SB55-ASA1-AA1,1128,8 7State of Wisconsin
8Department of Environmental Management.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1128,99 To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting:
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1128,1410 Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity and ability
11of ...., of the county of ...., we do hereby appoint and constitute .... an environmental
12warden (or special environmental warden) for the state of Wisconsin, and do
13authorize and empower .... to execute and fulfill the duties of that office according to
14law, during good behavior and the faithful performance of the duties of that office.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1128,1715 In testimony whereof, the secretary has hereunto affixed the secretary's
16signature and the official seal of the department, at its office in the city of Madison,
17Wisconsin, this .... day of ...., .... (year)
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1128,1818 (Seal) State of Wisconsin
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1128,19 19Department of Environmental Management.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1128,2020 By .... ....
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1129,9 21(4) The department shall furnish to each environmental warden at the time of
22the environmental warden's appointment, a pocket identification folder in form and
23substance as follows: A leather-covered folder, size when folded, 3 by 4 inches; on one
24of the inner sides thereof shall be securely fastened a photograph of the appointee
25to be furnished by the appointee, and partly on the photograph and partly on the

1margin of the folder shall be an impression of the seal of the department. The
2appointee shall also affix the appointee's signature below the photograph on such
3folder. On the other inner side of the folder shall be securely fastened a miniature
4true copy of the commission issued to the appointee, which shall be signed by the
5secretary. The appointee shall carry the identification folder on his or her person at
6all times that the appointee is on official duty, and the appointee shall on demand
7exhibit the folder to any person to whom the appointee may represent himself or
8herself as an environmental warden. The cost of the identification folder shall be
9charged to the department.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1129,17 10(5) All environmental wardens shall make full and complete reports of their
11transactions as such, according to the demand of the department, and shall at all
12times be subject to its direction and control in the performance of their duties. They
13shall also gather and transmit all statistical information relative to those matters
14within their charge as the department directs. In its report under s. 15.04 (1) (d) the
15department shall include information covering all its work and such other
16information as is valuable to the state in relation thereto and an itemized statement
17of receipts and disbursements.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1130,3 18278.11 Warrants, arrests, and police powers. (1) Generally. The
19department and its wardens may execute and serve warrants and processes issued
20under any law enumerated in s. 278.51 (1) in the same manner as any constable may
21serve and execute the process; and may arrest, with or without a warrant, any person
22detected in the actual violation, or whom the officer has probable cause to believe is
23guilty of a violation of any of those laws whether the violation is punishable by
24criminal penalties or by forfeiture, and may take the person before any court in the
25county where the offense was committed and make a proper complaint. For the

1purpose of enforcing the laws enumerated in s. 278.51 (1), any officer may stop and
2board any boat and stop any vehicle, if the officer reasonably suspects there is a
3violation of those laws.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1130,23 4(2) Additional arrest powers. In addition to the arrest powers under sub. (1),
5an environmental warden who has completed a program of law enforcement training
6approved by the law enforcement standards board, has been certified as qualified to
7be a law enforcement officer under s. 165.85 (4) (b) 1., and has complied with any
8applicable requirements under s. 165.85 (4) (bn) 1. while on duty and in uniform or
9on duty and upon display of proper credentials may assist another law enforcement
10agency, as defined in s. 165.83 (1) (b), including making an arrest at the request of
11the agency, may arrest a person pursuant to an arrest warrant concerning the
12commission of a felony, or may arrest a person who has committed a crime in the
13presence of the environmental warden. If the environmental warden makes an
14arrest without the presence of another law enforcement agency, the environmental
15warden shall cause the person arrested to be delivered to the chief of police or sheriff
16in the jurisdiction where the arrest is made, along with the documents and reports
17pertaining to the arrest. The environmental warden shall be available as a witness
18for the state. An environmental warden may not conduct investigations for
19violations of state law except as authorized in sub. (3). An environmental warden
20acting under the authority of this subsection is considered an employee of the
21department and is subject to its direction, benefits and legal protection. The
22authority granted in this subsection does not apply to special environmental
23wardens.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1131,2 24(3) Investigations. The department and its environmental wardens shall,
25upon receiving notice or information of the violation of the laws enumerated in s.

1278.51 (1), as soon as possible make a thorough investigation and cause proceedings
2to be instituted if the evidence warrants it.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1131,8 3(4) Seizure. The department and its environmental wardens shall seize and
4hold, subject to the order of the court for the county in which the alleged offense was
5committed, any vehicle, boat, or object that they have probable cause to believe is
6being used in violation of s. 287.81. If it is proven that within 6 months previous to
7the seizure the vehicle, boat, or object was used in violation of s. 287.81, it shall be
8confiscated if the court directs in its order for judgment.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1131,16 9(5) Sale of confiscated property. (a) All confiscated vehicles, boats, or objects
10shall, if not destroyed as authorized by law, be sold at the highest price obtainable,
11by the department, or by an agent on commission under supervision of the
12department. The net proceeds of sales under this subsection, after deducting the
13expense of seizure and sale, any commissions, and any amounts owing to holders of
14security interests under par. (c) or (d), shall be remitted to the department. The
15remittance shall be accompanied by a report of the sales, supported by vouchers for
16expenses and commissions, and shall be filed with the department.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1131,1917 (b) Of the remittance from the sales of confiscated vehicles, boats, or objects,
1818% shall be paid into the general fund to reimburse it for expenses incurred in
19seizure and sale, and the remaining 82% shall be paid into the common school fund.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1132,220 (c) 1. In the case of the sale of a confiscated motor vehicle, the department shall
21make a reasonable effort, within 10 days after seizure, to ascertain if a security
22interest in the seized motor vehicle exists. The department shall, within 10 days
23after obtaining actual or constructive notice of any security interest in the seized
24motor vehicle, give the secured party notice of the time and place of any proceeding

1before a court pertaining to the confiscation of the motor vehicle. Constructive notice
2shall be limited to security interests perfected by filing.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1132,63 2. The time of sale of the confiscated motor vehicle shall be within 20 days after
4judgment of confiscation as provided in sub. (4). The department shall give each
5secured party discovered in accordance with subd. 1. at least 10 days' notice of the
6time and place of sale of the motor vehicle.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1132,177 3. If the holder of a security interest in the confiscated motor vehicle, perfected
8by filing, proves to the court, or after judgment of confiscation, to the department,
9that the violation that led to the confiscation was not with the knowledge, consent,
10or connivance of the holder of the security interest or with that of some person
11employed or trusted by the holder of the security interest, the amount due under the
12security agreement, together with any other deductions authorized under par. (a),
13shall be deducted from the proceeds of the sale of the confiscated motor vehicle and
14the amount due shall be paid to the one entitled. If a sufficient amount does not
15remain for the full payment of the amount due under the security agreement after
16making the other deductions authorized under par. (a), the amount remaining shall
17be paid to the one entitled.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1132,1918 (d) The provisions of s. 973.075 (1) (b) 2m. and (5) apply to boats and vehicles,
19other than motor vehicles, under this subsection.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1132,25 20278.12 Exemption from liability. Members of the environmental
21management board, and each environmental warden, in the performance of official
22duties, are exempt from liability to any person for acts done or permitted or property
23destroyed by authority of law. No taxable costs or attorney fees shall be allowed to
24either party in an action against a member of the environmental management board
25or an environmental warden.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1133,3
1278.13 Resisting an environmental warden. Any person who assaults or
2otherwise resists or obstructs any environmental warden in the performance of duty
3is subject to the penalty specified in s. 939.51 (3) (a).
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1133,7 4278.14 False impersonation of environmental warden. Any person who
5falsely represents himself or herself to be an environmental warden or who assumes
6to act as an environmental warden without having been first duly appointed is
7subject to the penalty specified in s. 939.51 (3) (a).
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1133,13 8278.16 Periodicals. (1) Publication. The department may produce, issue,
9or reprint magazines or other periodicals, on a periodic basis as it determines,
10pertaining to environmental quality and other similar subjects of general
11information. The department may distribute its magazines and periodicals by
12subscription. The department shall charge a fee for any of its magazines or
13periodicals.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1133,17 14(2) Advertising. The department may advertise and sell advertising space in
15its magazines and other periodicals. The department may advertise or otherwise
16publicize its magazines and other periodicals. The advertising and publicizing shall
17be consistent with the goals, purposes, and functions of the department.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1134,2 18(3) Subscriber lists. The department may refuse to reveal names and
19addresses of persons on any magazine or periodical subscriber list. The department
20may charge a fee to recover the actual costs for providing or for the use of any
21magazine or periodical subscriber list. The department may not reveal names and
22addresses of persons as prohibited under s. 278.45 (4). No person who obtains or uses
23any magazine or periodical subscriber list from the department may refer to the
24department, the magazine, or the periodical as the source of names or addresses

1unless the person clearly states that the provision of, or permission to use, the
2subscriber list in no way indicates any of the following:
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1134,43 (a) The department's involvement or connection with the person or the person's
4activities.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1134,65 (b) The department's knowledge, approval, or authorization of the person's
6activities.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1134,10 7(4) Costs. Notwithstanding ss. 20.908 and 35.78 (2) the fee charged by the
8department in selling each of its magazines and periodicals shall be at least equal
9to the amount necessary to cover the production, storage, handling, and distribution
10costs of each magazine and periodical.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1134,15 11(5) Use of moneys. The department shall use the moneys collected under this
12section for the costs specified in sub. (4). If the moneys collected under this section
13exceed the amount necessary for the costs specified in sub. (4), the department shall
14use the excess for educational and informational activities concerning the
15environment.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1134,19 16278.165 Promotional activities; other publications. (1) Publications.
17The department may produce, issue, reprint, and sell publications not published on
18a periodic basis that pertain to environmental quality and other similar subjects of
19general information.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1134,22 20(1m) Photographs, slides, videotapes, artwork. The department may
21produce, issue, reprint, and sell photographs, slides, videotapes, and artwork if they
22pertain to environmental quality and other similar subjects of general information.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1134,25 23(2) Advertising space. The department may advertise and sell advertising
24space in its publications. Any advertising shall be consistent with the goals,
25purposes, and functions of the department.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1135,4
1(3) Promotional activities. The department may promote, through the sale
2of merchandise or otherwise, advertise or otherwise publicize department programs
3and department publications. The promotion, advertising, and publicizing shall be
4consistent with the goals, purposes, and functions of the department.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1135,12 5(4) Subscriber lists. The department may refuse to reveal names and
6addresses of persons on any publication subscriber list. The department may not
7reveal names and addresses as prohibited under s. 278.45 (5). The department may
8charge a fee to recover the actual costs for providing or for the use of a publication
9subscriber list. No person who obtains or uses a publication subscriber list from the
10department may refer to the department or the publication as the source of names
11or addresses unless the person clearly states that the provision of, or permission to
12use, the subscriber list in no way indicates any of the following:
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1135,1413 (a) The department's involvement or connection with the person or the person's
14activities.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1135,1615 (b) The department's knowledge, approval, or authorization of the person's
16activities.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1135,21 17(5) Costs. Notwithstanding ss. 20.908 and 35.78 (2), any price set or fee
18charged by the department in selling a publication, photograph, slide, videotape,
19artwork, or promotional merchandise shall be at least equal to the amount necessary
20to cover the production, promotional, storage, handling, and distribution costs of the
21publication, photograph, slide, videotape, artwork, or promotional merchandise.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1136,2 22(5m) Use of moneys. The department shall use the moneys collected under this
23section for the costs specified in sub. (5). If the moneys collected under this section
24exceed the amount necessary for the costs specified in sub. (5), the department shall

1use the excess for educational and informational activities concerning the
2environment.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1136,6 3(6) Report to legislature. The department shall annually submit a report
4concerning the activities, receipts, and disbursements under this section for the
5preceding fiscal year to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution
6to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3).
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1136,10 7278.322 Fees for computer accessible water resource management
8information.
The department may charge a fee for providing any information that
9it maintains in a format that may be accessed by computer concerning the waters of
10this state, including maps and other water resource management information.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1136,17 11278.40 Environmental impact report and statement. (1) Determination
12if environmental impact statement is required.
Any person who files an application
13for a permit, license, or approval granted or issued by the department, shall submit
14with the application a statement of the estimated cost of the project or proposed
15action for which the person seeks a permit, license, or approval. The department may
16seek such further information as it considers necessary to determine whether it must
17prepare an environmental impact statement under s. 1.11.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1136,20 18(1m) Environmental impact report. The department may require an applicant
19for a permit, license, or approval, to submit an environmental impact report if the
20area affected exceeds 40 acres or the estimated cost of the project exceeds $25,000.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1136,22 21(2) Notification; estimate of fee. (a) If the department is required to prepare
22an environmental impact statement, it shall notify the person by certified mail.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1136,2423 (b) The department shall indicate the estimated environmental impact
24statement fee.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1137,3
1(3) Environmental impact statement fee. (a) The department shall charge an
2environmental impact statement fee if it is required to prepare an environmental
3impact statement or if it enters into a preapplication service agreement.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1137,84 (b) The amount of the environmental impact statement fee shall equal the full
5cost of the preparation of the environmental impact statement and the full cost of any
6preapplication services if the department enters into a preapplication service
7agreement. These costs shall include the cost of authorized consultant services and
8the costs of printing and postage.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1137,119 (c) The department shall determine the manner in which the environmental
10impact statement fee is to be paid. The department may require periodic payments
11if preapplication services are provided.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1137,1512 (d) Except as provided in par. (e), the department shall deposit any
13environmental impact statement fee in the general fund and shall designate clearly
14the amount of the fee related to the cost of authorized environmental consultant
15services and the amount of the fee related to the cost of printing and postage.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1137,1816 (e) The department shall credit any environmental impact statement fee for a
17project involving the generation of electricity to the appropriation under s. 20.375 (2)
18(ah).
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1138,4 19(4) Preapplication service agreement. The department may enter into an
20agreement to provide preapplication services necessary to evaluate the
21environmental impact of a project or proposed activity, monitor major developments,
22and expedite the anticipated preparation of an environmental impact statement if
23the project or proposed activity is large, complex, or environmentally sensitive and
24if the person planning the project or proposed activity agrees in writing even though
25that person has not filed an application for any permit, license, or approval granted

1or issued by the department, and no environmental impact statement has been
2prepared. Preapplication services include preliminary environmental reviews, field
3studies and investigations, laboratory studies and investigations, and advisory
4services.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1138,8 5(5) Authorized environmental consultant services. The department may
6enter into contracts for environmental consultant services under s. 278.41 to assist
7in the preparation of an environmental impact statement or to provide
8preapplication services.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1138,10 9(6) Exemption from fee for municipalities. Subsections (2) (b) and (3) do not
10apply with respect to municipalities, as defined in s. 345.05 (1) (c).
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1138,11 11278.41 Construction and service contracts. (1) In this section:
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1138,1512 (a) "Construction work" includes all labor and materials used in the erection,
13installation, alteration, repair, moving, conversion, demolition, or removal of any
14building, structure, or facility, or any equipment attached to a building, structure,
15or facility.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1138,1716 (b) "Environmental consultant services" includes services provided by
17environmental scientists, engineers, and other experts.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1138,21 18(2) The department may contract for construction work related to hazardous
19substance spill response under s. 292.11 or environmental repair under s. 292.31 or
20for engineering services or environmental consultant services in connection with
21that construction work.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1138,24 22(3) The department may contract for environmental consultant services to
23assist in the preparation of an environmental impact statement or to provide
24preapplication services under s. 278.40.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1139,2
1(4) Each contract entered into under this section shall be signed by the
2secretary or the secretary's designee on behalf of the state.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1139,15 3(5) Each contract for construction work entered into by the department under
4this section shall be awarded on the basis of bids or competitive sealed proposals in
5accordance with procedures established by the department. Each contract for
6construction work shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder or the person
7submitting the most advantageous competitive sealed proposal as determined by the
8department. If the bid of the lowest responsible bidder or the proposal of the person
9submitting the most advantageous competitive sealed proposal is determined by the
10department to be in excess of the estimated reasonable value of the work or not in
11the public interest, the department may reject all bids or competitive sealed
12proposals. Every such contract is exempted from ss. 16.70 to 16.75, 16.755, 16.76,
1316.767 to 16.82, 16.855, 16.87, and 16.89, but ss. 16.528, 16.754, and 16.765 apply
14to the contract. Every such contract involving an expenditure of $60,000 or more is
15not valid until the contract is approved by the governor.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1139,18 16(5m) If the governor or the governor's designee determines that it is in the best
17interest of this state, he or she may waive the requirement under sub. (5) for bids or
18competitive sealed proposals under any of the following circumstances:
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1139,2019 (a) In an emergency involving the public health, welfare, or safety or the
20environment.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1139,2421 (b) The department desires to use innovative or patented technology that is
22available from only one source and that in the judgment of the department would
23provide the best practicable hazardous substance spill response under s. 292.11 or
24environmental repair under s. 292.31.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1140,3
1(6) The department shall attempt to ensure that at least 5% of the total amount
2expended under this section in each fiscal year is paid to minority businesses, as
3defined in s. 16.75 (3m) (a).
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1140,5 4278.45 Nondisclosure of certain personal information. (1) In this
5section:
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1140,76 (a) "Approval" means any type of approval or authorization issued by the
7department including a license, permit, or certificate.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1140,98 (b) "List" means information compiled or maintained by the department that
9contains the personal identifiers of 10 or more individuals.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1140,1110 (c) "Personal identifier" means a name, social security number, telephone
11number, street address, post-office box number, or 9-digit extended zip code.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1140,18 12(2) If a form that the department requires an individual to complete to obtain
13an approval or other privilege from the department or to obtain a product or service
14from the department requires the individual to provide any of the individual's
15personal identifiers, the form shall include a place for the individual to declare that
16the individual's personal identifiers obtained by the department from the
17information on the form may not be disclosed on any list that the department
18furnishes to another person.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1140,25 19(3) If the department requires an individual to provide, by telephone or other
20electronic means, any of the individual's personal identifiers to obtain an approval
21or other privilege from the department or to obtain a product or service from the
22department, the department shall ask the individual at the time that the individual
23provides the information if the individual wants to declare that the individual's
24personal identifiers obtained by telephone or other electronic means may not be
25disclosed on any list that the department furnishes to another person.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1141,4
1(4) The department shall provide to an individual upon request a form that
2includes a place for the individual to declare that the individual's personal identifiers
3obtained by the department may not be disclosed on any list that the department
4furnishes to another person.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1141,7 5(5) (a) The department may not disclose on any list that it furnishes to another
6person a personal identifier of any individual who has made a declaration under sub.
7(2), (3), or (4).
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1141,138 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a list that the department furnishes to
9another state agency, a law enforcement agency, or a federal governmental agency.
10A state agency that receives a list from the department containing a personal
11identifier of any individual who has made a declaration under sub. (2), (3), or (4) may
12not disclose the personal identifier to any person other than a state agency, a law
13enforcement agency, or a federal governmental agency.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1141,19 14278.49 Credit card use charges. The department shall certify to the state
15treasurer the amount of charges associated with the use of credit cards that is
16assessed to the department on deposits accepted under s. 278.66 (1m) by
17environmental wardens, and the state treasurer shall pay the charges from moneys
18received under s. 59.25 (3) (j) and (k) that are reserved for payment of the charges
19under s. 14.58 (21).
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1141,2220 Subchapter II
21 Enforcement of certain
22 environmental laws
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1141,25 23278.50 Words and phrases defined. In ss. 278.50 to 278.90 the following
24words and phrases have the designated meanings unless the context clearly
25indicates a different meaning:
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1142,3
1(1) "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.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1142,5 4(2) "Complaint" means the pleading of essential facts and applicable law
5coupled with a demand for judgment.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1142,6 6(2L) "Corporation" includes a limited liability company.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1142,8 7(2p) "Crime laboratories and drug law enforcement assessment" means the
8assessment imposed under s. 165.755.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1142,10 9(3) "Enforcing officer" means peace officer as defined by s. 939.22 (22), or a
10person who has authority to act pursuant to a specific statute.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1142,12 11(3c) "Environmental assessment" means the assessment imposed under s.
12299.93.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1142,13 13(3m) "Jail assessment" means the assessment imposed by s. 302.46 (1).
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1142,14 14(6) "Penalty assessment" means the penalty assessment imposed by s. 757.05.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1142,16 15(7) "Summons" means an order to appear in court at a particular time and
16place.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1142,23 17278.51 Procedure in forfeiture actions. (1) The procedure in this
18subchapter applies to all actions in circuit court to recover forfeitures, penalty
19assessments, jail assessments, crime laboratories and drug law enforcement
20assessments, and applicable environmental assessments for violations of ss. 281.48
21(2) to (5), 283.33, 285.57 (2), 285.59 (2), (3) (c), and (4), 287.07, 287.08, 287.81, and
22299.64 (2), subchs. I to III of ch. 30, and ch. 31, and any administrative rules
23promulgated thereunder, and for violations specified under s. 285.86.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1142,25 24(2) All actions to recover the forfeitures and assessments specified in sub. (1)
25are civil actions in the name of the state of Wisconsin.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1143,2
1(3) If a fine or imprisonment, or both, is imposed for a violation specified in sub.
2(1), the procedure in ch. 968 shall apply.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1143,4 3278.52 Two forms of action. Actions under this subchapter may be
4commenced by a citation, or by a complaint and summons.
SB55-ASA1-AA1,1143,9 5278.53 Use of citation. (1) If an action under this subchapter is commenced
6by a citation, the citation form under s. 278.54 shall be used, except that the uniform
7traffic citation created under s. 345.11 may be used by an officer of a law enforcement
8agency of a municipality or county or a traffic officer employed under s. 110.07 in
9enforcing s. 287.81.
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