AB655: Bill Text

AB655, s. 239 Section 239. 285.60 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,95,13 285.60 (6) Exemption by rule. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section Subject to sub. (8), the department may shall, by rule, exempt types of stationary minor sources from any the requirement of this section to obtain a construction permit and an operation permit if the potential emissions from the sources do not present a significant hazard to public health, safety or welfare or to the environment.

AB655, s. 240 Section 240. 285.60 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,95,19 285.60 (6m) Specific exemption. A person is not required to obtain a construction permit or an operation permit for a source that is an agricultural facility, as defined in s. 281.16 (1) (a), a livestock operation, as defined in s. 281.16 (1) (c), or an agricultural practice, as defined in s. 281.16 (1) (b), unless a permit is required by the federal clean air act.

AB655, s. 241 Section 241. 285.60 (6r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,96,2 285.60 (6r) Exemption from construction permit requirement. A person is not required to obtain a construction permit for a source that is a component of a process, of equipment, or of an activity that is otherwise covered by a preexisting operation permit or a source that is a component of a process, of equipment, or of an activity that is included in a completed application for an operation permit, unless a construction permit is required under the federal clean air act.

AB655, s. 242 Section 242. 285.60 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,96,6 285.60 (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.

AB655, s. 243 Section 243. 285.60 (9) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,96,19 285.60 (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.

AB655, s. 244 Section 244. 285.60 (10) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,97,4 285.60 (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).

AB655, s. 245 Section 245. 285.61 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,97,11 285.61 (1) Applicant notice Application required. A person who is required to obtain or who seeks a construction permit shall apply to the department or a certified contractor for a permit to construct, reconstruct, replace or modify the stationary source. If a person applies to a certified contractor under this subsection, the person shall provide notice of that application to the department as prescribed by the department.

AB655, s. 246 Section 246. 285.61 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 285.61 (2) (a) and amended to read:

AB655,97,19 285.61 (2) (a) Request for additional information. Within 20 days after receipt of the application the department or the certified contractor 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.

AB655, s. 247 Section 247. 285.61 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,98,2 285.61 (2) (b) When application is considered to be complete. For the purposes of the time limits in sub. (3), an application is considered to be complete when the applicant provides the information specified in the written notice under par. (a), or, if the department or the certified contractor does not provide written notice to an applicant within the time limit in par. (a), 20 days after receipt of the application. This paragraph does not prevent the department or a certified contractor from requesting additional information from an applicant after the time limit in par. (a).

AB655, s. 248 Section 248. 285.61 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,98,9 285.61 (3) Analysis. The department or certified contractor shall prepare an analysis regarding the effect of the proposed construction, reconstruction, replacement or modification on ambient air quality and a preliminary determination on the approvability of the construction permit application, within the following time periods after the receipt of the plans, specifications and other information application is considered to be complete under sub. (2) (b):

AB655,98,11 (a) Major source construction permits. For construction permits for major sources, within 120 60 days.

AB655,98,13 (b) Minor source construction permits. For construction permits for minor sources, within 30 15 days.

AB655, s. 249 Section 249. 285.61 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,98,18 285.61 (4) (a) Distribution and publicity. The department shall distribute and publicize the analysis and preliminary determination as soon as they are prepared or, if the analysis and preliminary determination are prepared by a certified contractor, as soon as the department receives them from the certified contractor.

AB655, s. 250 Section 250. 285.61 (4) (b) 2. and 3. of the statutes are amended to read:

AB655,98,21 285.61 (4) (b) 2. A copy of the department's or certified contractor's analysis and preliminary determination; and

AB655,98,23 3. A copy or summary of other materials, if any, considered by the department or the certified contractor in making its preliminary determination.

AB655, s. 251 Section 251. 285.61 (5) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,99,5 285.61 (5) (a) Distribution of notice required. (intro.) The department shall distribute a notice of the proposed construction, reconstruction, replacement or modification, a notice of the department's or certified contractor's analysis and preliminary determination, a notice of the opportunity for public comment and a notice of the opportunity to request a public hearing to all of the following:

AB655, s. 252 Section 252. 285.61 (5) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,99,13 285.61 (5) (c) Newspaper notice. The department shall publish a class 1 notice under ch. 985 announcing the opportunity for written public comment and the opportunity to request a public hearing on the analysis and preliminary determination within 10 days after the analysis and preliminary determination are prepared or, if the analysis and preliminary determination are prepared by a certified contractor, within 10 days after the department receives them from the certified contractor.

AB655, s. 253 Section 253. 285.61 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,99,22 285.61 (7) (a) Hearing permitted. The department may hold a public hearing on the construction permit application if requested by a person who may be directly aggrieved by the issuance of the permit, any affected state or the U.S. environmental protection agency within 30 days after the department gives notice under sub. (5) (c). A request for a public hearing shall indicate the interest of the party filing the request and the reasons why a hearing is warranted. The department shall hold the public hearing within 60 30 days after the deadline for requesting a hearing if it deems that there is a significant public interest in holding a hearing.

