289.42(2)(a)(a) No person engaged in the construction, operation or maintenance of a solid waste disposal facility or hazardous waste disposal facility may dismiss, discipline, demote, transfer, reprimand, harass, reduce the pay of, discriminate against or otherwise retaliate against any employee, or threaten to take any of those actions, because the employee reported to any supervisor, appointing authority, law enforcement official, member of the governing body of the local governmental unit in which the solid waste disposal facility or hazardous waste disposal facility is located or the department any information gained by the employee which the employee reasonably believes demonstrates a violation of this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter.
289.42(2)(b)
(b) Paragraph (a) does not restrict the right of an employer to take appropriate disciplinary action against an employee who knowingly makes an untrue statement or discloses information the disclosure of which is expressly prohibited by state or federal law.
289.42(2)(c)1.1. Any employee who believes that his or her rights under
par. (a) have been violated may, within 30 days after the violation occurs or the employee obtains knowledge of the violation, whichever is later, file a written complaint with the department specifying the nature of the retaliatory action or threat of retaliatory action and requesting relief. The department shall investigate the complaint and shall determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a violation of
par. (a) has occurred. If the department finds that probable cause exists, it shall attempt to resolve the complaint by conference, conciliation or persuasion. If the complaint is not resolved, the department shall proceed with notice and a contested case hearing on the complaint as provided in
ch. 227. The hearing shall be held within 60 days after receipt of the complaint by the department, unless the parties to the proceeding agree otherwise.
289.42(2)(c)2.
2. The department shall issue its decision and order on the complaint within 30 days after the hearing. If the department finds that a violation of
par. (a) has occurred, it may order the employer to take action to remedy the effects of the violation, including reinstating the employee, providing back pay to the employee or taking disciplinary action against employees responsible for the violation.
289.42(2)(d)
(d) This subsection does not limit other protections or remedies available to an employee, including those granted by ordinance, statute, rule, contract or collective bargaining agreement.
289.42 History
History: 1995 a. 227 ss.
531,
532,
991.
289.42 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
NR 524, Wis. adm. code.
289.43
289.43
Waivers; exemptions. 289.43(1)(1)
Definition. In this section, "recycling" means the process by which solid waste is returned to productive use as material or energy, but does not include the collection of solid waste.
289.43(3)
(3) Waiver; research projects. The intent of this subsection is to encourage research projects designed to demonstrate the feasibility of recycling certain solid wastes while providing adequate and reasonable safeguards for the environment. The department may waive compliance with the requirements of this chapter for a project developed for research purposes to evaluate the potential for the recycling of high-volume industrial waste if the following conditions are met:
289.43(3)(a)
(a) The project is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of recycling solid waste or the feasibility of improved solid waste disposal methods.
289.43(3)(b)
(b) The department determines that the project is unlikely to violate any law relating to surface water or groundwater quality including this chapter or
ch. 160 or
283.
289.43(3)(c)
(c) The department reviews and approves the project prior to its initiation.
289.43(3)(d)
(d) The owner or operator of the project agrees to provide all data, reports and research publications relating to the project to the department.
289.43(3)(e)
(e) The owner or operator of the project agrees to take necessary action to maintain compliance with surface water and groundwater laws, including this chapter and
chs. 160 and
283 and to take necessary action to regain compliance with these laws if a violation occurs because of the functioning or malfunctioning of the project.
289.43(4)
(4) Exemption from licensing or regulation; development of improved methods. For the purpose of encouraging the development of improved methods of solid waste disposal, the department may specify by rule types of solid waste facilities that are not required to be licensed under
ss. 289.21 to
289.32 or types of solid waste that need not be disposed of at a licensed solid waste disposal facility.
289.43(5)
(5) Exemption from regulation; single-family waste disposal. The department may not regulate under
chs. 281,
285 or
289 to
299 any solid waste from a single family or household disposed of on the property where it is generated.
289.43(6)
(6) Exemption from licensing; agricultural landspreading of sludge. The department may not require a license under
ss. 289.21 to
289.32 for agricultural land on which nonhazardous sludges from a treatment work, as defined under
s. 283.01 (18), are land spread for purpose of a soil conditioner or nutrient.
289.43(6m)
(6m) Exemption from licensing, agricultural use of wood ash. No license is required under
ss. 289.21 to
289.32 for the agricultural use of wood ash.
289.43(7)
(7) Exemption from licensing; recycling of high-volume industrial waste. 289.43(7)(a)(a) Any person who generates, treats, stores or disposes of high-volume industrial waste may request the department to exempt an individual solid waste facility or specified types of solid waste facilities from this chapter for the purpose of allowing the recycling of any high-volume industrial waste.
289.43(7)(b)
(b) A person who requests an exemption under
par. (a) shall provide any information requested by the department relating to the characteristics of the high-volume industrial waste, the characteristics of the site of the recycling and the proposed methods of recycling.
289.43(7)(c)
(c) The department shall approve the requester's exemption proposal if the department finds that the proposal, as approved, will comply with this chapter and
chs. 30,
31,
160 and
280 to
299 and
ss. 1.11,
23.40,
59.692,
59.693,
60.627,
61.351,
61.354,
62.231,
62.234 and
87.30. If the proposal does not comply with one or more of the requirements specified in this paragraph, the department shall provide a written statement describing how the proposal fails to comply with those requirements. The department shall respond to an application for an exemption under this subsection within 90 days.
289.43(7)(d)
(d) The department may require periodic testing and may impose other conditions on any exemption granted under this subsection. The department may require a person granted an exemption under this subsection to identify the location of any site where high-volume industrial waste is recycled.
289.43(7)(e)1.1. Each applicant for an exemption under this subsection shall submit a nonrefundable fee of $500 with the application to cover the department's cost for the initial screening of the application. The department may waive this fee if the cost of the initial screening to the department will be minimal.
289.43(7)(e)2.
2. The department shall, by rule, establish fees for approved applications which, together with the $500 application fees, shall, as closely as possible, equal the actual cost of reviewing applications.
289.43(8)
(8) Exemption from regulation; low-hazard waste. 289.43(8)(a)(a) The department shall conduct a continuing review of the potential hazard to public health or the environment of various types of solid wastes and solid waste facilities. The department shall consider information submitted by any person concerning the potential hazard to public health or the environment of any type of solid waste.
289.43(8)(b)
(b) If the department, after a review under
par. (a), finds that regulation under this chapter is not warranted in light of the potential hazard to public health or the environment, the department shall either:
289.43(8)(b)1.
1. Promulgate a rule specifying types of solid waste that need not be disposed of at a licensed solid waste disposal facility.
289.43(8)(b)2.
2. On a case-by-case basis, exempt from regulation under this chapter specified types of solid waste facilities.
289.43(8)(b)3.
3. Authorize an individual generator to dispose of a specified type of solid waste at a site other than a licensed solid waste disposal facility.
289.43(8)(b)4.
4. Authorize use of the solid waste in public works projects.
289.43(8)(c)
(c) The department may require periodic testing of solid wastes and impose other conditions on exemptions granted under
par. (b).
289.43(9)
(9) Exemption from regulation; animal carcasses. The department may not regulate under
chs. 281,
285 or
289 to
299 any animal carcass buried or disposed of, in accordance with
ss. 95.35 and
95.50, on the property owned or operated by the owner of the carcass, if the owner is a farmer, as defined under
s. 102.04 (3).
289.43 History
History: 1995 a. 227 ss.
574,
577 to
580;
1997 a. 27,
35;
2003 a. 88.
289.43 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
NR 538, Wis. adm. code.
289.43 Annotation
Exemption from regulation under s. 144.44 (7) (g) (now s. 289.43 (8)) preempts municipal regulation. DeRosso Landfill Co. v. City of Oak Creek,
200 Wis. 2d 642,
547 N.W.2d 770 (1996),
94-0440.
289.44
289.44
Exemption for certain alcohol fuel production systems. 289.44(1)(1)
Definitions. As used in this section:
289.44(1)(a)
(a) "Distillate waste product" means solid, semisolid or liquid by-products or wastes from the distillation or functionally equivalent process of an alcohol fuel production system.
289.44(1)(b)
(b) "Environmentally sound storage facility" means a facility, including a holding lagoon, which is used to store distillate waste products so that no waste products from the facility enter or leach into the waters of the state.
289.44(1)(c)
(c) "Private alcohol fuel production system" means an alcohol fuel production system from which no alcohol is sold and from which all the alcohol is used as a fuel by the owner.
289.44(2)
(2) Exemption. No permit, license or plan approval is required under this chapter for the owner of a private alcohol fuel production system to establish, construct or operate a system for the treatment, storage or disposal of distillate waste products if the distillate waste product is stored in an environmentally sound storage facility and disposed of using an environmentally safe land spreading technique and the storage, treatment or disposal is confined to the property of the owner.
289.44 History
History: 1979 c. 221;
1995 a. 227 s.
537.
289.445
289.445
Exemption for certain fruit and vegetable washing facilities. 289.445(1)(1)
Definitions. As used in this section:
289.445(2)
(2) Exemption. No permit, license or, except as provided in
par. (d), plan approval is required under this chapter for the owner of a washing station to establish, construct or operate a solid waste facility for the treatment, storage or disposal of wash water or to compost or land spread plant parts separated from wash water if all of the following requirements are met:
289.445(2)(a)
(a) The washing station is not adjacent to or operated as part of a food processing plant, as defined in
s. 97.29 (1) (h).
289.445(2)(b)
(b) All wash water is either stored in a sealed wash water storage facility or is dispersed on land owned or leased by the owner of the washing station in a manner which avoids ponding, runoff or nuisance conditions and in accordance with acceptable agricultural practices or acceptable practices for the land spreading of waste.
289.445(2)(c)
(c) All plant parts that are separated from wash water are either composted or stored in a plant parts storage facility and disposed of using an environmentally safe land spreading technique. The treatment, storage, disposal or composting under this paragraph must be confined to property owned or leased by the owner of the washing station.
289.445(2)(d)
(d) For a washing station that anticipates operating at least 100 days per year or that operated at least 100 days during the immediately preceding year, do all of the following:
289.445(2)(d)1.
1. Register annually with the department as a washing station.
289.445(2)(d)2.
2. Submit annually an operating plan that implements best management practices and that is approved by the department.
289.445(2)(d)3.
3. Operate only in accordance with the approved operating plan.
289.445 History
History: 1995 a. 99;
1995 a. 227 s.
538; Stats. 1995 s. 289.445.
289.45
289.45
Solid waste storage. No person may store or cause the storage of solid waste in a manner which causes environmental pollution.
289.45 History
History: 1981 c. 374.;
1995 a. 227 s.
539; Stats. 1995 s. 289.45.
289.46
289.46
Transference of responsibility. 289.46(1)
(1) Any person acquiring rights of ownership, possession or operation in a licensed solid or hazardous waste facility at any time after the facility begins to accept waste is subject to all requirements of the license approved for the facility including any requirements relating to long-term care of the facility and is subject to any negotiated agreement or arbitration award related to the facility under
s. 289.33. Upon acquisition of the rights, the department shall issue a new operating license if the previous licensee is no longer connected with the operation of the facility, if the new licensee meets all requirements specified in the previous license, the approved plan of operation, if any, and the rules promulgated under
s. 291.05 or
291.07, if applicable.
289.46(2)
(2) Any person having or acquiring rights of ownership in land where a solid or hazardous waste disposal facility was previously operated may not undertake any activities on the land which interfere with the closed facility causing a significant threat to public health, safety or welfare.
289.46 History
History: 1977 c. 377;
1981 c. 374;
1983 a. 410 ss.
62,
2202 (38); Stats. 1983 s. 144.444;
1989 a. 31;
1995 a. 227 s.
625; Stats. 1995 s. 289.46.
289.47
289.47
Closure notice. At least 120 days prior to the closing of a solid waste disposal facility or at least 180 days prior to the closing of a hazardous waste facility, the owner or operator shall notify the department in writing of the intent to close the facility.
289.47 History
History: 1995 a. 227 s.
573.
FACILITIES; REGULATION OF SPECIFIC
FACILITY OR WASTE TYPES
289.51
289.51
Solid waste open burning standards. 289.51(1)(a)
(a) "Air curtain destructor" means a solid waste disposal operation that combines a fixed wall open pit and a mechanical air supply which uses an excess of oxygen and turbulence to accomplish the smokeless combustion of clean wood wastes.
289.51(1)(am)
(am) "Household waste" means any solid waste derived from a household, hotel, motel, bunkhouse, ranger station, crew quarters, campground, picnic ground or day-use recreation area.
289.51(1)(b)
(b) "Open burning" means the combustion, except in a properly operated air curtain destructor, of solid waste if that combustion lacks any of the following:
289.51(1)(b)1.
1. Control of combustion air to maintain adequate temperature for efficient combustion.
289.51(1)(b)2.
2. Containment of the combustion reaction in an enclosed device to provide sufficient residence time and mixing for complete combustion.
289.51(1)(c)
(c) "Population equivalent" means the population equal to the sum of the population of the geographical area based on the most recent census data, or department of administration census data used for tax sharing purposes, plus the seasonal population not included in the census data, plus one person per 1,000 pounds per year of industrial, commercial and agricultural waste.
289.51(2)
(2) The department shall grant licenses for the open burning of solid waste at the licensee's solid waste disposal facilities if:
289.51(2)(a)
(a) The open burning operation serves a population equivalent of less than 10,000 or, if the operation is controlled by more than one municipality, a population equivalent of less than 2,500 for each additional controlling municipality. The department shall give consideration to seasonal variations in population in granting partial yearly burning exemptions.
289.51(2)(b)
(b) All portions of the licensed operation are greater than one-fourth mile from any residence or place of public gathering, or written consent is obtained from all residents and proprietors within one-fourth mile thereof.
289.51(2)(c)
(c) The open burning does not include the burning of wet combustible rubbish, garbage, oily substances, asphalt, plastic or rubber products and, if the open burning operation serves a population equivalent of more than 2,500, the open burning includes only wood and paper which is separated from other solid waste.
289.51(2)(d)
(d) The open burning operation is supervised by an attendant.
289.51(2)(e)
(e) The open burning operation is accomplished in a nuisance-free manner and does not create hazards for adjacent properties.
