281.19(4)
(4) The department may, under
s. 254.59, order or cause the abatement of any nuisance affecting the waters of the state.
281.19(5)
(5) If the department finds that a system or plant tends to create a nuisance or menace to health or comfort, it shall order the owner or the person in charge to secure such operating results as the department prescribes, within a specified time. If the order is not complied with, the department may order designated changes in operation, and if necessary, alterations or extension to the system or plant, or a new system or plant. If the department finds that the absence of a municipal system or plant tends to create a nuisance or menace to health or comfort, it may order the city, village, town or town sanitary district embracing the area where such conditions exist to prepare and file complete plans of a corrective system as provided by
s. 281.41, and to construct such system within a specified time.
281.19(6)
(6) Orders issued by the department shall be signed by the person designated by the board.
281.19(7)
(7) In cases of noncompliance with any order issued under
sub. (2) or
(5) or
s. 281.20 (1), the department may take the action directed by the order, and collect the costs thereof from the owner to whom the order was directed. The department shall have all the necessary powers needed to carry out this subsection including powers granted municipalities under
ss. 66.076 and
66.20 to
66.26. It shall also be eligible for financial assistance under
ss. 281.55,
281.57,
281.58 and
281.59.
281.19(8)
(8) Any owner or other person in interest may secure a review of the necessity for and reasonableness of any order of the department under this section or
s. 281.20 in the following manner:
281.19(8)(a)
(a) They shall first file with the department a verified petition setting forth specifically the modification or change desired in such order. Such petition must be filed within 60 days of the issuance of the orders sought to be reviewed. Upon receipt of such a petition the department shall order a public hearing thereon and make such further investigations as it shall deem advisable. Pending such review and hearing, the department may suspend such orders under terms and conditions to be fixed by the department on application of any such petitioner. The department shall affirm, repeal or change the order in question within 60 days after the close of the hearing on the petition.
281.19(8)(b)
(b) The determination of the department shall be subject to review as provided in
ch. 227.
281.19 History
History: 1995 a. 227 ss.
378,
379,
381,
386,
388,
390,
391,
397 987.
281.19 Annotation
Department is authorized, not required, to set standards for sewer extension approvals and may process sewer extension applications on a case by case basis under s. 144.025 (2) (c). Wis. Environmental Decade v. DNR, 82 W (2d) 97, 260 NW (2d) 674.
281.19 Annotation
The department of natural resources has the authority to order a municipality to construct a public water supply, upon a finding that the absence of a public water supply constitutes a nuisance or menace to health or comfort, even though the electors of the municipality voted against construction in a referendum. 60 Atty. Gen. 523.
281.20
281.20
Orders; nonpoint source pollution. 281.20(1)
(1) Under the procedure specified in
sub. (3), the department may do any of the following:
281.20(1)(a)
(a) Order or cause the abatement of pollution which the department, in consultation with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection if the source is agricultural, has determined to be significant and caused by a nonpoint source, as defined in
s. 281.65 (2) (b), including pollution which causes the violation of a water quality standard, pollution which significantly impairs aquatic habitat or organisms, pollution which restricts navigation due to sedimentation, pollution which is deleterious to human health or pollution which otherwise significantly impairs water quality, except that under this paragraph the department may not order or cause the abatement of any pollution caused primarily by animal waste or of pollution from an agricultural source that is located in a priority watershed or priority lake area unless the source is designated as a critical site in a priority watershed or priority lake plan under
s. 281.65 (5m) or a modification to such a plan under
s. 281.65 (5s).
281.20(1)(b)
(b) If it provided notice under
s. 281.65 (5w), order the owner or operator of a source that is designated as a critical site in a priority watershed or priority lake plan under
s. 281.65 (5m) or in a modification to such a plan under
s. 281.65 (5s) to implement best management practices, but not with respect to any pollution caused primarily by animal waste.
281.20(3)(a)1.1. If the department determines that it is authorized to issue an order under
sub. (1) (a) to abate pollution caused by a nonpoint source, the department shall send a written notice of intent to issue the order to abate the pollution to the person whom the department determines to be responsible for the nonpoint source.
281.20(3)(a)2.
2. If the department determines under
sub. (1) (b) that an owner or operator is required to implement best management practices in a priority watershed or priority lake area, the department shall send a written notice of intent to issue an order to implement the designated best management practices to the owner or operator.