AB655, s. 254 Section 254. 285.61 (8) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 285.61 (8) (a) 1.

AB655, s. 255 Section 255. 285.61 (8) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,100,6 285.61 (8) (a) 2. Notwithstanding subd. 1. and s. 285.63, the department may not modify a preliminary determination made by a certified contractor under sub. (3) unless modification is necessary to comply with the federal clean air act or unless the comments received under subs. (6) and (7) or consideration of the environmental impact as required under s. 1.11 provide clear and convincing evidence that issuance of the permit would cause material harm to public health, safety, or welfare.

AB655, s. 256 Section 256. 285.61 (8) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,100,13 285.61 (8) (b) Time limits. The department shall act on a construction permit application within 60 days after the close of the public comment period or the public hearing, whichever is later department gives notice under sub. (5) (c), unless compliance with s. 1.11 requires a longer time. For a major source that is located in an attainment area, the department shall complete its responsibilities under s. 1.11 within one year.

AB655, s. 257 Section 257. 285.61 (10) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,100,17 285.61 (10) Extensions. The department may extend any time limit applicable to the department or a certified contractor under this section at the request of an applicant.

AB655, s. 258 Section 258. 285.61 (11) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,101,2 285.61 (11) Delay in issuing permits. Subject to sub. (10), if the department fails to act on an application for a construction permit within the time limit in sub. (8) (b), the department shall include in a report the reasons for the delay in acting on the application, including the names of the department's employees responsible for review of the application, and recommendations for how to avoid similar delays in the future. The department shall make reports under this subsection available to the public, place a prominent notice of the reports on the department's Internet site, and submit the reports to the joint committee for the review of administrative rules on a quarterly basis.

AB655, s. 259 Section 259. 285.62 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,101,12 285.62 (1) Applicant notice Application required. A person who is required to obtain an operation permit for a stationary source shall apply to the department or to a certified contractor for the permit on or before the operation permit application date specified under sub. (11) (b). The department shall specify by rule the content of applications under this subsection. If required by the federal clean air act, the department or the certified contractor shall provide a copy of the complete application to the federal environmental protection agency. The department may not accept an application submitted to the department before November 15, 1992, as an application under this subsection.

AB655, s. 260 Section 260. 285.62 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 285.62 (2) (a) and amended to read:

AB655,101,20 285.62 (2) (a) Request for additional information. Within 20 days after receipt of the application the department or the certified contractor shall indicate provide written notice to the applicant describing specifically any additional information required under sub. (1) necessary to determine if the source, upon issuance of the permit, will meet the requirements of this chapter and s. 299.15 and rules promulgated under this chapter and s. 299.15.

AB655, s. 261 Section 261. 285.62 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,102,3 285.62 (2) (b) When application is considered to be complete. For the purposes of the time limits in sub. (3), an application is considered to be complete when the applicant provides the information specified in the written notice under par. (a), or, if the department or the certified contractor does not provide written notice to an applicant within the period under par. (a), 20 days after receipt of the application. This paragraph does not prevent the department or a certified contractor from requesting additional information from an applicant after the period under par. (a).

AB655, s. 262 Section 262. 285.62 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,102,13 285.62 (3) (a) (intro.) The department or certified contractor shall review an application for an operation permit. Upon completion of that review, the department or certified contractor shall prepare a preliminary determination of whether it the application may approve the application be approved and a public notice. The department or certified contractor shall complete the preliminary determination and the public notice within 60 days after an application for an operation permit for a major source is considered to be complete under sub. (2) (b) and within 15 days after an application for an operation permit for a minor source is considered to be complete under sub. (2) (b). The public notice shall include all of the following:

AB655, s. 263 Section 263. 285.62 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,102,19 285.62 (3) (c) The department shall publish the notice prepared under par. (a) as a class 1 notice under ch. 985 in a newspaper published in the area that may be affected by emissions from the stationary source within 10 days after the notice is complete or, if the notice is prepared by a certified contractor, within 10 days after the department receives it from the certified contractor.

AB655, s. 264 Section 264. 285.62 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,103,4 285.62 (5) (a) Hearing permitted. The department may hold a public hearing on an application for an operation permit for a stationary source if requested by any state that received notice under sub. (3) (b) or any other person, if the person may be directly aggrieved by the issuance of the permit, within 30 days after the department gives notice under sub. (3) (c). A request for a public hearing shall indicate the interest of the party filing the request and the reasons why a hearing is warranted. The department shall hold the public hearing within 60 days after the deadline for requesting a hearing if it determines that there is a significant public interest in holding the hearing.

AB655, s. 265 Section 265. 285.62 (6) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,103,9 285.62 (6) (c) 1. If the department receives an objection from the federal environmental protection agency under this subsection, the department may not issue the operation permit unless the department revises the proposed operation permit as necessary to satisfy the objection.

AB655, s. 266 Section 266. 285.62 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,103,17 285.62 (7) (b) The department shall approve or deny the operation permit application for a new source or modified source. The department shall issue the operation permit for a new source or modified source if the criteria established under ss. 285.63 and 285.64 are met. The department shall issue an operation permit for a new source or modified source or deny the application within 180 30 days after the permit applicant submits to the department the results of all equipment testing and emission monitoring required under the construction permit.

AB655, s. 267 Section 267. 285.62 (7) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,103,25 285.62 (7) (bm) Notwithstanding pars. (a) and (b) and s. 285.63, but subject to sub. (6) (c) 1., the department may not modify a preliminary determination made by a certified contractor under sub. (3) (a) unless modification is necessary to comply with the federal clean air act or unless the comments received under subs. (4) to (6) or consideration of the environmental impact as required under s. 1.11 provide clear and convincing evidence that issuance of the permit would cause material harm to public health, safety, or welfare.

AB655, s. 268 Section 268. 285.62 (8) of the statutes is renumbered 285.62 (8) (a).

AB655, s. 269 Section 269. 285.62 (8) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,104,8 285.62 (8) (b) If a person submits an application for renewal of an operation permit before the date that the operation permit expires, the stationary source may not be required to discontinue operation and the person may not be prosecuted for lack of an operation permit until the department acts under sub. (7), except that this paragraph does not apply in a situation in which its application would contravene the federal clean air act.

AB655, s. 270 Section 270. 285.62 (9) (b) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB655,104,18 285.62 (9) (b) Subject to sub. (12), if the department fails to act on an application for an operation permit within the time limit under sub. (7) (b), the department shall, include in a report the reasons for the delay in acting on the application, including the names of the department's employees responsible for review of the application, and recommendations for how to avoid delays in the future in similar situations. The department shall make reports under this subsection available to the public, place a prominent notice of the reports on the department's Internet site, and submit the reports to the joint committee for the review of administrative rules on a quarterly basis.

AB655, s. 271 Section 271. 285.62 (12) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,104,22 285.62 (12) Extensions. The department may extend any time limit applicable to the department or a certified contractor under this section at the request of an applicant.

AB655, s. 272 Section 272. 285.63 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,105,5 285.63 (1) (d) Source will not preclude construction or operation of other source. The stationary source will not degrade the air quality in an area sufficiently to prevent the construction, reconstruction, replacement, modification or operation of another stationary source if the department received plans, specifications and other information under s. 285.61 (2) (a) for the other stationary source prior to commencing its analysis under s. 285.61 (3) for the former stationary source. This paragraph does not apply to an existing source required to have an operation permit.

AB655, s. 273 Section 273. 285.63 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

AB655, s. 274 Section 274. 285.66 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 285.66 (2) (a).

AB655, s. 275 Section 275. 285.66 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,105,10 285.66 (2) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), the department may not specify that coverage under a general permit under s. 285.60 (3) expires except as follows:

AB655,105,12 1. The department may specify an expiration date for coverage under a general permit at the request of an owner or operator.

AB655,105,16 2. The department may specify a term of 5 years or longer for coverage under a general permit if the department finds that expiring coverage would significantly improve the likelihood of continuing compliance with applicable requirements compared to coverage that does not expire.

AB655,105,18 3. The department may specify a term of 5 years or less for coverage under a general permit if required by the federal clean air act.

AB655, s. 276 Section 276. 285.66 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,105,22 285.66 (3) (a) A permittee shall apply for renewal of an operation permit at least 12 6 months before the operation permit expires. The permittee shall include any new or revised information needed to process the application for renewal.

AB655, s. 277 Section 277. 285.69 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB655,106,2 285.69 (1) (a) Application for permit. Reviewing and acting upon any application for a construction permit. The department shall specify lower fees for persons who submit applications to certified contractors under s. 285.61(1) than for those who submit applications to the department.

AB655, s. 278 Section 278. 285.755 of the statutes is created to read:

AB655,106,9 285.755 Certified contractors. (1) Responsibilities of the department of administration. (a) The department of administration shall certify private contractors to review applications for air pollution control permits for the purposes of determining under ss. 285.61 (2) and 285.62 (2) whether additional information is needed from applicants and of making preliminary determinations under ss. 285.61 (3) and 285.62 (3).

AB655,106,14 (b) No later than the first day of the 7th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], the department of administration, in consultation with the department of natural resources, shall specify minimum standards relating to staffing and professional expertise and other conditions applicable to private contractors certified under this section.

AB655,106,18 (c) The department of administration shall maintain a directory containing the name, address, and contact person for each certified contractor. The department of administration shall update the directory every 3 months and shall provide the directory to the department of natural resources and make it available to the public.

AB655,106,20 (2) Requirements. The department of administration may not certify a contractor under this section unless the contractor does all of the following:

AB655,106,22 (a) Submits an application on a form prescribed by the department of administration in consultation with the department of natural resources.

AB655,106,24 (b) Meets the minimum standards relating to staffing and professional expertise and other conditions that are specified under sub. (1) (b).

AB655,107,2 (c) Submits a signed statement agreeing to conduct the activities described in sub. (1) (a) in accordance with applicable state and federal law.

AB655, s. 279 Section 279. 285.81 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: