2003 Wisconsin Act 118

118,171 Section 171. 227.43 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

227.43 (1g) The administrator of the division of hearings and appeals shall establish a system for assigning hearing examiners to preside over any hearing under this section. The system shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that hearing examiners are assigned to different subjects on a rotating basis. The system may include the establishment of pools of examiners responsible for certain subjects.

118,172 Section 172. 227.44 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

227.44 (2) (d) If the subject of the hearing is a decision of the department of natural resources or the department of transportation, the name and title of the person who will conduct the hearing.

118,173 Section 173. 227.483 of the statutes is created to read:

227.483 Costs upon frivolous claims. (1) If a hearing examiner finds, at any time during the proceeding, that an administrative hearing commenced or continued by a petitioner or a claim or defense used by a party is frivolous, the hearing examiner shall award the successful party the costs and reasonable attorney fees that are directly attributable to responding to the frivolous petition, claim, or defense.

(2) If the costs and fees awarded under sub. (1) are awarded against the party other than a public agency, those costs may be assessed fully against either the party or the attorney representing the party or may be assessed so that the party and the attorney each pay a portion of the costs and fees.

(3) To find a petition for a hearing or a claim or defense to be frivolous under sub. (1), the hearing examiner must find at least one of the following:

(a) That the petition, claim, or defense was commenced, used, or continued in bad faith, solely for purposes of harassing or maliciously injuring another.

(b) That the party or the party's attorney knew, or should have known, that the petition, claim, or defense was without any reasonable basis in law or equity and could not be supported by a good faith argument for an extension, modification, or reversal of existing law.

118,174 Section 174. 227.53 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

227.53 (1) (a) 3. If the petitioner is a resident, the proceedings shall be held in the circuit court for the county where the petitioner resides, except that if the petitioner is an agency, the proceedings shall be in the circuit court for the county where the respondent resides and except as provided in ss. 73.0301 (2) (b) 2., 77.59 (6) (b), 182.70 (6), and 182.71 (5) (g). The proceedings shall be in the circuit court for Dane County if If the petitioner is a nonresident, the proceedings shall be held in the county where the property affected by the decision is located or, if no property is affected, in the county where the dispute arose. If all parties stipulate and the court to which the parties desire to transfer the proceedings agrees, the proceedings may be held in the county designated by the parties. If 2 or more petitions for review of the same decision are filed in different counties, the circuit judge for the county in which a petition for review of the decision was first filed shall determine the venue for judicial review of the decision, and shall order transfer or consolidation where appropriate.

118,175 Section 175. 236.16 (3) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

236.16 (3) (d) (intro.) All of the owners of all of the land adjacent to a public access established under par. (a) to an inland lake, as defined in s. 30.92 (1) (bk), may petition the city, village, town or county that owns the public access to construct shoreline erosion control measures. Subject to par. (e), the city, village, town or county shall construct the requested shoreline erosion control measures or request the department of natural resources to determine the need for shoreline erosion control measures. Upon receipt of a request under this paragraph from a city, village, town or county, the department of natural resources shall follow the notice and hearing procedures in s. 30.02 (3) and (4) 30.208 (3) to (5). Subject to par. (e), the city, village, town or county shall construct shoreline erosion control measures as required by the department of natural resources if the department of natural resources determines all of the following:

118,176 Section 176. 285.11 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

285.11 (9) Prepare and adopt minimum standards for the emission of mercury compounds or metallic mercury into the air, consistent with s. 285.27 (2) (b).

118,177 Section 177. 285.14 of the statutes is created to read:

285.14 State implementation plans. (1) Content. The department may not submit a control measure or strategy that imposes or may result in regulatory requirements to the federal environmental protection agency for inclusion in a state implementation plan under 42 USC 7410 unless the department has promulgated the control measure or strategy as a rule.

(2) Review by standing committees. At least 60 days before the department is required to submit a state implementation plan to the federal environmental protection agency, the department shall prepare, and provide to the standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over environmental matters, under s. 13.172 (3) a report that describes the proposed plan and contains all of the supporting documents that the department intends to submit with the plan. The department shall also submit to the revisor of statutes for publication in the administrative register a notice of availability of the report. If, within 30 days after the department provides the report, the chairperson of a standing committee to which the report was provided submits written comments on the report to the department, the secretary shall respond to the chairperson in writing within 15 days of receipt of the comments. This subsection does not apply to a modification to a state implementation plan relating to an individual source.