281.20(3)(a)3.
3. The notice of intent to issue an order shall describe the department's findings and intent, and shall include a date by which that person is required to abate the pollution or implement the best management practices. That date shall be at least one year after the date of the notice unless the department determines that the pollution is causing or will cause severe water quality degradation that could be mitigated or prevented by abatement action taken in less than one year. In its determination under this subsection, the department shall consider the nature of the actual or potential damage caused by the pollution and the feasibility of measures to abate that pollution.
281.20(3)(b)
(b) If the nonpoint source that is the subject of a notice under
par. (a) is agricultural, the department shall send the notice to the land conservation committee created under
s. 92.06 of any county in which the source is located. If the notice is issued under
par. (a) 2., the land conservation committee may disapprove issuance of an order within 60 days after the department issues the notice of intent to issue the order.
281.20(3)(c)
(c) If the nonpoint source which is the subject of a notice under
par. (a) is agricultural, the department shall send the notice to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall do all of the following:
281.20(3)(c)1.
1. Upon receipt of the notice and in cooperation with the land conservation committee, provide to the person whom the department has determined to be responsible for the nonpoint source under
sub. (1) (a) a listing of management practices which, if followed, would reduce pollution to an amount determined to be acceptable by the department, in consultation with either the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection or the land conservation committee. The list shall, with reasonable limits, set forth all of the options which are available to the person to reduce pollution to that amount of pollution. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall provide to each person receiving a notice an explanation of financial aids and technical assistance which may be available to the person for the abatement of pollution or the implementation of best management practices from the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under
s. 92.14 and from other sources.
281.20(3)(c)2.
2. Issue a report to the department within one year after the date of the notice describing the actions taken by the person receiving the notice and a recommendation as to whether the department should issue an order to abate the pollution or implement the best management practices. Notwithstanding
par. (a), the department may not issue an order until the department receives that report unless the department determines that the pollution is causing or will cause severe water quality degradation which could be mitigated or prevented by abatement action taken in less than one year and unless the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection files a concurring determination in writing with the department within 30 days after receiving notice of the department's determination.
281.20(3)(d)
(d) The department may issue a temporary emergency order prior to issuing a notice under
par. (a) if all of the following apply:
281.20(3)(d)1.
1. The department determines that the pollution is causing or will cause severe water quality degradation.
281.20(3)(d)2.
2. The abatement action required by the order does not involve a capital expenditure.
281.20(3)(d)3.
3. If the nonpoint source is agricultural, the department provides a copy of the temporary emergency order to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection and to the land conservation committee created under
s. 92.06 in every county in which the nonpoint source is located.
281.20(3)(d)4.
4. As soon as practicable after issuing the temporary emergency order, the department issues a written notice of intent to issue an order under
pars. (a) and
(b) or rescinds the temporary emergency order.
281.20(5)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (c), if the department issues a notice under
sub. (3) (a) 2., the source is agricultural and no land conservation committee disapproves the proposed order under
sub. (3) (b), the owner or operator of the critical site may obtain a review of the proposed order by filing a written request with the land and water conservation board within 60 days after the expiration of the time limit under
sub. (3) (b). If the land conservation committee of any county in which a source is located disapproves of a proposed order under
sub. (3) (b), the department may obtain a review of that disapproval by filing a written request with the land and water conservation board within 60 days after receiving the decision of the land conservation committee.
281.20(5)(b)
(b) The owner or operator of a critical site may request a contested case hearing under
ch. 227 to review the decision of the land and water conservation board under
par. (a) by filing a written request with the department within 60 days after receiving an adverse decision of the land and water conservation board.
281.20(5)(c)
(c) The owner or operator of a critical site who obtains review of the critical site determination under any or all of the review procedures in
s. 281.65 (7) may not obtain review of a proposed order under this subsection.
281.20 History
History: 1995 a. 227 ss.
393,
394,
395.
281.22
281.22
Fees for water quality determinations for wetlands. 281.22(1)(1)
Amount of fees. The department shall charge a fee for determining whether a project complies with the standards of water quality promulgated by rule under
s. 281.15 that are applicable to wetlands. The fee for each project shall be $100.
281.22(2)(a)(a) The department shall refund the fee if the applicant requests a refund before the department determines that the application for the determination is complete. The department may not refund a fee after the department determines that the application is complete.
