AB449, s. 24 10Section 24. 281.48 (2) (b) to (g) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB449,17,1411 281.48 (2) (b) "Grease trap interceptor" means a watertight tank for the
12collection of grease present in sewage and other wastes, and from which grease may
13be skimmed from the surface of liquid waste for disposal
receptacle designed to
14intercept and retain grease or fatty substances
.
AB449,18,215 (c) "Privy" means a cavity in the ground or a portable above-ground device
16constructed for toilet uses which receives human excrement either to be partially
17absorbed directly by the surrounding soil or stored for decomposition and periodic
18removal
an enclosed nonportable toilet into which human wastes not carried by

1water are deposited to a subsurface storage chamber that may or may not be
2watertight
.
AB449,18,53 (d) "Septage" means the scum, liquid, sludge or other waste in a septic tank,
4soil absorption field, holding tank, grease trap or interceptor, privy, or other
5component of a private sewage system
.
AB449,18,86 (e) "Septic tank" means and includes a septic toilet, chemical closet and any
7other watertight enclosure used for storage and anaerobic decomposition of human
8excrement, or domestic or industrial wastes wastewater.
AB449,18,119 (f) "Servicing" means removing septage from a septic tank, soil absorption field,
10holding tank, grease trap or interceptor, privy, or other component of a private
11sewage system
and disposing of the septage.
AB449,18,1412 (g) "Soil absorption field" means an area or cavity in the ground which receives
13the liquid discharge of a septic tank or similar wastewater treatment device
14component of a private sewage system.
Note: The definitions in this Section are amended to clarify and update the text
of the definitions.
AB449, s. 25 15Section 25. 281.48 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB449,18,1716 281.48 (2) (bm) "Private sewage system" has the meaning given in s. 145.01
17(12).
Note: The term "private sewage system" is used in current s. 281.48 but is not
defined. The cross-referenced definition is the definition used in the statutes under
department of commerce jurisdiction for private sewage system regulation.
AB449, s. 26 18Section 26. 281.48 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,18,2219 281.48 (2m) Powers of the department. The department shall have has
20general supervision and control of servicing septic tanks, soil absorption fields,
21holding tanks, grease traps and interceptors, privies, and other components of
22private sewage systems
.
AB449, s. 27
1Section 27. 281.48 (3) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 281.48 (3) (d)
2and amended to read:
AB449,19,53 281.48 (3) (d) (intro.) A farmer who disposes of septage on land is exempt from
4the licensing requirement under par. (a) if all of the following conditions in sub. (4m)
5(b)
apply:.
Note: The current statutes require a person who services (i.e., pumps the contents
from) a private sewage system to obtain a license, with one exception. Under the current
statutes, a farmer who services a private sewage system is not required to obtain a license
if the farmer does all of the following: removes septage from a private sewage system that
is located on the same parcel where the septage is disposed of, disposes of no more than
3,000 gallons per week, complies with all regulations related to servicing a private sewage
system, and has sufficient land that is suitable for septage disposal. This bill draft
narrows the exemption for farmers so that the license exemption is available only to a
farmer who services a septic tank, and not to a farmer who services a holding tank or other
private sewage system. This bill also states explicitly that the farmer must pump and
dispose of the septic tank waste on property that the farmer owns or leases, to make this
provision conform to legislative intent.
AB449, s. 28 6Section 28. 281.48 (3) (d) 1. to 4. of the statutes are repealed.
AB449, s. 29 7Section 29. 281.48 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,19,118 281.48 (3) (e) Operator certification. No person, except for a farmer exempted
9from licensing under par. (d), may service a septage private sewage system or operate
10a septage servicing vehicle unless the person is certified as an operator of a septage
11servicing vehicle under s. 281.17 (3).
AB449, s. 30 12Section 30. 281.48 (4g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,20,413 281.48 (4g) Rules on servicing. The department shall promulgate rules
14relating to servicing septic tanks, soil absorption fields, holding tanks, grease traps
15and
interceptors, privies, and other components of private sewage systems in order
16to protect the public health against unsanitary and unhealthful practices and
17conditions, and to protect the surface waters and groundwaters of the state from
18contamination by septage. The rules shall comply with ch. 160. The rules shall apply
19to all septage disposal, whether undertaken pursuant to a license or registration a

1license excemption
under sub. (3). The rules shall require each person with a license
2under sub. (3) to maintain records of the location of sites private sewage systems
3serviced and the volume of septage disposed of and location of septage disposed that
4disposal
.
