292.11(9)(e)5.
5. Subdivision 1s. does not apply if the corporation fails to do any of the following:
292.11(9)(e)5.a.
a. Respond to a discharge of a hazardous substance that poses an imminent threat to public health, safety or welfare or to the environment, on or off of the property.
292.11(9)(e)5.b.
b. Enter into an agreement with the department to conduct any necessary investigation and remediation activities at the property no later than 3 years after acquiring the property.
292.11(9)(e)6.
6. Subdivisions 1m. and
1s. only apply if the local governmental unit or the economic development corporation agrees to allow the department, any authorized representatives of the department, any party that possessed or controlled the hazardous substance or caused the discharge of the hazardous substance and any consultant or contractor of such a party to enter the property to take action to respond to the discharge.
292.11(9)(e)7.
7. Subdivision 1m. does not apply to property described in
subd. 1m. f. unless the local governmental unit enters into an agreement with the department to ensure that the conditions in
subds. 2. and
4. are satisfied.
292.11(9)(f)
(f) Any person discharging high-volume industrial waste used in a highway improvement project under
s. 84.078 is exempted from the penalty requirements of this section.
292.11(10)
(10) Waiver. The department may waive compliance with any requirement of this section to the extent necessary to prevent an emergency condition threatening public health, safety or welfare.
292.11(11)(a)(a) Any person proceeded against for a violation of this section shall not be subject to penalties under
s. 291.97 for the same act or omission.
292.11(11)(b)
(b) Any person who discharges a hazardous substance, where the responsibilities for such a discharge are prescribed by statute other than
ch. 291, shall be subject to the penalty under either this section or the other section but not both.
292.11(12)(b)
(b) This section applies to all releases of hazardous substances for which a notification must be made under
s. 323.60 (5) (b).
292.11(13)
(13) Lien. Any expenditures made by the department under
sub. (4),
(6) or
(8) shall constitute a lien upon the property for which the expenses are incurred, as provided in
s. 292.81.
292.11 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also chs.
SPS 346 and
NR 702,
706,
708,
714,
716,
718,
720,
722,
724,
726, and
746, Wis. adm. code.
292.11 Annotation
The owner of property from which a hazardous substance seeped into neighboring properties was required to take remedial action. The seepage was a "discharge" even though it was not related to current human activity. State v. Mauthe,
123 Wis. 2d 288,
366 N.W.2d 871 (1985).
292.11 Annotation
Sub. (11) (b) allows the imposition of both a monetary penalty and an administrative clean-up order against a violator of this section. When another regulatory statute is implicated, the penalty imposed may be the penalty under this section or the other section, but not both. State v. Block Iron & Supply Co.
183 Wis. 2d 357,
515 N.W.2d 332 (Ct. App. 1994).
292.11 Annotation
This section is applicable in actions by the state to compel remediation of, and to impose penalties for, hazardous waste spills, which although initially caused by actions preceding the 1978 effective date of this section, continue to discharge after that date. State v. Chrysler Outboard Corp.
219 Wis. 2d 130,
580 N.W.2d 203 (1998),
96-1158.
292.12
292.12
Sites with residual contamination. 292.12(1)(a)
(a) "Agency with administrative authority" means the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection with respect to a site over which it has jurisdiction under
s. 94.73 (2), the department of safety and professional services with respect to a site over which it has jurisdiction under
s. 101.144 (2) (a), or the department of natural resources with respect to a site over which it has jurisdiction under
s. 292.11 (7).
292.12(1)(b)
(b) "Case closure" means a determination by the agency with administrative authority, based on information available at the time of the review by the agency with administrative authority, that no further remedial action is necessary at a site.
292.12(1)(c)
(c) "Engineering control" means an action designed and implemented to contain contamination or to minimize the spread of contamination, including a cap or soil cover.
292.12(1)(d)
(d) "Remedial action" means action that is taken in response to a discharge of a hazardous substance and that is necessary to restore the environment to the extent practicable and to minimize the harmful effects of the discharge to the air, lands, and waters of this state.
292.12(1)(e)
(e) "Site" means a waste site or any area where a hazardous substance has been discharged.
292.12(2)
(2) Agency authority. The agency with administrative authority may do any of the following as a condition of approving remedial action or of issuing a case closure letter if residual contamination remains on a site after the conclusion of remedial action at the site:
292.12(2)(a)
(a) Require maintenance of an engineering control on the site.
292.12(2)(b)
(b) Require an investigation of the extent of residual contamination and the performance of any necessary remedial action if a building or other structural impediment is removed that had prevented a complete investigation or remedial action at the site.
292.12(2)(c)
(c) Impose limitations or other conditions related to property, in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, to ensure that conditions at the site remain protective of public health, safety, and welfare and the environment, and, as applicable, to promote economic development.
292.12(3)(a)(a) The department shall maintain a database listing sites for which remedial action has been approved or a case closure letter has been issued and that have residual contamination and listing sites for which the department has directed that action be taken under
s. 292.11 (9) (e) 4. The department shall make the database available to the public. The department shall include any requirements, limitations, or conditions imposed under
sub. (2) (a) to
(c) in the database, subject to modification under
sub. (6), and shall include any action that the department has directed to be taken under
s. 292.11 (9) (e) 4.
292.12(3)(b)1.1. If residual contamination remains on a site after the conclusion of remedial action at the site, the agency with administrative authority shall request the department to list the site, and any requirements, limitations, or conditions imposed under
sub. (2) (a) to
(c), in the database maintained by the department under
par. (a) and, as a condition of approving remedial action or of issuing a case closure letter, shall require the person requesting approval of remedial action or case closure to provide the information necessary for the listing and to pay a fee established by the department for the listing.
292.12(3)(b)2.
2. If the department has directed that a local governmental unit or economic development corporation take action under
s. 292.11 (9) (e) 4. for a site, the department shall list the site, and the action that the department has directed, in the database maintained by the department under
par. (a) and require the local governmental unit or the corporation to pay a fee established by the department for the listing.
292.12(4)
(4) Notification of residual contamination. Before a person applies for case closure for a site that includes any property that has residual contamination and is not owned by the person, the person shall provide written notification of the residual contamination to the owner of that property. The person shall include in the notice, at a minimum, a description of the type of residual contamination and the location and description of any engineering control on the site.
292.12(5)
(5) Compliance with requirements and limitations. 292.12(5)(a)(a) A person who owns property, including a property or site that is listed under
sub. (3) (b), shall comply with requirements described in
sub. (2) (a) or
(b) that are imposed by an agency with administrative authority without regard to when the person obtained the property, unless another person has a legally enforceable responsibility to comply with the requirements.
292.12(5)(b)
(b) A person who owns or occupies property, including a property or site that is listed under
sub. (3) (b), shall comply with limitations or conditions described in
sub. (2) (c) that are imposed by an agency with administrative authority without regard to when the person obtained or occupied the property.
292.12(6)
(6) Modification of requirements. A person may request the agency with administrative authority over a site to change or eliminate a requirement, limitation, or condition that it imposed under
sub. (2) (a) to
(c) with respect to a site. If the agency with administrative authority agrees to change or eliminate a requirement, limitation, or condition imposed under
sub. (2) (a) to
(c), it shall provide written approval to the person, shall request the department to change the listing under
sub. (3) (b) for the site accordingly, and shall require the person to pay a fee established by the department for changing the listing.
292.12 History
History: 2005 a. 418;
2011 a. 32.
292.13
292.13
Property affected by off-site discharge. 292.13(1)(1)
Exemption from liability for groundwater contamination. A person is exempt from
s. 292.11 (3),
(4) and
(7) (b) and
(c) with respect to the existence of a hazardous substance in the groundwater on property possessed or controlled by the person if all of the following apply:
292.13(1)(a)
(a) The discharge of the hazardous substance originated from a source on property that is not possessed or controlled by the person.
292.13(1)(b)
(b) The person did not possess or control the hazardous substance on the property on which the discharge originated or cause the original discharge.
292.13(1)(c)
(c) The person conducts an investigation or submits other information, that the department determines is adequate, to substantiate that
pars. (a) and
(b) are satisfied.
292.13(1)(d)
(d) The person agrees to allow the department, any authorized representatives of the department, any party that possessed or controlled the hazardous substance or caused the discharge of the hazardous substance and any consultant or contractor of such a party to enter the property to take action to respond to the discharge.
292.13(1)(f)
(f) The person agrees to avoid any interference with action undertaken to respond to the discharge and to avoid actions that worsen the discharge.
292.13(1)(g)
(g) The person agrees to any other condition that the department determines is reasonable and necessary to ensure that the department or other person described in
par. (d) can adequately respond to the discharge.
292.13(1m)
(1m) Exemption from liability for soil contamination. A person is exempt from
s. 292.11 (3),
(4) and
(7) (b) and
(c) with respect to the existence of a hazardous substance in the soil, including sediments, on property possessed or controlled by the person if all of the following apply:
292.13(1m)(a)
(a) The discharge of the hazardous substance originated from a source on property that is not possessed or controlled by the person.
292.13(1m)(b)
(b) The person did not possess or control the hazardous substance on the property on which the discharge originated or cause the original discharge.
292.13(1m)(c)
(c) The person conducts an investigation or submits other information, that the department determines is adequate, to substantiate that
pars. (a) and
(b) are satisfied.
292.13(1m)(d)
(d) The person agrees to allow the department, any authorized representatives of the department, any party that possessed or controlled the hazardous substance or caused the discharge of the hazardous substance and any consultant or contractor of such a party to enter the property to take action to respond to the discharge.
292.13(1m)(e)
(e) The person agrees to take one or more of the following actions at the direction of the department if, after the department has made a reasonable attempt to notify the party who caused the discharge of the hazardous substance about the party's responsibilities under
s. 292.11, the department determines that the action or actions are necessary to prevent an imminent threat to human health, safety or welfare or to the environment:
292.13(1m)(e)2.
2. Identify, monitor and mitigate fire, explosion and vapor hazards on the property.
292.13(1m)(e)3.
3. Visually inspect the property and install appropriate containment barriers.
292.13(1m)(f)
(f) The person agrees to avoid any interference with action undertaken to respond to the discharge and to avoid actions that worsen the discharge.
292.13(1m)(g)
(g) The person agrees to any other condition that the department determines is reasonable and necessary to ensure that the department or other person described in
par. (d) can adequately respond to the discharge.
292.13(2)
(2) Determinations concerning liability. The department shall, upon request, issue a written determination that a person who possesses or controls property on which a hazardous substance exists in the soil or groundwater is exempt from
s. 292.11 (3),
(4) and
(7) (b) and
(c) if the person satisfies the applicable requirements in
subs. (1) and
(1m). The department may revoke its determination if it determines that any of the requirements in
sub. (1) or
(1m) cease to be met.
292.13(3)
(3) Fees. The department may, in accordance with rules that it promulgates, assess and collect fees to offset the costs of issuing determinations under
sub. (2).
292.13 History
History: 1997 a. 27;
1999 a. 9;
2001 a. 16.
292.13 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
NR 749, Wis. adm. code.
292.15
292.15
Voluntary party remediation and exemption from liability. 292.15(1)(am)
(am) "Natural attenuation" means the reduction in the mass and concentration in groundwater of a substance, and the products into which the substance breaks down, due to naturally occurring physical, chemical and biological processes, without human intervention.
292.15(1)(b)
(b) "Owner of a business or entity" means any person who owns or who receives direct or indirect consideration from the operation of a business or entity regardless of whether the business or entity remains in operation and regardless of whether the person owns or receives consideration at the time any discharge of a hazardous substance occurs. "Owner of a business or entity" includes a subsidiary or parent corporation.
292.15(1)(e)
(e) "Subsidiary or parent corporation" means any business entity, including a subsidiary, parent corporation or other business arrangement that has elements of common ownership or control or uses a long-term contractual arrangement with any person that has the effect of avoiding direct responsibility for conditions on a parcel of property.
292.15(1)(f)
(f) "Voluntary party" means a person who submits an application to obtain an exemption under this section and pays any fees required under
sub. (5).
292.15(2)(a)(a)
General. Except as provided in
sub. (6) or
(7), a voluntary party is exempt from the provisions of
ss. 289.05 (1),
(2),
(3) and
(4),
289.42 (1),
289.67,
291.25 (1) to
(5),
291.29,
291.37,
292.11 (3),
(4) and
(7) (b) and
(c) and
292.31 (8), and rules promulgated under those provisions, with respect to discharges of hazardous substances on or originating from a property, if the release of those hazardous substances occurred prior to the date on which the department approves the environmental investigation of the property under
subd. 1. and if all of the following occur at any time before or after the date of acquisition:
292.15(2)(a)1.
1. An environmental investigation of the property is conducted that is approved by the department.
292.15(2)(a)2.
2. The environment is restored to the extent practicable with respect to the discharges and the harmful effects from the discharges are minimized in accordance with rules promulgated by the department and any contract entered into under those rules.
292.15(2)(a)3.
3. The voluntary party obtains a certificate of completion from the department that the environment has been satisfactorily restored to the extent practicable with respect to the discharges and that the harmful effects from the discharges have been minimized.
292.15(2)(a)4.
4. If the voluntary party owns or controls the property, the voluntary party maintains and monitors the property as required under rules promulgated by the department and any contract entered into under those rules.
292.15(2)(a)5.
5. The voluntary party does not engage in activities that are inconsistent with the maintenance of the property.
292.15(2)(a)6.
6. The voluntary party has not obtained the certificate of completion by fraud or misrepresentation, by the knowing failure to disclose material information or under circumstances in which the voluntary party knew or should have known about more discharges of hazardous substances than were revealed by the investigation conducted under
subd. 1.
292.15(2)(ae)
(ae)
Natural attenuation. Except as provided in
sub. (6) or
(7), if there exists a hazardous substance in groundwater on or originating from a property in a concentration that exceeds an enforcement standard and the department determines that natural attenuation will restore groundwater quality in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, a voluntary party is exempt from
ss. 289.05 (1),
(2),
(3) and
(4),
289.42 (1),
289.67,
291.25 (1) to
(5),
291.29,
291.37,
292.11 (3),
(4) and
(7) (b) and
(c) and
292.31 (8), and rules promulgated under those provisions, with respect to discharges of hazardous substances on or originating from the property, if the release of those hazardous substances occurred prior to the date on which the department approves the environmental investigation of the property under
subd. 1. and if all of the following occur at any time before or after the date of acquisition:
292.15(2)(ae)1.
1. An environmental investigation of the property is conducted that is approved by the department.
292.15(2)(ae)2.
2. The environment is restored to the extent practicable with respect to the discharges and the harmful effects from the discharges are minimized in accordance with rules promulgated by the department and any contract entered into under those rules, except that this requirement does not apply with respect to the hazardous substance in groundwater that the department has determined will be brought into compliance with rules promulgated by the department through natural attenuation.
292.15(2)(ae)3.
3. The voluntary party obtains a certificate of completion from the department stating that the environment has been satisfactorily restored to the extent practicable with respect to the discharges and that the harmful effects from the discharges have been minimized, except with respect to the hazardous substance in groundwater that the department has determined will be brought into compliance with rules promulgated by the department through natural attenuation.
292.15(2)(ae)3m.
3m. If required by the department, the voluntary party obtains and maintains insurance to cover the costs of complying with
s. 292.11 (3) with respect to the hazardous substance that the department has determined will be brought into compliance with rules promulgated by the department through natural attenuation, in case natural attenuation fails, and the insurance complies with rules promulgated by the department and names this state as the insured.
292.15(2)(ae)4.
4. If the voluntary party owns or controls the property, the voluntary party maintains and monitors the property as required under rules promulgated by the department and any contract entered into under those rules.
292.15(2)(ae)5.
5. The voluntary party does not engage in activities that are inconsistent with the maintenance of the property.
292.15(2)(ae)6.
6. The voluntary party has not obtained the certification under
subd. 3. by fraud or misrepresentation, by the knowing failure to disclose material information or under circumstances in which the voluntary party knew or should have known about more discharges of hazardous substances than were revealed by the investigation conducted under
subd. 1.