281.22(2)(b)
(b) If the applicant applies for a permit after the project is begun or after it is completed, the department shall charge an amount equal to twice the amount of the fee that it would have charged under this section.
281.22(2)(c)
(c) If more than one fee under this section or
s. 30.28 (2) (a) or
31.39 (2) (a) is applicable to a project, the department shall charge only the highest fee of those that are applicable.
281.22(2)(d)
(d) The department, by rule, may increase the fee specified in
sub. (1).
281.22(3)
(3) Exemptions. This section does not apply to any federal agency or state agency.
281.22 History
History: 1995 a. 27;
1995 a. 227 s.
398; Stats. 1995 s. 281.22.
WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY;
GENERAL REGULATIONS
281.31
281.31
Navigable waters protection law. 281.31(1)
(1) To aid in the fulfillment of the state's role as trustee of its navigable waters and to promote public health, safety, convenience and general welfare, it is declared to be in the public interest to make studies, establish policies, make plans and authorize municipal shoreland zoning regulations for the efficient use, conservation, development and protection of this state's water resources. The regulations shall relate to lands under, abutting or lying close to navigable waters. The purposes of the regulations shall be to further the maintenance of safe and healthful conditions; prevent and control water pollution; protect spawning grounds, fish and aquatic life; control building sites, placement of structure and land uses and reserve shore cover and natural beauty.
281.31(2)
(2) In this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
281.31(2)(c)
(c) "Municipality" or "municipal" means a county, village or city.
281.31(2)(d)
(d) "Navigable water" or "navigable waters" means Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, all natural inland lakes within this state and all streams, ponds, sloughs, flowages and other waters within the territorial limits of this state, including the Wisconsin portion of boundary waters, which are navigable under the laws of this state.
281.31(2)(e)
(e) "Regulation" means ordinances enacted under
ss. 59.692,
61.351,
62.23 (7) and
62.231 and refers to subdivision and zoning regulations which include control of uses of lands under, abutting or lying close to navigable waters for the purposes specified in
sub. (1), pursuant to any of the zoning and subdivision control powers delegated by law to cities, villages and counties.
281.31(2)(g)
(g) "Water resources," where the term is used in reference to studies, plans, collection of publications on water and inquiries about water, means all water whether in the air, on the earth's surface or under the earth's surface. "Water resources" as used in connection with the regulatory functions under this section means navigable waters.
281.31(2m)
(2m) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or administrative rule, a shoreland zoning ordinance required under
s. 59.692, a construction site erosion control and storm water management zoning ordinance authorized under
s. 59.693,
60.627,
61.354 or
62.234 or a wetland zoning ordinance required under
s. 61.351 or
62.231 does not apply to lands adjacent to farm drainage ditches if:
281.31(2m)(a)
(a) Such lands are not adjacent to a natural navigable stream or river;
281.31(2m)(b)
(b) Those parts of the drainage ditches adjacent to these lands were nonnavigable streams before ditching; and
281.31(2m)(c)
(c) Such lands are maintained in nonstructural agricultural use.
281.31(3)(a)(a) The department shall coordinate the activities of the several state agencies in managing and regulating water resources.
281.31(3)(b)
(b) The department shall make studies, establish policies and make plans for the efficient use, conservation, development and protection of the state's water resources and:
281.31(3)(b)1.
1. On the basis of these studies and plans make recommendations to existing state agencies relative to their water resource activities.
281.31(3)(b)2.
2. Locate and maintain information relating to the state's water resources. The department shall collect pertinent data available from state, regional and federal agencies, the university of Wisconsin, local units of government and other sources.
281.31(3)(b)3.
3. Serve as a clearinghouse for information relating to water resources including referring citizens and local units of government to the appropriate sources for advice and assistance in connection with particular water use problems.
281.31(5)(a)(a) The department shall prepare a comprehensive plan as a guide for the application of municipal ordinances regulating navigable waters and their shorelands as defined in this section for the preventive control of pollution. The plan shall be based on a use classification of navigable waters and their shorelands throughout the state or within counties and shall be governed by the following general standards:
281.31(5)(a)2.
2. Uses not inherently a source of pollution within an area shall be preferred over uses that are or may be a pollution source.
281.31(5)(a)3.
3. Areas in which the existing or potential economic value of public, recreational or similar uses exceeds the existing or potential economic value of any other use shall be classified primarily on the basis of the higher economic use value.
281.31(5)(a)4.
4. Use locations within an area tending to minimize the possibility of pollution shall be preferred over use locations tending to increase that possibility.
281.31(5)(a)5.
5. Use dispersions within an area shall be preferred over concentrations of uses or their undue proximity to each other.
281.31(5)(b)
(b) The department shall apply to the plan the standards and criteria set forth in
sub. (6).
281.31(6)
(6) Within the purposes of
sub. (1) the department shall prepare and provide to municipalities general recommended standards and criteria for navigable water protection studies and planning and for navigable water protection regulations and their administration. Such standards and criteria shall give particular attention to safe and healthful conditions for the enjoyment of aquatic recreation; the demands of water traffic, boating and water sports; the capability of the water resource; requirements necessary to assure proper operation of septic tank disposal fields near navigable waters; building setbacks from the water; preservation of shore growth and cover; conservancy uses for low lying lands; shoreland layout for residential and commercial development; suggested regulations and suggestions for the effective administration and enforcement of such regulations.
281.31(7)
(7) The department, the municipalities and all state agencies shall mutually cooperate to accomplish the objective of this section. To that end, the department shall consult with the governing bodies of municipalities to secure voluntary uniformity of regulations, so far as practicable, and shall extend all possible assistance therefor.
281.31(8)
(8) This section and
ss. 59.692,
61.351 and
62.231 shall be construed together to accomplish the purposes and objective of this section.
281.31(10)
(10) A person aggrieved by an order or decision of the department under this section may cause its review under
ch. 227.
281.31 Annotation
See note to art. I, sec. 13, citing Just v. Marinette County, 56 W (2d) 7, 201 NW (2d) 761.
281.31 Annotation
The concept that an owner of real property can, in all cases, do as he pleases with his property is no longer in harmony with the realities of society. The supreme court herein adopts the "reasonable use" rule codified in the second Restatement of the Law of Torts. State v. Deetz, 66 W (2d) 1, 224 NW (2d) 407.
281.31 Annotation
See note to 88.21, citing 63 Atty. Gen. 355.
281.31 Annotation
The necessity of zoning variance or amendments notice to the Wisconsin department of natural resources under the shoreland zoning and navigable waters protection acts. Whipple, 57 MLR 25.
281.31 Annotation
The public trust doctrine. 59 MLR 787.
281.31 Annotation
Water quality protection for inland lakes in Wisconsin; a comprehensive approach to water pollution. Kusler, 1970 WLR 35.
281.31 Annotation
Land as property; changing concepts. Large, 1973 WLR 1039.
281.33
281.33
Construction site erosion control and storm water management. 281.33(1)(1)
Objectives. To aid in the fulfillment of the state's role as trustee of its navigable waters, to promote public health, safety and general welfare and to protect natural resources, it is declared to be in the public interest to make studies, establish policies, make plans, authorize municipal construction site erosion control and storm water management zoning ordinances for the efficient use, conservation, development and protection of this state's groundwater, surface water, soil and related resources and establish a state storm water management plan for the efficient use, conservation, development and protection of this state's groundwater, surface water, soil and related resources while at the same time encouraging sound economic growth in this state. The purposes of the municipal ordinances and state plan shall be to further the maintenance of safe and healthful conditions; prevent and control water pollution; prevent and control soil erosion; prevent and control the adverse effects of storm water; protect spawning grounds, fish and aquatic life; control building sites, placement of structures and land uses; preserve ground cover and scenic beauty; and promote sound economic growth.
281.33(2)
(2) State storm water management plan. The department, in consultation with the department of commerce, shall promulgate by rule a state storm water management plan. This state plan is applicable to activities contracted for or conducted by any agency, as defined under
s. 227.01 (1) but also including the office of district attorney, unless that agency enters into a memorandum of understanding with the department of natural resources in which that agency agrees to regulate activities related to storm water management. The department shall coordinate the activities of agencies, as defined under
s. 227.01 (1), in storm water management and make recommendations to these agencies concerning activities related to storm water management.
281.33(3)(a)1.1. Except as restricted under
subd. 2., the department shall establish by rule minimum standards for activities related to construction site erosion control at sites where the construction activities do not include the construction of a building and to storm water management.