AB449, s. 31 5Section 31. 281.48 (4m) (title) and (a) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB449,20,116 281.48 (4m) (title) Site licenses approvals. (a) The department may require
7a soil test and a license shall require a site approval for any location where septage
8is stored or disposed of on land, except that the department may not require a soil
9test and a license for septage disposal in a licensed solid waste disposal facility. In
10determining whether to require a license for a site, the department shall consider the
11septage disposal needs of different areas of the state
.
Note: "Stored" is deleted because storage of septage is regulated under s. 281.41
rather than s. 281.48. The site license for land disposal of septage is changed to a site
approval. This change allows the DNR to continue its present practice of reviewing
applications for septage disposal and approving them based on the paperwork submitted.
A site license, as in the current statute, implies a more thorough review of each
application. The exception for septage disposal in a solid waste disposal facility is
eliminated so that the hauler must notify the DNR that the septage will be taken to a
landfill and the DNR may simply approve the septage disposal if it is consistent with the
landfill's plan of operation.
AB449, s. 32 12Section 32. 281.48 (4m) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,20,1613 281.48 (4m) (b) (intro.) Notwithstanding par. (a), the department may not
14require a license site approval for a location where septage is disposed of on land if
15the person who disposes of the septage is a farmer who owns or leases that location
16and
if:
Note: The current statute contains an exemption from the requirement for a site
license for any place where septage is disposed of on land. DNR may not currently require
a site license (changed in this bill to a site approval) for a location where septage is
removed from a private sewage system and disposed of on the same parcel where the
private sewage system is located. This bill limits the exception from the requirement for
a site approval so that it applies only to farmers. In addition, this bill narrows the
exception in other respects in the following 2 Sections, as explained in the notes. This
bill also states explicitly that the farmer must pump and dispose of the septic tank waste

on property that the farmer owns or leases, to make this provision conform to legislative
intent.
AB449, s. 33 1Section 33. 281.48 (4m) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,21,42 281.48 (4m) (b) 1. The septage is removed from a septic tank, soil absorption
3field, holding tank, grease trap or privy
which is located on the same parcel where
4the septage is disposed of; and
Note: This bill narrows the exception from site approval so that it applies only to
septage removed from a septic tank. The main effect of this change is either to require
the contents of a holding tank or other private sewage system to be taken to a sewage
treatment plant or, if the holding tank or other waste is disposed of on the same parcel
where the holding tank or other private sewage system is located, the disposal site must
have a site approval.
AB449, s. 34 5Section 34. 281.48 (4m) (b) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
Note: The repeal of s. 281.48 (4m) (b) 2. deletes the 3,000 gallon per week limit for
disposal of septage without a site approval on the same parcel where the private sewage
system is located. This limit is no longer necessary due to the elimination of holding tanks
from the types of private sewage systems for which the site approval exemption is
provided. Septic tanks, which may continue to be pumped and the septage disposed of
on the same parcel, do not produce large volumes of septage.
AB449, s. 35 6Section 35. 281.48 (4m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,21,117 281.48 (4m) (c) If a location is exempt from licensing site approval under par.
8(b), the department may require the person who services the septic tank, soil
9absorption field, holding tank, grease trap or privy to register the disposal site with
10the department and
to provide the department with information to show that
11sufficient land area is available for disposal.
AB449, s. 36 12Section 36. 281.48 (4m) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB449,22,213 281.48 (4m) (d) A person seeking a site approval under par. (a) shall submit
14an application to the department at least 7 days prior to using the site. Upon
15receiving an application for site approval, the department may enter and inspect the
16site if the department determines that an inspection is necessary. Commencing 7

1days after submitting the application, the applicant may use the site unless the
2department notifies the applicant that the site may not be used.
Note: The procedure for a septage hauler to obtain a site license (changed to a site
approval in this bill) is set out by the DNR in administrative rules in ch. NR 113. The rules
contain a provision requiring the hauler to notify the DNR at least 7 days prior to using
a field for septage disposal. The rules do not clearly state the consequence if DNR does
not respond within the 7 days. This bill provides that the hauler may commence using
the site after providing notice to the DNR and the 7 days have elapsed. The hauler may
then continue using the site unless the DNR subsequently determines that the site may
not be used and so notifies the hauler.
AB449, s. 37 3Section 37. 281.48 (4s) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,22,54 281.48 (4s) (a) (intro.) The Except as provided in par. (c), the department shall
5collect the following fees:
AB449, s. 38 6Section 38. 281.48 (4s) (a) 4. and (b) of the statutes are repealed.
Note: This Section repeals the fees for licenses for septage land disposal sites
(changed to a site approved in this bill). Currently, the DNR does not collect these fees.
AB449, s. 39 7Section 39. 281.48 (4s) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB449,22,148 281.48 (4s) (c) In lieu of the fees specified in par. (a), the department may
9establish by rule fees for a license under sub. (3) (a) necessary to meet the costs
10incurred by the department in administering and enforcing licenses, approvals, and
11other program requirements under this section. The fees established under this
12paragraph shall be a fixed amount for each licensee, a variable amount for each
13licensee based on the number of vehicles used by a licensee for servicing, or a
14combination of these amounts.
Note: This Section authorizes the DNR to establish by rule new fees for septage
servicing licensees, in lieu of the current statutorily specified fees, subject to the
conditions in this provision.
AB449, s. 40 15Section 40. 281.48 (5) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,22,1816 281.48 (5) (a) 4. Violated any provisions of this section or any rule prescribed
17by the department or falsified information on inspection forms under s. 145.245 (3)
18145.20 (5).
AB449, s. 41
1Section 41. 281.48 (5m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,23,162 281.48 (5m) (c) The site criteria and disposal procedures in a county ordinance
3shall be identical to the corresponding portions of rules promulgated by the
4department under this section. The county shall require the person engaged in
5septage disposal to submit the results of a soil test conducted by a soil tester certified
6under s. 145.045 and to obtain an annual license a site approval for each location
7where the person disposes of septage on land, except that the county may not require
8a license for septage disposal in a licensed solid waste disposal facility
. The county
9shall maintain records of soil tests, site licenses approvals, county inspections and
10enforcement actions under this subsection. A county may not require licensing or
11registration for any person or vehicle engaged in septage disposal. The county may
12establish a schedule of fees for site licenses approvals under this paragraph. The
13county may require a bond or other method of demonstrating the financial ability to
14comply with the septage disposal ordinance. The county shall provide for the
15enforcement of the septage disposal ordinance by penalties identical to those in s.
16281.98.
AB449, s. 42 17Section 42. 281.48 (5p) of the statutes is created to read:
AB449,23,2118 281.48 (5p) No city, village, town, or county may prohibit, through zoning or
19any other means, the disposal of septage on land if that disposal complies with this
20section and rules promulgated under this section or with an ordinance adopted under
21sub. (5m) (a) or (b).
Note: This provides that a city, village, town, or county may not prohibit septage
disposal on land if the disposal conforms with the statutes and DNR rules or with a
septage land disposal ordinance adopted by a county, city, village, or town under s. 281.48
(5m) (a) or (b).
AB449, s. 43 22Section 43. 281.49 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 281.49 (1) (m) and
23amended to read:
AB449,24,3
1281.49 (1) (m) "Septage" means the scum, liquid, sludge or other waste from
2a septic tank, soil absorption field, holding tank or privy. This term does not include
3the waste from a grease trap interceptor.
AB449, s. 44 4Section 44. 281.49 (5) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,24,105 281.49 (5) (c) 4. Actual and equitable Reasonable disposal fees based on the
6volume of septage introduced into the municipal sewage system and calculated at the
7rate applied to other users of the municipal sewage system, and including the costs
8of additional facilities or personnel necessary to accept septage at the point of
9introduction into the municipal sewage system
that meet the requirements in sub.
10(10)
.
AB449, s. 45 11Section 45. 281.49 (10), (11) and (12) of the statutes are created to read:
AB449,24,1612 281.49 (10) (a) Disposal fees established by a municipal sewage system under
13sub. (5) (c) 4. for the disposal of septage introduced into the system by a licensed
14disposer may be based on only the following actual costs related to the disposal of the
15septage, as determined in accordance with a uniform cost accounting system
16applicable to all services provided by the system:
AB449,24,1717 1. The cost of facilities at the system that receive and store septage.
AB449,24,1818 2. The cost of any testing of septage conducted by the system.
AB449,24,2019 3. The cost of treating septage by the system. This cost may vary based on the
20quantity and type of the septage.
AB449,24,2221 4. The portion of the system's additional administrative and personnel costs for
22accepting the septage not reflected in the costs identified in subds. 2. and 3.
AB449,25,223 (b) In determining its actual costs under par. (a) 1. to 4., a municipal sewage
24system may include any associated cost of capital, debt service, operation, and
25maintenance, and any other type of cost used by a municipal sewage system in

1establishing fees for the treatment and disposal of sewage by its customers connected
2to the system.
AB449,25,5 3(11) Review of septage disposal fees. (a) Each municipal sewage system shall
4establish a procedure to review a septage disposal fee charged by the system that is
5disputed by a licensed disposer.
AB449,25,96 (b) Upon the request of a licensed disposer, a municipal sewage system shall
7use the procedure established by the system under par. (a) to review whether a
8septage disposal fee charged by the system for the quantity and type of septage
9specified by the licensed disposer conforms with sub. (5) (c) 4.
AB449,25,1610 (c) After pursuing the review of a septage disposal fee under par. (b), a licensed
11disposer may request the staff of the public service commission to informally review
12the disputed septage disposal fee. If the staff determine that there is sufficient basis
13for a dispute regarding the fee and that use of the procedure under par. (b) is not
14likely to resolve the dispute, the staff may agree to review the disputed septage
15disposal fee. Based on its review, the staff may recommend a reasonable septage
16disposal fee that conforms with sub. (5) (c) 4.
AB449,25,2017 (d) If the use of the procedure under par. (c) does not lead to resolution of the
18dispute, the licensed disposer requesting the review under par. (c) may make a
19written request to the public service commission for review of the disputed septage
20disposal fee under s. 66.0821 (5) or 200.59 (5).
AB449,25,2521 (e) Upon the request of a licensed disposer, or the public service commission or
22its staff, a municipal sewage system shall provide information to the requester
23concerning the basis of its septage disposal fees. A municipal sewage system shall
24provide to the public service commission or its staff any other information that the
25commission or its staff requests related to a review under par. (c) or (d).
AB449,26,5
1(12) Notice of septage disposal increases. Each municipal sewage system
2shall notify each licensed disposer currently approved under sub. (5) (b) to dispose
3of septage in the system of any increase in a disposal fee applicable to the licensed
4disposer at least 60 days prior to imposing the increased disposal fee. The notice
5shall include a description of how the system calculated the new disposal fee.
Note: The treatment of s. 281.49 (5) (c) 4. and (10), (11), and (12) in this Section
and the preceding Section modify the requirements for fees that a municipal sewage
system may charge for the disposal of septage introduced into the system by a licensed
disposer, create a process for the review of a septage disposal fee charged by a municipal
sewage system that is disputed by a licensed disposer, and requires each municipal
sewage system to notify licensed disposers who dispose of septage in the system of any
increase in the disposal fee applicable to the licensed disposer prior to imposing the
increased disposal fee.
AB449, s. 46 6Section 46. 281.58 (1) (cv) of the statutes is created to read:
AB449,26,77 281.58 (1) (cv) "Septage" has the meaning given in s. 281.48 (2) (d).
AB449, s. 47 8Section 47. 281.58 (7) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,26,129 281.58 (7) (b) 1. Projects that the department determines are necessary to
10prevent a municipality from significantly exceeding an effluent limitation contained
11in a permit issued under ch. 283, including projects or capacity for the receiving,
12storage, and treatment of septage
.
Note: The current statutes create the clean water fund program, which provides
financial assistance to municipalities for the cost of planning, design, and construction
of wastewater treatment facilities, and other surface and groundwater pollution
abatement facilities. The program includes various forms of financial assistance,
including market interest rate or below market interest rate loans.
The current clean water fund program can be used as a source of funding for a
portion of a sewage treatment plant project that provides receiving, storage, and
treatment of septage. However, this is not expressly stated in the statute. This bill adds
an explicit statement that such facilities for septage are eligible for financial assistance
under the clean water fund program.
AB449, s. 48 13Section 48. 281.58 (8) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,27,714 281.58 (8) (b) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2. and par. (k), the amount of
15reserve capacity for a project eligible for financial assistance through a method
16specified under sub. (6) (b) is limited to that future capacity required to serve the

1users of the project expected to exist within the sewer service area of the project and
2that future capacity required to serve the need expected to exist outside of the sewer
3service area of the project for septage that is reasonably likely to be disposed of in the
4project
10 years after the project is estimated to become operational. The
5department, in consultation with the demographic services center in the department
6of administration under s. 16.96, shall promulgate rules defining procedures for
7projecting population used in determining the amount of reserve capacity.
Note: The current clean water fund program places a limit on the allowable
reserve capacity of a sewage treatment plant in order to qualify for below market rate
loans and certain other financial assistance. Reserve capacity is the extra capacity to
treat wastewater beyond present needs. The current statutory limit is the capacity to
treat wastewater from users within the service area for no more than 10 years after
completion of the project. This bill adds to the allowable reserve capacity an amount
needed to provide septage disposal for property located outside of the sewer service area
for that 10-year period if the septage is reasonably likely to be taken to the sewage
treatment plant.
AB449, s. 49 8Section 49. 281.58 (12) (a) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
AB449,27,119 281.58 (12) (a) 5. The interest rate for the portion of a project that provides
10facilities for receiving and storing septage and capacity for treating septage is zero
11percent.
Note: This bill creates a zero percent interest rate for the portion of a clean water
fund loan for septage receiving and storing facilities and capacity for septage treatment.
This interest rate applies even though the rest of the project has a different interest rate
or method of financial assistance. The purpose of the zero percent interest rate is to
provide an incentive for a municipality to add facilities and capacity for septage disposal,
and to reduce the risk for the municipality of providing that capacity, but then not
receiving the expected amount of septage. Even though the interest rate is zero, the
municipality will need to repay the clean water fund loan, so the municipality will still
have an incentive to build cost-effective projects and to market the septage disposal
service.
AB449, s. 50 12Section 50. 281.77 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB449,28,213 281.77 (1) (b) "Regulated activity" means an activity for which the department
14may issue an order under chs. 285 or 289 to 299 or this chapter, except s. 281.48, if
15the activity is conducted in violation of chs. 285 or 289 to 299 or this chapter, except

1s. 281.48,
or in violation of licenses, permits or special orders issued or rules
2promulgated under chs. 285 or 289 to 299 or this chapter, except s. 281.48.
Note: Section 281.77, stats., relates to damage to water supplies. This statute
authorizes the DNR to conduct a hearing and order the owner or operator of a "regulated
activity" that has damaged private water supplies to treat the water, repair the private
water supply or replace the private water supply. Section 281.77 (1) (b) defines "regulated
activity" as any activity under environmental statutes for which the DNR may issue an
order if the activity is conducted in violation of the environmental statutes. A violation
of septage disposal regulations should be treated in the same manner as any other
violation of an environmental statute. Therefore, the exception for septage disposal is
deleted. [For a full explanation of the source of the current exemption in this statute for
septage disposal, see the Note to the Section in this bill that amends s. 20.370 (3) (ma).]
AB449, s. 51 3Section 51. 283.82 of the statutes is created to read:
AB449,28,6 4283.82 Land application of sewage sludge. (1) The department shall
5oversee, set technical standards for, and regulate the application of sewage sludge
6to land.
AB449,28,9 7(2) No city, village, town, or county may prohibit, through zoning or any other
8means, the application of sewage sludge to land if that application complies with this
9section and rules promulgated under this section.
AB449,28,12 10(3) A city, village, town, or county may not regulate the application of sewage
11sludge to land, except that the city, village, town, or county may enact the model
12ordinance developed under sub. (4).
AB449,28,15 13(4) The department shall develop a model land application ordinance for
14sewage sludge. The model ordinance shall be consistent with rules promulgated
15under this section.
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