AB926, s. 991 21Section 991. 230.36 (2m) (a) 5m. of the statutes is created to read:
AB926,243,2222 230.36 (2m) (a) 5m. An environmental warden.
AB926, s. 992 23Section 992. 234.86 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB926,243,2524 234.86 (1) (b) "Department" means the department of natural resources
25environmental quality.
AB926, s. 993
1Section 993. 236.13 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB926,244,152 236.13 (2m) As a further condition of approval when lands included in the plat
3lie within 500 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of any navigable stream, lake
4or other body of navigable water or if land in the proposed plat involves lake or stream
5shorelands referred to in s. 236.16, the department of natural resources
6environmental quality, to prevent pollution of navigable waters, or the department
7of commerce, to protect the public health and safety, may require assurance of
8adequate drainage areas for private sewage disposal systems and building setback
9restrictions, or provisions by the owner for public sewage disposal facilities for
10waters of the state, as defined in s. 281.01 (18), industrial wastes, as defined in s.
11281.01 (5), and other wastes, as defined in s. 281.01 (7). The public sewage disposal
12facilities may consist of one or more systems as the department of natural resources
13environmental quality or the department of commerce determines on the basis of
14need for prevention of pollution of the waters of the state or protection of public
15health and safety.
AB926, s. 994 16Section 994. 236.16 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB926,244,2417 236.16 (3) (a) All subdivisions abutting on a navigable lake or stream shall
18provide public access at least 60 feet wide providing access to the low watermark so
19that there will be public access, which is connected to existing public roads, at not
20more than one-half mile intervals as measured along the lake or stream shore except
21where greater intervals and wider access is agreed upon by the department of
22natural resources, the department of environmental quality, and the department,
23and excluding shore areas where public parks or open-space streets or roads on
24either side of a stream are provided.
AB926, s. 995 25Section 995. 236.16 (3) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB926,245,13
1236.16 (3) (d) (intro.) All of the owners of all of the land adjacent to a public
2access established under par. (a) to an inland lake, as defined in s. 30.92 (1) (bk), may
3petition the city, village, town or county that owns the public access to construct
4shoreline erosion control measures. Subject to par. (e), the city, village, town or
5county shall construct the requested shoreline erosion control measures or request
6the department of natural resources environmental quality to determine the need for
7shoreline erosion control measures. Upon receipt of a request under this paragraph
8from a city, village, town or county, the department of natural resources
9environmental quality shall follow the notice and hearing procedures in s. 30.208 (3)
10to (5). Subject to par. (e), the city, village, town or county shall construct shoreline
11erosion control measures as required by the department of natural resources
12environmental quality if the department of natural resources environmental quality
13determines all of the following:
AB926, s. 996 14Section 996. 254.02 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB926,245,2115 254.02 (3) (a) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection,
16the department of corrections, the department of commerce, and the department of
17natural resources environmental quality shall enter into memoranda of
18understanding with the department to establish protocols for the department to
19review proposed rules of those state agencies relating to air and water quality,
20occupational health and safety, institutional sanitation, toxic substances, indoor air
21quality, food protection or waste handling and disposal.
AB926, s. 997 22Section 997. 254.51 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB926,246,223 254.51 (2) The department shall enter into memoranda of understanding with
24the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, the department of
25commerce, the department of environmental quality, and the department of natural

1resources regarding the investigation and control of animal-borne and vector-borne
2disease.
AB926, s. 998 3Section 998. Chapter 278 of the statutes is created to read:
AB926,246,64 Chapter 278
5 Department of
6 Environmental quality
AB926,246,87 Subchapter I
8 General
AB926,246,9 9278.01 Definitions. (1) In this chapter:
AB926,246,1010 (a) "Department" means the department of environmental quality.
AB926,246,1111 (b) "Secretary" means the secretary of environmental quality.
AB926,246,14 12278.10 Environmental wardens. (1) The department shall secure the
13enforcement of all laws that it is required to administer. The persons appointed by
14the department to enforce those laws shall be known as environmental wardens.
AB926,246,17 15(3) An environmental warden shall, before exercising any powers of an
16environmental warden, be provided with a commission issued by the department
17under its seal, substantially as follows:
AB926,246,19 18State of Wisconsin
19Department of Environmental Quality.
AB926,246,2020 To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting:
AB926,246,2521 Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity and ability
22of ...., of the county of ...., we do hereby appoint and constitute .... an environmental
23warden (or special environmental warden) for the state of Wisconsin, and do
24authorize and empower .... to execute and fulfill the duties of that office according to
25law, during good behavior and the faithful performance of the duties of that office.
AB926,247,3
1In testimony whereof, the secretary has hereunto affixed the secretary's
2signature and the official seal of the department, at its office in the city of Madison,
3Wisconsin, this .... day of ...., .... (year)
AB926,247,44 (Seal) State of Wisconsin
AB926,247,5 5Department of Environmental Quality.
AB926,247,66 By .... ....
AB926,247,20 7(4) The department shall furnish to each environmental warden at the time of
8the environmental warden's appointment, a pocket identification folder in form and
9substance as follows: A leather-covered folder, size when folded, 3 by 4 inches; on one
10of the inner sides thereof shall be securely fastened a photograph of the appointee
11to be furnished by the appointee, and partly on the photograph and partly on the
12margin of the folder shall be an impression of the seal of the department. The
13appointee shall also affix the appointee's signature below the photograph on such
14folder. On the other inner side of the folder shall be securely fastened a miniature
15true copy of the commission issued to the appointee, which shall be signed by the
16secretary. The appointee shall carry the identification folder on his or her person at
17all times that the appointee is on official duty, and the appointee shall on demand
18exhibit the folder to any person to whom the appointee may represent himself or
19herself as an environmental warden. The cost of the identification folder shall be
20charged to the department.
AB926,248,3 21(5) All environmental wardens shall make full and complete reports of their
22transactions as such, according to the demand of the department, and shall at all
23times be subject to its direction and control in the performance of their duties. They
24shall also gather and transmit all statistical information relative to those matters
25within their charge as the department directs. In its report under s. 15.04 (1) (d) the

1department shall include information covering all its work and such other
2information as is valuable to the state in relation thereto and an itemized statement
3of receipts and disbursements.
AB926,248,14 4278.11 Warrants, arrests, and police powers. (1) Generally. The
5department and its wardens may execute and serve warrants and processes issued
6under any law enumerated in s. 278.51 (1) in the same manner as any constable may
7serve and execute the process; and may arrest, with or without a warrant, any person
8detected in the actual violation, or whom the officer has probable cause to believe is
9guilty of a violation of any of those laws whether the violation is punishable by
10criminal penalties or by forfeiture, and may take the person before any court in the
11county where the offense was committed and make a proper complaint. For the
12purpose of enforcing the laws enumerated in s. 278.51 (1), any officer may stop and
13board any boat and stop any vehicle, if the officer reasonably suspects there is a
14violation of those laws.
AB926,249,9 15(2) Additional arrest powers. In addition to the arrest powers under sub. (1),
16an environmental warden who has completed a program of law enforcement training
17approved by the law enforcement standards board, has been certified as qualified to
18be a law enforcement officer under s. 165.85 (4) (b) 1., and has complied with any
19applicable requirements under s. 165.85 (4) (bn) 1. while on duty and in uniform or
20on duty and upon display of proper credentials may assist another law enforcement
21agency, as defined in s. 165.83 (1) (b), including making an arrest at the request of
22the agency, may arrest a person pursuant to an arrest warrant concerning the
23commission of a felony, or may arrest a person who has committed a crime in the
24presence of the environmental warden. If the environmental warden makes an
25arrest without the presence of another law enforcement agency, the environmental

1warden shall cause the person arrested to be delivered to the chief of police or sheriff
2in the jurisdiction where the arrest is made, along with the documents and reports
3pertaining to the arrest. The environmental warden shall be available as a witness
4for the state. An environmental warden may not conduct investigations for
5violations of state law except as authorized in sub. (3). An environmental warden
6acting under the authority of this subsection is considered an employee of the
7department and is subject to its direction, benefits, and legal protection. The
8authority granted in this subsection does not apply to special environmental
9wardens.
AB926,249,13 10(3) Investigations. The department and its environmental wardens shall,
11upon receiving notice or information of the violation of the laws enumerated in s.
12278.51 (1), as soon as possible make a thorough investigation and cause proceedings
13to be instituted if the evidence warrants it.
AB926,249,19 14(4) Seizure. The department and its environmental wardens shall seize and
15hold, subject to the order of the court for the county in which the alleged offense was
16committed, any vehicle, boat, or object that they have probable cause to believe is
17being used in violation of s. 287.81. If it is proven that within 6 months previous to
18the seizure the vehicle, boat, or object was used in violation of s. 287.81, it shall be
19confiscated if the court directs in its order for judgment.
AB926,250,2 20(5) Sale of confiscated property. (a) All confiscated vehicles, boats, or objects
21shall, if not destroyed as authorized by law, be sold at the highest price obtainable,
22by the department, or by an agent on commission under supervision of the
23department. The net proceeds of sales under this subsection, after deducting the
24expense of seizure and sale, any commissions, and any amounts owing to holders of
25security interests under par. (c) or (d), shall be remitted to the department. The

1remittance shall be accompanied by a report of the sales, supported by vouchers for
2expenses and commissions, and shall be filed with the department.
AB926,250,63 (b) Of the remittance from the sales of confiscated vehicles, boats, or objects,
418 percent shall be paid into the general fund to reimburse it for expenses incurred
5in seizure and sale, and the remaining 82 percent shall be paid into the common
6school fund.
AB926,250,137 (c) 1. In the case of the sale of a confiscated motor vehicle, the department shall
8make a reasonable effort, within 10 days after seizure, to ascertain if a security
9interest in the seized motor vehicle exists. The department shall, within 10 days
10after obtaining actual or constructive notice of any security interest in the seized
11motor vehicle, give the secured party notice of the time and place of any proceeding
12before a court pertaining to the confiscation of the motor vehicle. Constructive notice
13shall be limited to security interests perfected by filing.
AB926,250,1714 2. The time of sale of the confiscated motor vehicle shall be within 20 days after
15judgment of confiscation as provided in sub. (4). The department shall give each
16secured party discovered in accordance with subd. 1. at least 10 days' notice of the
17time and place of sale of the motor vehicle.
AB926,251,318 3. If the holder of a security interest in the confiscated motor vehicle, perfected
19by filing, proves to the court, or after judgment of confiscation, to the department,
20that the violation that led to the confiscation was not with the knowledge, consent,
21or connivance of the holder of the security interest or with that of some person
22employed or trusted by the holder of the security interest, the amount due under the
23security agreement, together with any other deductions authorized under par. (a),
24shall be deducted from the proceeds of the sale of the confiscated motor vehicle and
25the amount due shall be paid to the one entitled. If a sufficient amount does not

1remain for the full payment of the amount due under the security agreement after
2making the other deductions authorized under par. (a), the amount remaining shall
3be paid to the one entitled.
AB926,251,54 (d) The provisions of s. 973.075 (1) (b) 2m. and (5) apply to boats and vehicles,
5other than motor vehicles, under this subsection.
AB926,251,9 6278.12 Exemption from liability. Each environmental warden, in the
7performance of official duties, is exempt from liability to any person for acts done or
8permitted or property destroyed by authority of law. No taxable costs or attorney fees
9shall be allowed to either party in an action against an environmental warden.
AB926,251,12 10278.13 Resisting an environmental warden. Any person who assaults or
11otherwise resists or obstructs any environmental warden in the performance of duty
12is subject to the penalty specified in s. 939.51 (3) (a).
AB926,251,16 13278.14 False impersonation of environmental warden. Any person who
14falsely represents himself or herself to be an environmental warden or who assumes
15to act as an environmental warden without having been first duly appointed is
16subject to the penalty specified in s. 939.51 (3) (a).
AB926,251,22 17278.16 Periodicals. (1) Publication. The department may produce, issue,
18or reprint magazines or other periodicals, on a periodic basis as it determines,
19pertaining to environmental quality and other similar subjects of general
20information. The department may distribute its magazines and periodicals by
21subscription. The department shall charge a fee for any of its magazines or
22periodicals.
AB926,252,2 23(2) Advertising. The department may advertise and sell advertising space in
24its magazines and other periodicals. The department may advertise or otherwise

1publicize its magazines and other periodicals. The advertising and publicizing shall
2be consistent with the goals, purposes, and functions of the department.
AB926,252,10 3(3) Subscriber lists. The department may refuse to reveal names and
4addresses of persons on any magazine or periodical subscriber list. The department
5may charge a fee to recover the actual costs for providing or for the use of any
6magazine or periodical subscriber list. No person who obtains or uses any magazine
7or periodical subscriber list from the department may refer to the department, the
8magazine, or the periodical as the source of names or addresses unless the person
9clearly states that the provision of, or permission to use, the subscriber list in no way
10indicates any of the following:
AB926,252,1211 (a) The department's involvement or connection with the person or the person's
12activities.
AB926,252,1413 (b) The department's knowledge, approval, or authorization of the person's
14activities.
AB926,252,18 15(4) Costs. Notwithstanding ss. 20.908 and 35.78 (2) the fee charged by the
16department in selling each of its magazines and periodicals shall be at least equal
17to the amount necessary to cover the production, storage, handling, and distribution
18costs of each magazine and periodical.
AB926,252,23 19(5) Use of moneys. The department shall use the moneys collected under this
20section for the costs specified in sub. (4). If the moneys collected under this section
21exceed the amount necessary for the costs specified in sub. (4), the department shall
22use the excess for educational and informational activities concerning the
23environment.
AB926,253,2 24278.165 Promotional activities; other publications. (1) Publications.
25The department may produce, issue, reprint, and sell publications not published on

1a periodic basis that pertain to environmental quality and other similar subjects of
2general information.
AB926,253,5 3(1m) Photographs, slides, videotapes, artwork. The department may
4produce, issue, reprint, and sell photographs, slides, videotapes, and artwork if they
5pertain to environmental quality and other similar subjects of general information.
AB926,253,8 6(2) Advertising space. The department may advertise and sell advertising
7space in its publications. Any advertising shall be consistent with the goals,
8purposes, and functions of the department.
AB926,253,12 9(3) Promotional activities. The department may promote, through the sale
10of merchandise or otherwise, advertise or otherwise publicize department programs
11and department publications. The promotion, advertising, and publicizing shall be
12consistent with the goals, purposes, and functions of the department.
AB926,253,19 13(4) Subscriber lists. The department may refuse to reveal names and
14addresses of persons on any publication subscriber list. The department may charge
15a fee to recover the actual costs for providing or for the use of a publication subscriber
16list. No person who obtains or uses a publication subscriber list from the department
17may refer to the department or the publication as the source of names or addresses
18unless the person clearly states that the provision of, or permission to use, the
19subscriber list in no way indicates any of the following:
AB926,253,2120 (a) The department's involvement or connection with the person or the person's
21activities.
AB926,253,2322 (b) The department's knowledge, approval, or authorization of the person's
23activities.
AB926,254,3 24(5) Costs. Notwithstanding ss. 20.908 and 35.78 (2), any price set or fee
25charged by the department in selling a publication, photograph, slide, videotape,

1artwork, or promotional merchandise shall be at least equal to the amount necessary
2to cover the production, promotional, storage, handling, and distribution costs of the
3publication, photograph, slide, videotape, artwork, or promotional merchandise.
AB926,254,8 4(5m) Use of moneys. The department shall use the moneys collected under this
5section for the costs specified in sub. (5). If the moneys collected under this section
6exceed the amount necessary for the costs specified in sub. (5), the department shall
7use the excess for educational and informational activities concerning the
8environment.
AB926,254,12 9(6) Report to legislature. The department shall annually submit a report
10concerning the activities, receipts, and disbursements under this section for the
11preceding fiscal year to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution
12to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3).
AB926,254,16 13278.322 Fees for computer accessible water resource management
14information.
The department may charge a fee for providing any information that
15it maintains in a format that may be accessed by computer concerning the waters of
16this state, including maps and other water resource management information.
AB926,254,23 17278.40 Environmental impact report and statement. (1) Determination
18if environmental impact statement is required.
Any person who files an application
19for a permit, license, or approval granted or issued by the department, shall submit
20with the application a statement of the estimated cost of the project or proposed
21action for which the person seeks a permit, license, or approval. The department may
22seek such further information as it considers necessary to determine whether it must
23prepare an environmental impact statement under s. 1.11.
AB926,255,3 24(1m) Environmental impact report. The department may require an applicant
25for a permit, license, or approval, to submit an environmental impact report if the

1area affected exceeds 40 acres, the estimated cost of the project exceeds $25,000, or
2the applicant is requesting approval for a high capacity well described in s. 281.34
3(4) (a) 1. to 3.
AB926,255,5 4(2) Notification; estimate of fee. (a) If the department is required to prepare
5an environmental impact statement, it shall notify the person by certified mail.
AB926,255,76 (b) The department shall indicate the estimated environmental impact
7statement fee.
AB926,255,10 8(3) Environmental impact statement fee. (a) The department shall charge an
9environmental impact statement fee if it is required to prepare an environmental
10impact statement or if it enters into a preapplication service agreement.
AB926,255,1511 (b) The amount of the environmental impact statement fee shall equal the full
12cost of the preparation of the environmental impact statement and the full cost of any
13preapplication services if the department enters into a preapplication service
14agreement. These costs shall include the cost of authorized consultant services and
15the costs of printing and postage.
AB926,255,1816 (c) The department shall determine the manner in which the environmental
17impact statement fee is to be paid. The department may require periodic payments
18if preapplication services are provided.
AB926,255,2319 (d) Except as provided in par. (e), the department shall deposit any
20environmental impact statement fee into the general fund and shall designate
21clearly the amount of the fee related to the cost of authorized environmental
22consultant services and the amount of the fee related to the cost of printing and
23postage.
AB926,256,3
1(e) The department shall credit any environmental impact statement fee for a
2project involving the generation of electricity to the appropriation under s. 20.375 (2)
3(ah).
AB926,256,14 4(4) Preapplication service agreement. The department may enter into an
5agreement to provide preapplication services necessary to evaluate the
6environmental impact of a project or proposed activity, monitor major developments,
7and expedite the anticipated preparation of an environmental impact statement if
8the project or proposed activity is large, complex, or environmentally sensitive and
9if the person planning the project or proposed activity agrees in writing even though
10that person has not filed an application for any permit, license, or approval granted
11or issued by the department, and no environmental impact statement has been
12prepared. Preapplication services include preliminary environmental reviews, field
13studies and investigations, laboratory studies and investigations, and advisory
14services.
AB926,256,18 15(5) Authorized environmental consultant services. The department may
16enter into contracts for environmental consultant services under s. 278.41 to assist
17in the preparation of an environmental impact statement or to provide
18preapplication services.
AB926,256,20 19(6) Exemption from fee for municipalities. Subsections (2) (b) and (3) do not
20apply with respect to municipalities, as defined in s. 345.05 (1) (c).
AB926,256,21 21278.41 Construction and service contracts. (1) In this section:
AB926,256,2522 (a) "Construction work" includes all labor and materials used in the erection,
23installation, alteration, repair, moving, conversion, demolition, or removal of any
24building, structure, or facility, or any equipment attached to a building, structure,
25or facility.
AB926,257,2
1(b) "Environmental consultant services" includes services provided by
2environmental scientists, engineers, and other experts.
AB926,257,6 3(2) The department may contract for construction work related to hazardous
4substance spill response under s. 292.11 or environmental repair under s. 292.31 or
5for engineering services or environmental consultant services in connection with
6that construction work.
AB926,257,9 7(3) The department may contract for environmental consultant services to
8assist in the preparation of an environmental impact statement or to provide
9preapplication services under s. 278.40.
AB926,257,11 10(4) Each contract entered into under this section shall be signed by the
11secretary or the secretary's designee on behalf of the state.
AB926,257,25 12(5) Each contract for construction work entered into by the department under
13this section shall be awarded on the basis of bids or competitive sealed proposals in
14accordance with procedures established by the department. Each contract for
15construction work shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder or the person
16submitting the most advantageous competitive sealed proposal as determined by the
17department. If the bid of the lowest responsible bidder or the proposal of the person
18submitting the most advantageous competitive sealed proposal is determined by the
19department to be in excess of the estimated reasonable value of the work or not in
20the public interest, the department may reject all bids or competitive sealed
21proposals. Every such contract is exempted from ss. 16.70 to 16.75, 16.755, 16.76,
2216.767 to 16.77, 16.78 to 16.82, 16.855, 16.87, and 16.89, but ss. 16.528, 16.753
2316.754, and 16.765 apply to the contract. Every such contract involving an
24expenditure of more than $60,000 is not valid until the contract is approved by the
25governor.
AB926,258,3
1(5m) If the governor or the governor's designee determines that it is in the best
2interest of this state, he or she may waive the requirement under sub. (5) for bids or
3competitive sealed proposals under any of the following circumstances:
AB926,258,54 (a) In an emergency involving the public health, welfare, or safety or the
5environment.
AB926,258,96 (b) The department desires to use innovative or patented technology that is
7available from only one source and that in the judgment of the department would
8provide the best practicable hazardous substance spill response under s. 292.11 or
9environmental repair under s. 292.31.
AB926,258,12 10(6) The department shall attempt to ensure that at least 5 percent of the total
11amount expended under this section in each fiscal year is paid to minority
12businesses, as defined in s. 16.75 (3m) (a).
AB926,258,18 13278.49 Credit card use charges. The department shall certify to the
14secretary of administration the amount of charges associated with the use of credit
15cards that is assessed to the department on deposits accepted under s. 278.66 (1m)
16by environmental wardens, and the secretary of administration shall pay the
17charges from moneys received under s. 59.25 (3) (j) and (k) that are reserved for
18payment of the charges under s. 20.907 (5) (e) 12e.
AB926,258,2119 Subchapter II
20 Enforcement of certain
21 environmental laws
AB926,258,24 22278.50 Words and phrases defined. In ss. 278.50 to 278.90 the following
23words and phrases have the designated meanings unless the context clearly
24indicates a different meaning:
AB926,259,3
1(1m) "Citation" means a pleading of essential facts and applicable law coupled
2with a demand for judgment, that notifies the person cited of a violation specified in
3s. 278.51 (1) and requests the person to appear in court.
Loading...
Loading...