Wisconsin Legislature: 27,3680

292.15 (5) Fees. The department may, in accordance with rules that it promulgates, assess and collect fees from a purchaser voluntary party to offset the cost of the department's activities under subs. (2) and (4). The fees may include an advance deposit, from which the department shall return the amount in excess of the cost of the department's activities under subs. (2) and (4).

27,3678m Section 3678m. 292.15 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

292.15 (5m) Prospective purchaser assurance letters. The department, in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, may issue to a prospective purchaser of property a letter certifying that the prospective purchaser is entitled to the exemptions described under sub. (2). The department may condition the entitlement to the exemptions upon the prospective purchaser's taking action as provided in this section and in a manner considered satisfactory to the department. Notwithstanding sub. (1) (f), a person to whom the department issues a letter under this subsection shall be considered to be a voluntary party under this section. Any letter issued under this subsection is void if the letter was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation.

27,3679 Section 3679 . 292.15 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

292.15 (6) Liens. This section does not exempt property from any lien filed under s. 292.81 (3) for costs incurred by the department prior to the date that certification is issued under sub. (2) (a) 3.

27,3679m Section 3679m. 292.15 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

292.15 (7) Applicability. This section does not apply to any of the following:

(a) A hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal facility that first begins operation after the date on which the voluntary party acquired the property.

(b) A licensed hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal facility operated on the property before the date on which the voluntary party acquired the property and that is operated after the date on which the voluntary party acquired the property.

(c) Any hazardous waste disposal facility that has been issued a license under s. 144.441 (2), 1995 stats., or s. 289.41 (1m), or rules promulgated under those sections, for a period of long-term care following closure of the facility if the license was issued on or before the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date].

27,3679p Section 3679p. 292.16 of the statutes is created to read:

292.16 Responsibility of certain municipalities acquiring closed landfills. (1) Definition. In this section:

(a) “Generator" has the meaning given in s. 292.35 (1) (b).

(b) “Transporter" has the meaning given in s. 292.35 (1) (g).

(2) Application. A municipality may apply to the department for an exemption from liability with respect to property that contains a closed landfill and that is acquired by the municipality before, on or after the effective date of this subsection.

(3) Conditions for approval. The department shall approve an application under sub. (2) if all of the following apply:

(a) The landfill is closed when the municipality acquires the property.

(b) The landfill closure complies with all rules of the department at the time of the application under sub. (2).

(d) The municipality enters into an agreement with the department that contains requirements for the municipality to maintain the property.

(e) The department determines that an exemption from liability under this section is in the public interest.

(f) The landfill was privately owned while it was in operation.

(g) The landfill has caused groundwater contamination.

(h) A steering committee of local public and private representatives was formed to address the contamination caused by the landfill in a cooperative effort with the department that prevented the landfill from being listed on the national priority list under 42 USC 9605 (a) (8) (B).

(i) The remedial action approved by the department authorized a recreational use for the property and was completed by December 31, 1995.

(4) Scope of exemption. An approval by the department under sub. (3) exempts the municipality from liability imposed under ss. 289.05, 289.41, 289.46, 289.95, 291.37, 291.85 (2), 292.11 (3), (4) and (7) (b) and (c) and 292.31 (8), and rules promulgated under those provisions, based on the municipality's ownership of the property. The exemption does not apply to any liability based on hazardous substances for which the municipality is responsible as a generator or transporter.

(5) Requirements. If the department approves a municipality's application under sub. (3), the municipality shall do all of the following:

(a) Obtain the prior approval of the department for any proposed uses of the property, for any physical disturbance of the soil and for any construction on the property.

(b) Allow access to the property by any person who is required to conduct monitoring, to operate and maintain equipment or to undertake remedial action in connection with the closed landfill.

27,3680 Section 3680 . 292.19 of the statutes is created to read:

292.19 Responsibility of persons conducting investigations. (1) For purposes of this chapter, a person who conducts an investigation of property to determine the existence of, or to obtain information about, a discharge of a hazardous substance does not possess or control the hazardous substance or cause the discharge of the hazardous substance as the result of conducting the investigation.

(2) If the person who conducts the investigation physically causes a discharge, sub. (1) does not apply with respect to the portion of the property on which the person causes the discharge.

27,3681 Section 3681. 292.21 (1) (c) 1. d. of the statutes is amended to read:

292.21 (1) (c) 1. d. The lender conducts an environmental assessment of the real property in accordance with subd. 2. at any time, but not more than 90 days after the date the lender acquires title to, or possession or control of, the real property and files. The lender shall file a complete copy of the environmental assessment with the department not more than 180 days after the date the lender acquires title to, or possession or control of, the real property. If an environmental assessment is conducted more than one year before the date on which the lender acquires title to, or possession or control of, the real property, the exemption under this subd. 1. d. applies only if the lender does all of the following: visually inspects the property in accordance with subd. 2. a. and b. after the date on which the lender acquires title to, or possession or control of, the real property to verify the environmental assessment; submits a complete copy of the environmental assessment and the results of the visual inspection to the department not later than 90 days after the lender acquires title to, or possession or control of, the real property; receives notice from the department that the department determines that the environmental assessment is adequate or that the department directs the lender to address any inadequacies in the environmental assessment; corrects, to the satisfaction of the department, any inadequacies of an environmental assessment; and reimburses the department for the cost to the department of reviewing materials submitted under this subd. 1. d.

27,3683g Section 3683g. 292.26 of the statutes is created to read:

292.26 Civil immunity; local governmental units. (1) In this section, “local governmental unit" has the meaning given in s. 292.11 (9) (e) 1.

(2) Except as provided in sub. (3), a local governmental unit is immune from civil liability related to the discharge of a hazardous substance on or from property formerly owned or controlled by the local governmental unit if the property is no longer owned by the local governmental unit at the time that the discharge is discovered and if any of the following applies:

(a) The local governmental unit acquired the property through tax delinquency proceedings or as the result of an order by a bankruptcy court.

(b) The local governmental unit acquired the property from a local governmental unit that acquired the property under a method described in par. (a).

(d) The local governmental unit acquired the property for the purpose of slum clearance or blight elimination.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply with respect to a discharge of a hazardous substance caused by an activity conducted by the local governmental unit while the local governmental unit owned or controlled the property.

27,3684 Section 3684. 292.31 (2) (f) of the statutes is repealed.

27,3685 Section 3685 . 292.31 (7) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

292.31 (7) (c) 4. All moneys received under this paragraph shall be credited to the environmental fund for environmental repair management.

27,3686 Section 3686 . 292.31 (8) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.31 (8) (g) Disposition of funds. If the original expenditure was made from the environmental repair fund, under s. 25.46, 1987 stats., or the environmental fund, the net proceeds of the recovery shall be paid into the environmental fund for environmental repair management. If the original expenditure was made from the investment and local impact fund, the net proceeds of the recovery shall be paid into the investment and local impact fund.

27,3687 Section 3687 . 292.35 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (title) Political subdivision Local governmental unit negotiation and cost recovery.

27,3688 Section 3688 . 292.35 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

292.35 (1) (bm) “Local governmental unit" means a municipality, a redevelopment authority created under s. 66.431 or a public body designated by a municipality under s. 66.435 (4).

27,3689 Section 3689 . 292.35 (1) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

27,3690 Section 3690 . 292.35 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (1) (f) “Site or facility" has the meaning given in s. 292.61 (1) (b) means an approved facility, an approved mining facility, a nonapproved facility, a waste site or any site where a hazardous substance is discharged on or after May 21, 1978.

27,3691 Section 3691 . 292.35 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (2) Applicability. This section only applies to a site or facility if the site or facility is owned by a political subdivision local governmental unit. This section does not apply to a landfill until January 1, 1996.

27,3692 Section 3692 . 292.35 (2g) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (2g) (a) A political subdivision local governmental unit that intends to use the cost recovery procedures in this section shall attempt to identify all responsible parties. All information obtained by the political subdivision local governmental unit regarding responsible parties is a public record and may be inspected and copied under s. 19.35.

27,3693 Section 3693 . 292.35 (2g) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (2g) (b) (intro.) Upon the request of an employe or authorized representative of the political subdivision local governmental unit, or pursuant to a special inspection warrant under s. 66.122, any person who generated, transported, treated, stored or disposed of a hazardous substance that may have been disposed of or discharged at the site or facility or who is or was an owner or operator shall provide the employe or authorized representative access to any records or documents in that person's custody, possession or control that relate to all of the following:

27,3694 Section 3694 . 292.35 (2g) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (2g) (c) The political subdivision local governmental unit shall maintain a single repository that is readily accessible to the public for all documents related to responsible parties, the investigation, the remedial action and plans for redevelopment of the property.

27,3695 Section 3695 . 292.35 (2r) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (2r) (a) The political subdivision local governmental unit shall, in consultation with the department, prepare a draft remedial action plan.

27,3696 Section 3696 . 292.35 (2r) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (2r) (b) Upon completion of the draft remedial action plan, the political subdivision local governmental unit shall send written notice to all responsible parties identified by the political subdivision local governmental unit, provide public notice and conduct a public hearing on the draft remedial action plan. The notice to responsible parties shall offer the person receiving the notice an opportunity to provide information regarding the status of that person or any other person as a responsible party, notice and a description of the public hearing and a description of the procedures in this section. At the public hearing, the political subdivision local governmental unit shall solicit testimony on whether the draft remedial action plan is the least costly method of meeting the standards for remedial action promulgated by the department by rule. The political subdivision local governmental unit shall accept written comments for at least 30 days after the close of the public hearing.

27,3697 Section 3697 . 292.35 (2r) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (2r) (c) Upon the conclusion of the period for written comment, the political subdivision local governmental unit shall prepare a preliminary remedial action plan, taking into account the written comments and comments received at the public hearing and shall submit the preliminary remedial action plan to the department for approval. The department may approve the preliminary remedial action plan as submitted or require modifications.

27,3698 Section 3698 . 292.35 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (3) (a) (intro.) Upon receiving the department's approval of the preliminary remedial action plan, the political subdivision local governmental unit shall serve an offer to settle regarding the contribution of funds for investigation and remedial action at the site or facility on each of the responsible parties identified by the political subdivision local governmental unit, using the procedure for service of a summons under s. 801.11 and shall notify the department that the offer to settle has been served. The political subdivision local governmental unit shall include in the offer to settle all of the following information:

27,3699 Section 3699 . 292.35 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (3) (a) 2. The names, addresses and contact persons, to the extent known, for all of the responsible parties identified by the political subdivision local governmental unit.

27,3700 Section 3700 . 292.35 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (3) (a) 3. The location and availability of documents that support the claim of the political subdivision local governmental unit against the responsible party.

27,3701 Section 3701 . 292.35 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (3) (b) The department shall maintain a list of competent and disinterested umpires qualified to perform the duties under subs. (4) to (6). None of the umpires may be employes of the department. Upon receiving notice from a political subdivision local governmental unit under par. (a), the secretary or his or her designee shall select an umpire from the list and inform the political subdivision local governmental unit and responsible parties of the person selected.

27,3702 Section 3702 . 292.35 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (3) (c) Within 10 days after receiving notice of the umpire selected by the department under par. (b), the political subdivision local governmental unit may notify the department that the umpire selected is unacceptable. Within 10 days after receiving notice of the umpire selected by the department under par. (b), a responsible party may notify the department that the umpire selected is unacceptable or that the responsible party does not intend to participate in the negotiation. Failure to notify the department that the umpire is unacceptable shall be considered acceptance. If all responsible parties identified by the political subdivision local governmental unit indicate that they do not intend to participate in the negotiation, the department shall inform the political subdivision local governmental unit and the political subdivision local governmental unit shall cease further action under this section.

27,3703 Section 3703 . 292.35 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (3) (d) Upon receiving notice under par. (c) that the selected umpire is unacceptable, the secretary or his or her designee shall select 5 additional umpires from the list and inform the political subdivision local governmental unit and responsible parties of the persons selected.

27,3704 Section 3704 . 292.35 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (3) (e) Within 10 days after receiving notice of the umpires selected by the department under par. (d), the political subdivision local governmental unit or a responsible party may notify the department that one or more of the umpires selected are unacceptable. Failure to notify the department shall be considered acceptance. The secretary or his or her designee shall select an umpire from among those umpires not identified as unacceptable by the political subdivision local governmental unit or a responsible party or, if all umpires are identified as unacceptable, the secretary or his or her designee shall designate a person to be umpire for the negotiation.

27,3705 Section 3705 . 292.35 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (4) (a) The umpire, immediately upon being appointed, shall contact the department, the political subdivision local governmental unit and the responsible parties that received the offer to settle and shall schedule the negotiating sessions. The umpire shall schedule the first negotiating session no later than 20 days after being appointed. The umpire may meet with all parties to the negotiation, individual parties or groups of parties. The umpire shall facilitate a discussion between the political subdivision local governmental unit and the responsible parties to attempt to reach an agreement on the design and implementation of the remedial action plan and the contribution of funds by the political subdivision local governmental unit and responsible parties.

27,3706 Section 3706 . 292.35 (4) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (4) (d) The political subdivision local governmental unit and the responsible parties that participate in negotiations shall pay for the costs of the umpire, whether or not an agreement among the parties is reached under sub. (5) or the parties accept the recommendation of the umpire under sub. (6). The umpire shall determine an equitable manner of paying for the costs of the umpire, which is binding.

27,3707 Section 3707 . 292.35 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

292.35 (5) Agreement in negotiation. The political subdivision local governmental unit and any of the responsible parties may enter into any agreement in negotiation regarding the design and implementation of the remedial action plan and the contribution of funds by the political subdivision local governmental unit and responsible parties for the investigation and remedial action. The portion of the agreement containing the design and implementation of the remedial action plan shall be submitted to the department for approval. The department may approve that portion of the agreement as submitted or require modifications.

27,3708 Section 3708. 292.35 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read: