court that applies to wetlands located in this state.

AB322,6,11 2. The wetland is determined to be a nonnavigable, intrastate, and isolated wetland under the decision in Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, No. 99-1178 (U.S. Jan. 9, 2001) or any subsequent interpretations of that decision by a federal agency or by a federal district or federal appellate court that applies to wetlands located in this state.

AB322,6,12 (b) For the purpose of identifying wetlands under par. (a):

AB322,6,14 1. If the U.S. army corps of engineers issues a determination as to whether a wetland is a nonfederal wetland, the department shall adopt that determination.

AB322,6,17 2. If the U.S. army corps of engineers does not issue a determination as to whether a wetland is a nonfederal wetland, the department shall determine whether the wetland is a nonfederal wetland.

AB322,6,24 (2) Certification requirement. (a) No person may discharge dredged or fill material into a nonfederal wetland unless the discharge is authorized by a water quality certification issued by the department under this section. No person may violate any condition imposed by the department in a water quality certification under this section. The department may not issue a water quality certification under this section unless it determines that the discharge will comply with all applicable water quality standards.

AB322,7,3 (b) The department shall promulgate a rule to establish time limits for the steps involved in processing applications and issuing determinations that approve or deny applications for water quality certifications issued under this section.

AB322,7,19 (3) Delineation procedures. For purposes of delineating the boundary of a nonfederal wetland, the department and the person who is applying for or who holds a water quality certification under this section shall use the procedures contained in the wetlands delineation manual published by the U.S. army corps of engineers. The edition of the manual that shall be used shall be the 1987 edition of the manual and any document that the U.S. army corps of engineers issues interpreting that manual, unless the U.S. army corps of engineers publishes an edition of the manual after January 9, 2001, and the department by rule designates that edition as the one to be used under this subsection. If the U.S. army corps of engineers issues a guidance document interpreting the edition of the wetlands delineation manual that the department is required to use under this subsection and if that guidance document is issued after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], the department shall notify the appropriate standing committee of each house of the legislature, as determined by the speaker of the assembly and the president of the senate, of the issuance of the guidance document and whether the department intends to promulgate a rule incorporating the provisions of the guidance document.

AB322,7,22 (4) Exemptions. Except as provided in sub. (5), the certification requirement under sub. (2) does not apply to any discharge that is the result of any of the following activities:

AB322,7,23 (a) Normal farming, silviculture, or ranching activities.

AB322,7,25 (b) Maintenance, emergency repair, or reconstruction of damaged parts of structures that are in use in a nonfederal wetland.

AB322,8,2 (c) Construction or maintenance of farm ponds, stock ponds, or irrigation ditches.

AB322,8,3 (d) Maintenance of drainage ditches.

AB322,8,6 (e) Construction or maintenance of farm roads, forest roads, or temporary mining roads that is performed in accordance with best management practices, as determined by the department, to ensure all of the following:

AB322,8,8 1. That the flow and circulation patterns and chemical and biological characteristics of the affected nonfederal wetland are not impaired.

AB322,8,9 2. That the reach of the affected nonfederal wetland is not reduced.

AB322,8,11 3. That any adverse effect on the aquatic environment of the affected nonfederal wetland is minimized to the degree required by the department.

AB322,8,16 (5) Inapplicability of exemptions. Notwithstanding sub. (4), a discharge that would be exempt under sub. (4) is subject to the certification requirement under sub. (2) if the discharge is incidental to an activity that has as its purpose bringing a nonfederal wetland, or part of an nonfederal wetland, into a use for which it was not previously subject and if the activity may do any of the following:

AB322,8,17 (a) Impair the flow or circulation of any nonfederal wetland.

AB322,8,18 (b) Reduce the reach of any nonfederal wetland.

AB322,8,23 (6) Rules for exemptions. The department shall promulgate rules to interpret and implement the provisions under subs. (4) and (5). The rules shall be consistent with all existing federal laws or interpretations. The department shall incorporate all additional federal laws or interpretations into the rules that the department promulgates under this subsection and may not otherwise amend the rules.

AB322,9,4 (7) Rules prohibition. The department may not promulgate or enforce a rule requiring a person who submits an application for a water quality certification under this section for the discharge of dredged or fill material into a nonfederal wetland to submit a description of practicable alternatives to the discharge or to submit a description of any investigation conducted to determine the viability of such alternatives if any of the following apply:

AB322,9,8 (a) The discharge is required by the federal government, the state, or a local governmental unit in order for the person submitting the application for the water quality certification to receive approval from the federal government, state, or local governmental unit for an activity that serves a public purpose.

AB322,9,10 (b) The federal government, the state, or a local governmental unit determines that the discharge is necessary to ensure public safety.

AB322,9,15 (8) General water quality certifications. (a) In lieu of issuing individual water quality certifications under this section, the department may issue a general water quality certification for types of discharges that the department determines are similar in nature or for the purpose of simplifying the certification process if the discharges meet all of the following standards:

AB322,9,17 1. The discharges will cause only minimal adverse environmental effects, as determined by the department, if they are performed separately.

AB322,9,19 2. The cumulative adverse effect on the environment by the discharges will be minimal, as determined by the department.

AB322,9,21 (b) No general water quality certification issued under this section may be effective for more than 5 years after the date of its issuance.

AB322,9,24 (bn) 1. The department shall issue general water quality certifications that are consistent with all of the general permits issued under 33 USC 1344 (e) that applied on January 8, 2001, to nonfederal wetlands located in this state.

AB322,10,4 2. If a general permit as specified in subd. 1., is amended or modified after January 8, 2001, the department shall incorporate the amendments or modifications into the general water quality certifications issued under subd. 1. and may not otherwise amend or modify the general water quality certifications.

AB322,10,11 (c) If the department determines that any of the discharges under a general water quality certification issued under this section fails to meet any of the standards in par. (a), the department shall modify the certification so that the discharges meet all of the standards. If the department cannot modify the certification so that all of the standards will be met or if the department determines that the discharges subject to the general certification are more appropriately certified by using individual water quality certifications, the department shall revoke the general certification.

AB322,10,14 (d) Before issuing, modifying, or revoking a general water quality certification under this subsection, the department shall provide notice and a hearing under ss. 227.17 and 227.18.

AB322,10,17 (9) Inspection authority. (a) For purposes of enforcing this section, any employee or other representative of the department, upon presenting his or her credentials, may do any of the following:

AB322,10,20 1. Enter and inspect any property on which is located a nonfederal wetland, or part of a nonfederal wetland, for which an application for a water quality certification has been submitted to the department.

AB322,10,23 2. Enter and inspect any property on which is located a nonfederal wetland and where the department has probable cause to believe that a violation of this section has occurred or is occurring to investigate a discharge of dredged or fill material.

AB322,10,25 3. Gain access to and inspect any records that the department requires a holder of a water quality certification to keep.

AB322,11,7 (am) An employee or representative of the department may not exercise the authority granted under par. (a) 1. before the date upon which the application is submitted. If the application is denied, an employee or representative of the department may not exercise this authority after the date on which the application is denied. If the application is approved, an employee or representative of the department may not exercise this authority after the 20th day immediately following the completion of the discharge of the dredged or fill material.

AB322,11,11 (b) Any employee or representative of the department may exercise the authority granted under par. (a) 1., 2., or 3. only during reasonable hours and only after the department has provided reasonable advance notice to the person owning the property involved or to the holder of the water quality certification.

AB322,11,15 (c) An employee or representative of the department may not gain access to or inspect any records as authorized under par. (a) 3. unless the holder of the water quality certification, or the holder's designee, is present or unless the holder of the certification waives this requirement.

AB322,11,17 (10) Other requirements. This section does not affect the authority of the department to do any of the following:

AB322,11,20 (a) Regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material in a nonfederal wetland under ss. 59.692, 61.351, 62.231, 87.30, 281.11 to 281.35, 281.41 to 281.47, or 281.49 to 281.85 or ch. 30, 31, 283, 289, 291, 292, 293, 295, or 299.

AB322,11,22 (b) Issue a water quality certification under rules promulgated under this chapter to implement 33 USC 1341 (a).

AB322, s. 8 Section 8. 281.69 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB322,11,25 281.69 (3) (b) 2. The restoration of a wetland, as defined in s. 23.32 (1), if the restoration will protect or improve a lake's water quality or its natural ecosystem.

AB322, s. 9 Section 9. 281.98 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB322,12,7 281.98 (1) Except as provided in ss. 281.47 (1) (d), 281.75 (19), and 281.99 (2), any person who violates this chapter or any rule promulgated or any plan approval, license or, special order, or water quality certification issued under this chapter shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $5,000 for each violation. Each day of continued violation is a separate offense. While an order is suspended, stayed, or enjoined, this penalty does not accrue.

AB322, s. 10 Section 10. 299.95 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB322,12,24 299.95 Enforcement; duty of department of justice; expenses. The attorney general shall enforce chs. 281 to 285 and 289 to 295 and this chapter, except ss. 281.48, 285.57, 285.59, and 299.64, and all rules, special orders, licenses, plan approvals and, permits, and water quality certifications of the department, except those promulgated or issued under ss. 281.48, 285.57, 285.59, and 299.64 and except as provided in s. 285.86. The circuit court for Dane county or for any other county where a violation occurred in whole or in part has jurisdiction to enforce chs. 281 to 285 and 289 to 295 or this chapter or the rule, special order, license, plan approval or, permit, or certification by injunctional and other relief appropriate for enforcement. For purposes of this proceeding where chs. 281 to 285 and 289 to 295 or this chapter or the rule, special order, license, plan approval or, permit or certification prohibits in whole or in part any pollution, a violation is considered a public nuisance. The department of natural resources may enter into agreements with the department of justice to assist with the administration of chs. 281 to 285 and 289 to 295 and this chapter. Any funds paid to the department of justice under these agreements shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.455 (1) (k).

AB322, s. 11 Section 11. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB322,13,1 (1) Temporary process.

AB322,13,3 (a) In this subsection, "existing federal law or interpretation" has the meaning given in section 281.36 (1) (b) of the statutes, as created by this act.

AB322,13,7 (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), no person may discharge dredged or fill material into a nonfederal wetland before the date on which the rules required under section 281.36 (6) of the statutes, as created by this act, are effective unless one of the following applies:

AB322,13,10 1. The person demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department of natural resources that the discharge would qualify for an exemption under existing federal law or interpretation.

AB322,13,12 2. The person receives a water quality certification issued under section 281.36 of the statutes, as created by this act.

AB322,13,15 3. The person demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department of natural resources that the discharge is exempt from the water quality standards for wetlands set under rules promulgated under section 281.15 of the statutes.

AB322,13,17 (c) This subsection does not apply after the date on which the rules required under section 281.36 (6) of the statutes, as created by this act, are effective.

AB322,13,22 (2) Rules deadline. The department of natural resources shall submit in proposed form the rules required under section 281.36 (6) of the statutes, as created by this act, to the legislative council staff under section 227.15 (1) of the statutes no later than the first day of the 13th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection.

AB322, s. 12 Section 12. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

AB322,14,2 (1) The treatment of section 23.321 (2) of the statutes takes effect on August 1, 2001, or on the day after publication, whichever is later.

AB322,14,3 (End)