118,178 Section 178. 285.17 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 285.17 (2) (a).

118,179 Section 179. 285.17 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

285.17 (2) (b) Before issuing an operation permit that contains a monitoring requirement relating to the emissions from an air contaminant source, the department shall notify the applicant of the proposed monitoring requirement and give the applicant the opportunity to demonstrate to the administrator of the division of the department that administers this chapter that the proposed monitoring requirement is unreasonable considering, among other factors, monitoring requirements imposed on similar air contaminant sources. If the administrator determines that the monitoring requirement is unreasonable, the department may not impose the monitoring requirement. If the administrator determines that the monitoring requirement is reasonable, the applicant may obtain a review of that determination by the secretary. The secretary may not delegate this function to another person. If the secretary determines that the monitoring requirement is unreasonable, the department may not impose the monitoring requirement.

118,180 Section 180. 285.21 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 285.21 (1) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

285.21 (1) (b) Standard to protect health or welfare. (intro.) If an ambient air quality standard for any air contaminant is not promulgated under section 109 of the federal clean air act, the department may promulgate an ambient air quality standard if the department finds that the standard is needed to provide adequate protection for public health or welfare. The department may not make this finding for an air contaminant unless the finding is supported with written documentation that includes all of the following:

118,181 Section 181. 285.21 (1) (b) 1. to 4. of the statutes are created to read:

285.21 (1) (b) 1. A public health risk assessment that characterizes the types of stationary sources in this state that are known to emit the air contaminant and the population groups that are potentially at risk from the emissions.

2. An analysis showing that members of population groups are subjected to levels of the air contaminant that are above recognized environmental health standards or will be subjected to those levels if the department fails to promulgate the proposed ambient air quality standard.

3. An evaluation of options for managing the risks caused by the air contaminant considering risks, costs, economic impacts, feasibility, energy, safety, and other relevant factors, and a finding that the proposed ambient air quality standard reduces risks in the most cost-effective manner practicable.

4. A comparison of the proposed ambient air quality standard with ambient air quality standards in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio.

118,182 Section 182. 285.21 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

285.21 (4) Impact of change in federal standards. If the ambient air increment or the ambient air quality standards in effect on April 30, 1980, under the federal clean air act are relaxed modified, the department shall alter the corresponding state standards unless it finds that the relaxed modified standards would not provide adequate protection for public health and welfare. The department may not make this finding for an ambient air quality standard unless the finding is supported with the written documentation required under sub. (1) (b) 1. to 4.

118,183 Section 183. 285.23 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

285.23 (1) Procedures and criteria. The department shall promulgate by rule procedures and criteria to identify a nonattainment area and to reclassify a nonattainment area as an attainment area. After the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], the department may not identify a county as part of a nonattainment area under the federal clean air act if the concentration of an air contaminant in the atmosphere in that county does not exceed an ambient air quality standard, unless under the federal clean air act the county is required to be designated as part of a nonattainment area.

118,184 Section 184. 285.23 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

285.23 (2) Documents. The department shall issue documents from time to time which define or list specific nonattainment areas or recommend that areas be designated as nonattainment areas under the federal clean air act based upon the procedures and criteria promulgated under sub. (1). Notwithstanding ss. 227.01 (13) and 227.10 (1), documents issued under this subsection are not rules.

118,185 Section 185. 285.23 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

285.23 (6) Report to standing committees. Before the department issues documents under sub. (2) and at least 60 days before the governor is required to make a submission on a nonattainment designation under 42 USC 7407 (d) (1) (A), the department shall prepare, and provide to the standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over environmental matters under s. 13.172 (3), a report that contains a description of any area proposed to be identified as a nonattainment area and supporting documentation. The department shall also submit to the revisor of statutes for publication in the administrative register a notice of availability of the report. If, within 30 days after the department submits the report, the chairperson of a standing committee to which the report was provided submits written comments on the report to the department, the secretary shall respond to the chairperson in writing within 15 days of receipt of the comments.

118,186 Section 186. 285.27 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

285.27 (1) (a) Similar to federal standard. If a standard of performance for new stationary sources is promulgated under section 111 of the federal clean air act, the department shall promulgate by rule a similar emission standard, including administrative requirements that are consistent with the federal administrative requirements, but this standard may not be more restrictive in terms of emission limitations than the federal standard except as provided under sub. (4).

118,187 Section 187. 285.27 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

285.27 (2) (a) Similar to federal standard. If an emission standard for a hazardous air contaminant is promulgated under section 112 of the federal clean air act, the department shall promulgate by rule a similar standard, including administrative requirements that are consistent with the federal administrative requirements, but this standard may not be more restrictive in terms of emission limitations than the federal standard except as provided under sub. (4).

118,188 Section 188. 285.27 (2) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 285.27 (2) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

285.27 (2) (b) Standard to protect public health or welfare. (intro.) If an emission standard for a hazardous air contaminant is not promulgated under section 112 of the federal clean air act, the department may promulgate an emission standard for the hazardous air contaminant if the department finds the standard is needed to provide adequate protection for public health or welfare. The department may not make this finding for a hazardous air contaminant unless the finding is supported with written documentation that includes all of the following:

118,189 Section 189. 285.27 (2) (b) 1. to 4. of the statutes are created to read:

285.27 (2) (b) 1. A public health risk assessment that characterizes the types of stationary sources in this state that are known to emit the hazardous air contaminant and the population groups that are potentially at risk from the emissions.

2. An analysis showing that members of population groups are subjected to levels of the hazardous air contaminant that are above recognized environmental health standards or will be subjected to those levels if the department fails to promulgate the proposed emission standard for the hazardous air contaminant.

3. An evaluation of options for managing the risks caused by the hazardous air contaminant considering risks, costs, economic impacts, feasibility, energy, safety, and other relevant factors, and a finding that the chosen compliance alternative reduces risks in the most cost-effective manner practicable.

4. A comparison of the emission standards for hazardous air contaminants in this state to hazardous air contaminant standards in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio.

118,190 Section 190. 285.27 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

285.27 (2) (d) Emissions regulated under federal law. Emissions limitations promulgated under par. (b) and related control requirements do not apply to hazardous air contaminants emitted by emissions units, operations, or activities that are regulated by an emission standard promulgated under section 112 of the federal clean air act, including a hazardous air contaminant that is regulated under section 112 of the federal clean air act by virtue of regulation of another substance as a surrogate for the hazardous air contaminant or by virtue of regulation of a species or category of hazardous air contaminants that includes the hazardous air contaminant.

118,191 Section 191. 285.27 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

285.27 (4) Impact of change in federal standards. If the standards of performance for new stationary sources or the emission standards for hazardous air contaminants under the federal clean air act are relaxed, the department shall alter the corresponding state standards unless it finds that the relaxed standards would not provide adequate protection for public health and welfare. The department may not make this finding for an emission standard for a hazardous air contaminant unless the finding is supported with the written documentation required under sub. (2) (b) 1. to 4. This subsection applies to state standards of performance for new stationary sources and emission standards for hazardous air contaminants in effect on April 30, 1980, if the relaxation in the corresponding federal standards occurs after April 30, 1980.

118,192 Section 192. 285.60 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

285.60 (1) (a) 1. Except as provided in sub. (2g), (5m), or (6), no person may commence construction, reconstruction, replacement or modification of a stationary source unless the person has a construction permit from the department.

118,193 Section 193. 285.60 (2g) of the statutes is created to read:

285.60 (2g) Registration permits. (a) Rules. Subject to sub. (8), the department shall promulgate rules specifying a simplified process under which the department may issue a registration permit authorizing construction or operation or both for a stationary source with low actual or potential emissions if the owner or operator provides to the department, on a form prescribed by the department, sufficient information to show that the source qualifies for a registration permit. In the rules, the department shall include criteria for identifying categories of sources the owners or operators of which may elect to obtain registration permits and general requirements applicable to sources that qualify for registration permits. In the rules, the department may exempt persons who qualify for registration permits from the requirement to obtain a construction permit.

(b) Procedure. The procedural requirements of ss. 285.61 (2) to (8) and 285.62 (2) to (7) do not apply to a registration permit under this subsection. Within 15 days after receipt of the form prescribed by the department, the department shall provide one of the following to an applicant for a registration permit:

1. Written notice of the department's determination that the source qualifies for a registration permit.

2. A written description of any information that is missing from the application for a registration permit.

3. Written notice of the department's determination that the source does not qualify for a registration permit, specifically describing the reasons for that determination.

118,194 Section 194. 285.60 (2m) of the statutes is repealed.

118,195 Section 195. 285.60 (3) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

285.60 (3) General permits. (a) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the issuance of general permits authorizing construction or operation or both for similar stationary sources. In the rules, the department shall specify criteria for identifying categories of sources for which the department may issue general permits and general requirements applicable to sources that qualify for general permits.

(b) Procedure. The procedural requirements of ss. 285.61 (2) to (8) and 285.62 (2) to (5) do not apply to the determination of whether a source is covered by a general permit under this subsection. Within 15 days after receipt of an application for coverage under a general permit, the department shall provide one of the following to the applicant:

1. Written notice of the department's determination that the source qualifies for coverage under the general permit.

2. A written description of any information that is missing from the application for coverage under the general permit.

3. Written notice of the department's determination that the source does not qualify for coverage under the general permit, specifically describing the reasons for that determination.

118,196 Section 196. 285.60 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

285.60 (5m) Waiver of construction permit requirements. (a) Subject to sub. (8), the department shall promulgate rules under which a person is allowed to commence construction, reconstruction, replacement, or modification of a stationary source prior to the issuance of a construction permit upon a showing that commencing construction, reconstruction, replacement, or modification prior to the issuance of the permit is necessary to avoid undue hardship.

(b) Subject to sub. (8), the department may allow a person to commence construction, reconstruction, replacement, or modification of a stationary source prior to the issuance of a construction permit on a case-by-case basis or on bases specified in a rule.

(c) The department shall act on a waiver request under this subsection within 15 days after it receives the request.

118,197 Section 197. 285.60 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 285.60 (6) (a).

118,198 Section 198. 285.60 (6) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

285.60 (6) (b) Subject to sub. (8), the department shall, by rule, exempt minor sources from the requirement to obtain a construction permit and an operation permit if the emissions from the sources do not present a significant hazard to public health, safety or welfare or to the environment.

118,199 Section 199. 285.60 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

285.60 (8) Compliance with federal law. The department may not promulgate a rule or take any other action under this section that conflicts with the federal clean air act.

118,200 Section 200. 285.60 (9) of the statutes is created to read:

285.60 (9) Petitions for registration permits, general permits, and exemptions. A person may petition the department to make a determination that a type of stationary source meets the criteria for a registration permit under sub. (2g), a general permit under sub. (3), or an exemption under sub. (6). The department shall provide a written response to a petition within 30 days after receiving the petition indicating whether the type of stationary source meets the applicable criteria for a registration permit, a general permit, or an exemption. If the type of source meets the applicable criteria, the department shall, within 365 days after receiving the petition, issue the registration permit or general permit or, for an exemption, shall submit to the legislative council staff under s. 227.15 (1) in proposed form any necessary rules or take any other action that is necessary provide the exemption.

118,201 Section 201. 285.60 (10) of the statutes is created to read:

285.60 (10) Permit streamlining. The department shall continually assess permit obligations imposed under this section and ss. 285.61 to 285.65 and implement measures that are consistent with this chapter and the federal clean air act to allow for timely installation and operation of equipment and processes and the pursuit of related economic activity by lessening those obligations, including consolidating the permits for sources at a facility into one permit, expanding exemptions under sub. (6), and expanding the availability of registration permits under sub. (2g), general permits under sub. (3), and construction permit waivers under sub. (5m).

118,202 Section 202. 285.61 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 285.61 (2) (a) 1. and amended to read:

285.61 (2) (a) 1. Within 20 days, excluding statewide legal holidays specified in s. 895.20, after receipt of the application the department shall indicate provide written notice to the applicant describing specifically all of the plans, specifications and any other information necessary to determine if the proposed construction, reconstruction, replacement or modification will meet the requirements of this chapter and s. 299.15 and rules promulgated under this chapter and s. 299.15.

118,203 Section 203. 285.61 (2) (a) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

285.61 (2) (a) (title) Request for additional information.

118,204 Section 204. 285.61 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

285.61 (2) (a) 2. If the department requests additional information under subd. 1., the department shall notify the applicant, within 15 days after receiving additional information from the applicant, whether that additional information satisfies the department's request.

118,205 Section 205. 285.61 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

285.61 (2) (b) When application is considered to be complete. 1. If the department does not indicate to an applicant within the time provided in par. (a) 1. that additional information is needed, the application is considered to be complete for the purposes of the time limits in sub. (3) 20 days after receipt of the application.

2. If the department indicates to an applicant within the time provided in par. (a) 1. that additional information is needed but the department does not indicate to the applicant within the time provided in par. (a) 2. that additional information provided is deficient, the application is considered to be complete for the purposes of the time limits in sub. (3) 15 days after receipt of the additional information.